Paul Copley
Paul is a long established and much respected British actor and voiceover artist.
Born in Denby Dale, West Riding of Yorkshire, on 25th November 1944 he grew up beside a dairy farm. His father, Harold, was involved with local amateur dramatic productions, as were the rest of his family. He went to Penistone Grammar School, then the Northern Counties College of Education in Newcastle upon Tyne, where he received an Associate of the Drama Board (ADB) in Drama. He taught English and Drama in Walthamstow, before he joined the Leeds Playhouse Theatre-in-education Company in 1971.
In 1976, Paul won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a New Play for his role in John Wilson's For King and Country.
With many and varied roles to follow, Paul soon established himself as one of the UK's leading stage, film, television and radio actors.
In 2011-2015 Paul gained worldwide recognition appearing in 16 episodes of the hugely popular television series Downton Abbey playing the popular role of farmer Mr Mason.
Paul is married to the actress Natasha Pyne. They married in 1972, after both performing in a Leeds Playhouse production of Frank Wedekind's Lulu, adapted by Peter Barnes, directed by Bill Hays in 1971.
Acted in
Downton Abbey 3
2025
as Albert Mason
Ticker
2023
as Howard
DI Ray
2022
as Terry
Downton Abbey: A New Era
2022
as Mason
The Infectious Imagination of Henry Bramble
2021
as Great Uncle Geoffrey
Enola Holmes
2020
as Station Master
Ropeless
2020
as Larry Windsor
On the Edge
2018
as Ray
Broken
2017
as Joe Kerrigan
Reg
2016
The Nest Egg
2016
The Sound of Music Live!
2015
as Franz
The Coroner
2015
as John Roxwell
Code of a Killer
2015
as Sidney Jeffreys
Inside No. 9
2014
as Ernie
Father Brown
2013
as Mr Feste
Carved with Love: The Genius of British Woodwork
2013
as Narrator
Last Tango in Halifax
2012
Last Tango in Halifax
2012
as Harry
First Encounter: King Lear
2012
as King Lear
White Heat
2012
as Alan (present day)
Call the Midwife
2012
as Tommy Smith
Vera
2011
as Malcolm Kenrich
Downton Abbey
2010
as Mr. Mason
Moving On
2009
as Ronnie
Survivors
2008
as Ted
Inspector George Gently
2008
The Shadow in the North
2007
as Paton
Kingdom
2007
as Vincent Straker
Torchwood
2006
as Clement McDonald
The Street
2006
Johnny and the Bomb
2006
as Sgt. Bourke
Life on Mars
2006
as Reg Cole
Marian, Again
2005
as Phillip Walsh
Dead Man Weds
2005
as Blind Man
No Angels
2004
New Tricks
2004
The Key
2003
How Clean Is Your House?
2003
How Clean Is Your House?
2003
as Self - Narrator (voice)
Burn It
2003
as Terry Grimshaw
The Royal
2003
as Nesbitt
Hornblower: Duty
2003
as Matthews
Hornblower: Loyalty
2003
as Matthews
Nice Guy Eddie
2002
The Many Lives of Albert Walker
2002
as Danny Peck
Waking the Dead
2001
Waking the Dead
2001
as Clifford Day
Messiah
2001
as Ian Fleet
Hornblower: Retribution
2001
as Matthews
Hornblower: Mutiny
2001
as Mathews
Blow Dry
2001
as Ken
Clocking Off
2000
Hornblower: The Frogs and the Lobsters
1999
as Mathews
Hornblower: The Duchess and the Devil
1999
as Matthews
Queer as Folk
1999
as Roy Maloney
Hornblower: The Examination for Lieutenant
1998
as Mathews
The Worst Witch
1998
as Algernon Rowan-Webb
The Worst Witch
1998
as Algernon Rowan Webb
Hornblower: The Even Chance
1998
as Matthews
Hornblower
1998
as Matthews
Written in Blood
1998
as Brian Chappel
The Lakes
1997
as Peter Quinlan
Midsomer Murders
1997
as Frank Dewar
This Life
1996
as Jerry Cook
Dalziel & Pascoe
1996
Silent Witness
1996
Jude
1996
as Mr. Willis
Roughnecks
1994
as Ian
A Pinch of Snuff
1994
as Charlie Heppelwhite
The Remains of the Day
1993
as Harry Smith
Cracker
1993
as Pathologist
Harry
1993
as Thomas Thomas
Peak Practice
1993
as Tim Shardlow
Peak Practice
1993
as DS Patrick Hopkins
Heartbeat
1992
as Dick Radcliffe
Heartbeat
1992
as Herbie Lloyd
Heartbeat
1992
as Malcolm Stainsby
How's Business
1991
as Jack
Stay Lucky
1989
The Paradise Club
1989
as Mousey Pavitt
Testimony of a Child
1989
as Gerry
Young Charlie Chaplin
1989
as Chimnery Sweep
Theban Plays: Oedipus at Colonus
1986
as Local Man
Casualty
1986
as Frederick Chambers
Casualty
1986
as Mick McCarthur
Casualty
1986
as Arthur
Silas Marner
1985
as William Dane
The Bright Side
1985
Which Side Are You On?
1985
as Narrator (voice)
Bird Fancier
1985
as Roy Pearson
The Bill
1984
Doll’s Eye
1983
as Social Worker
Ends and Means
1983
Ghost in the Water
1982
as Mr. Reed
P.Q. 17
1981
as PO Jordan
A Room for the Winter
1981
as Robert
Tenko
1981
as POW
A Brush with Mr. Porter on the Road to El Dorado
1981
as Tom
Happy
1980
as Vernon
Death of a Princess
1980
as Steve Jackson
Minder
1979
as Palmer
Cries from a Watchtower
1979
as Andy
Black Jack
1979
as Narrator
Zulu Dawn
1979
as Cpl. Storey
On a Paving Stone Mounted
1978
Travellers
1978
as Young William/Middle William/Sales Rep
Mucking Out
1978
as Brian Wilson
The Turkey Who Lives on the Hill
1978
as Bill
Destiny
1978
as Paul McShane
Some Enchanted Evening
1978
as Peter
A Christmas Carol
1977
as Fred (Scrooge's Nephew)
Treasure Island
1977
Secret Army
1977
as Eric Finch
A Bridge Too Far
1977
as Pvt. Wicks
Arnhem: The Story of an Escape
1976
as Finnegan
Days of Hope
1975
as Ben Matthews
Alfie Darling
1975
as Bakey
Diane
1975
as Jim
Father Dear Father
1973
as Dumbo
Speech Day
1973
as Woodwork Master
Play for Today
1970
Play for Today
1970
as Andy
BBC Play of the Month
1965
Dangerous Journey
as Narrator