Paul Copley

Paul Copley

Born

November 25, 1944 (80 years old)

Known For

Acting

Place of Birth

Denby Dale, West Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom

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.

Rose Ayling-Ellis: Old Hands, New Tricks

Rose Ayling-Ellis: Old Hands, New Tricks

Narrator (voice) · (2 episodes)

0.0

2025

Ticker

Ticker

Howard

0.0

2023

Downton Abbey: A New Era

Downton Abbey: A New Era

Mason

7.2

2022

The Infectious Imagination of Henry Bramble

The Infectious Imagination of Henry Bramble

Great Uncle Geoffrey

0.0

2021

Reg

Reg

5.0

2016

First Encounter: King Lear

First Encounter: King Lear

King Lear

0.0

2012

Marian, Again

Marian, Again

Phillip Walsh

4.8

2005

The Key

The Key

0.0

2003

Hornblower: Duty

Hornblower: Duty

Matthews

7.3

2003

Hornblower: Loyalty

Hornblower: Loyalty

Matthews

7.2

2003

Hornblower: Mutiny

Hornblower: Mutiny

Mathews

7.4

2001

Blow Dry

Blow Dry

Ken

5.9

2001

Hornblower: The Frogs and the Lobsters

Hornblower: The Frogs and the Lobsters

Mathews

7.3

1999

Hornblower: The Duchess and the Devil

Hornblower: The Duchess and the Devil

Matthews

7.3

1999

Hornblower: The Examination for Lieutenant

Hornblower: The Examination for Lieutenant

Mathews

7.4

1998

Hornblower: The Even Chance

Hornblower: The Even Chance

Matthews

7.4

1998

Written in Blood

Written in Blood

Brian Chappel

9.0

1998

Jude

Jude

Mr. Willis

6.3

1996

The Remains of the Day

The Remains of the Day

Harry Smith

7.4

1993

Testimony of a Child

Testimony of a Child

Gerry

0.0

1989

Bird Fancier

Bird Fancier

Roy Pearson

0.0

1985

Ends and Means

0.0

1983

Ghost in the Water

Ghost in the Water

Mr. Reed

6.5

1982

Death of a Princess

Death of a Princess

Steve Jackson

7.8

1980

Black Jack

Black Jack

Narrator

7.0

1979

Zulu Dawn

Zulu Dawn

Cpl. Storey

6.0

1979

On a Paving Stone Mounted

On a Paving Stone Mounted

0.0

1978

Mucking Out

Mucking Out

Brian Wilson

0.0

1978

Destiny

Destiny

Paul McShane

0.0

1978

Some Enchanted Evening

Peter

0.0

1978

A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol

Fred (Scrooge's Nephew)

6.6

1977

Father Dear Father

Father Dear Father

Dumbo

4.8

1973

Dangerous Journey

Narrator

0.0

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale

Albert Mason

0.0

2025

DI Ray

DI Ray

Terry Hunter · (1 episode)

7.0

2022

Enola Holmes

Enola Holmes

Station Master

7.3

2020

Ropeless

Ropeless

Larry Windsor

6.0

2020

On the Edge

On the Edge

Ray · (1 episode)

5.0

2018

Broken

Broken

Joe Kerrigan · (6 episodes)

6.9

2017

The Nest Egg

The Nest Egg

7.0

2016

The Sound of Music Live!

The Sound of Music Live!

Franz

7.7

2015

The Coroner

The Coroner

John Roxwell · (1 episode)

6.3

2015

Code of a Killer

Code of a Killer

Sidney Jeffreys · (2 episodes)

7.3

2015

Inside No. 9

Inside No. 9

Ernie · (1 episode)

8.0

2014

Father Brown

Father Brown

Mr Feste · (1 episode)

7.5

2013

Carved with Love: The Genius of British Woodwork

Carved with Love: The Genius of British Woodwork

Narrator · (3 episodes)

0.0

2013

Last Tango in Halifax

Last Tango in Halifax

(7 episodes)

7.2

2012

Last Tango in Halifax

Last Tango in Halifax

Harry · (24 episodes)

7.2

2012

White Heat

White Heat

Alan (present day) · (6 episodes)

5.7

2012

Call the Midwife

Call the Midwife

Tommy Smith · (1 episode)

7.5

2012

Vera

Vera

Malcolm Kenrich · (1 episode)

7.5

2011

Downton Abbey

Downton Abbey

Mr. Mason · (11 episodes)

8.1

2010

Moving On

Moving On

Ronnie · (1 episode)

7.1

2009

Survivors

Survivors

Ted · (1 episode)

7.1

2008

Inspector George Gently

Inspector George Gently

(1 episode)

8.0

2008

The Shadow in the North

The Shadow in the North

Paton

6.6

2007

Kingdom

Kingdom

Vincent Straker · (1 episode)

7.1

2007

Torchwood

Torchwood

Clement McDonald · (4 episodes)

7.3

2006

When Kim & Aggie Went To Hospital

When Kim & Aggie Went To Hospital

Self - Narrator (voice)

0.0

2006

The Street

The Street

(1 episode)

7.7

2006

Johnny and the Bomb

Johnny and the Bomb

Sgt. Bourke · (3 episodes)

6.5

2006

Life on Mars

Life on Mars

Reg Cole · (1 episode)

7.8

2006

Dead Man Weds

Dead Man Weds

Blind Man · (6 episodes)

7.0

2005

No Angels

No Angels

(1 episode)

6.0

2004

New Tricks

New Tricks

(1 episode)

7.4

2004

How Clean Is Your House?

How Clean Is Your House?

(0 episode)

5.3

2003

How Clean Is Your House?

How Clean Is Your House?

Self - Narrator (voice) · (74 episodes)

5.3

2003

Burn It

Burn It

Terry Grimshaw · (10 episodes)

6.3

2003

The Royal

The Royal

Nesbitt · (1 episode)

7.6

2003

Nice Guy Eddie

(1 episode)

0.0

2002

Born and Bred

Born and Bred

Hubert Gough · (1 episode)

8.5

2002

The Many Lives of Albert Walker

The Many Lives of Albert Walker

Danny Peck

0.0

2002

Waking the Dead

Waking the Dead

(1 episode)

7.2

2001

Waking the Dead

Waking the Dead

Clifford Day · (1 episode)

7.2

2001

Messiah

Messiah

Ian Fleet · (2 episodes)

7.2

2001

Hornblower: Retribution

Hornblower: Retribution

Matthews

7.5

2001

Clocking Off

Clocking Off

(1 episode)

7.4

2000

Queer as Folk

Queer as Folk

Roy Maloney · (2 episodes)

8.0

1999

The Worst Witch

The Worst Witch

Algernon Rowan-Webb · (2 episodes)

6.7

1998

The Worst Witch

The Worst Witch

Algernon Rowan Webb · (3 episodes)

6.7

1998

Hornblower

Hornblower

Matthews · (8 episodes)

7.8

1998

The Lakes

The Lakes

Peter Quinlan · (14 episodes)

7.2

1997

Midsomer Murders

Midsomer Murders

Frank Dewar · (1 episode)

7.5

1997

This Life

This Life

Jerry Cook · (6 episodes)

7.8

1996

Dalziel & Pascoe

Dalziel & Pascoe

(1 episode)

6.5

1996

Silent Witness

Silent Witness

(3 episodes)

7.6

1996

Roughnecks

Roughnecks

Ian · (13 episodes)

6.5

1994

A Pinch of Snuff

A Pinch of Snuff

Charlie Heppelwhite

0.0

1994

Cracker

Cracker

Pathologist · (5 episodes)

6.6

1993

Harry

Thomas Thomas · (1 episode)

3.5

1993

Peak Practice

Peak Practice

Tim Shardlow · (1 episode)

6.1

1993

Peak Practice

Peak Practice

DS Patrick Hopkins · (2 episodes)

6.1

1993

Heartbeat

Heartbeat

Dick Radcliffe · (1 episode)

7.1

1992

Heartbeat

Heartbeat

Herbie Lloyd · (1 episode)

7.1

1992

Heartbeat

Heartbeat

Malcolm Stainsby · (1 episode)

7.1

1992

How's Business

Jack

0.0

1991

Stay Lucky

Stay Lucky

(1 episode)

6.0

1989

The Paradise Club

The Paradise Club

Mousey Pavitt · (1 episode)

5.8

1989

Young Charlie Chaplin

Young Charlie Chaplin

Chimnery Sweep · (1 episode)

0.0

1989

Theban Plays: Oedipus at Colonus

Theban Plays: Oedipus at Colonus

Local Man

0.0

1986

Casualty

Casualty

Frederick Chambers · (1 episode)

6.1

1986

Casualty

Casualty

Mick McCarthur · (1 episode)

6.1

1986

Casualty

Casualty

Arthur · (4 episodes)

6.1

1986

Silas Marner

Silas Marner

William Dane

5.6

1985

The Bright Side

(6 episodes)

5.0

1985

Which Side Are You On?

Which Side Are You On?

Narrator (voice)

6.5

1985

The Bill

The Bill

(1 episode)

6.7

1984

Doll’s Eye

Doll’s Eye

Social Worker

1.0

1983

P.Q. 17

P.Q. 17

PO Jordan

0.0

1981

A Room for the Winter

Robert

1.0

1981

Tenko

Tenko

POW · (1 episode)

8.1

1981

A Brush with Mr. Porter on the Road to El Dorado

A Brush with Mr. Porter on the Road to El Dorado

Tom

0.0

1981

Happy

Happy

Vernon

0.0

1980

Minder

Minder

Palmer · (1 episode)

6.8

1979

Cries from a Watchtower

Cries from a Watchtower

Andy

0.0

1979

Travellers

Travellers

Young William/Middle William/Sales Rep

0.0

1978

The Turkey Who Lives on the Hill

The Turkey Who Lives on the Hill

Bill

0.0

1978

Treasure Island

Treasure Island

(4 episodes)

6.0

1977

BBC2 Play of the Week

BBC2 Play of the Week

Finnegan · (1 episode)

7.0

1977

BBC2 Play of the Week

BBC2 Play of the Week

Bill · (1 episode)

7.0

1977

Secret Army

Secret Army

Eric Finch · (1 episode)

7.5

1977

A Bridge Too Far

A Bridge Too Far

Pvt. Wicks

7.2

1977

Arnhem: The Story of an Escape

Arnhem: The Story of an Escape

Finnegan

4.0

1976

Days of Hope

Days of Hope

Ben Matthews · (4 episodes)

6.2

1975

Alfie Darling

Alfie Darling

Bakey

4.5

1975

Diane

Diane

Jim

4.0

1975

Playhouse

Playhouse

Jim · (1 episode)

7.0

1974

Playhouse

Playhouse

Vernon · (1 episode)

7.0

1974

Speech Day

Speech Day

Woodwork Master

0.0

1973

Play for Today

Play for Today

(2 episodes)

6.3

1970

Play for Today

Play for Today

Andy · (1 episode)

6.3

1970

BBC Play of the Month

BBC Play of the Month

(1 episode)

5.0

1965