
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.
Known For

Rose Ayling-Ellis: Old Hands, New Tricks
Narrator (voice) · (2 episodes)
2025

Ticker
Howard
2023

Downton Abbey: A New Era
Mason
2022

The Infectious Imagination of Henry Bramble
Great Uncle Geoffrey
2021

Reg
2016

First Encounter: King Lear
King Lear
2012

Marian, Again
Phillip Walsh
2005

The Key
2003

Hornblower: Duty
Matthews
2003

Hornblower: Loyalty
Matthews
2003

Hornblower: Mutiny
Mathews
2001

Blow Dry
Ken
2001

Hornblower: The Frogs and the Lobsters
Mathews
1999

Hornblower: The Duchess and the Devil
Matthews
1999

Hornblower: The Examination for Lieutenant
Mathews
1998

Hornblower: The Even Chance
Matthews
1998

Written in Blood
Brian Chappel
1998

Jude
Mr. Willis
1996

The Remains of the Day
Harry Smith
1993

Testimony of a Child
Gerry
1989

Bird Fancier
Roy Pearson
1985
Ends and Means
1983

Ghost in the Water
Mr. Reed
1982

Death of a Princess
Steve Jackson
1980

Black Jack
Narrator
1979

Zulu Dawn
Cpl. Storey
1979

On a Paving Stone Mounted
1978

Mucking Out
Brian Wilson
1978

Destiny
Paul McShane
1978
Some Enchanted Evening
Peter
1978

A Christmas Carol
Fred (Scrooge's Nephew)
1977

Father Dear Father
Dumbo
1973
Dangerous Journey
Narrator

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale
Albert Mason
2025

DI Ray
Terry Hunter · (1 episode)
2022

Enola Holmes
Station Master
2020

Ropeless
Larry Windsor
2020

On the Edge
Ray · (1 episode)
2018

Broken
Joe Kerrigan · (6 episodes)
2017

The Nest Egg
2016

The Sound of Music Live!
Franz
2015

The Coroner
John Roxwell · (1 episode)
2015

Code of a Killer
Sidney Jeffreys · (2 episodes)
2015

Inside No. 9
Ernie · (1 episode)
2014

Father Brown
Mr Feste · (1 episode)
2013

Carved with Love: The Genius of British Woodwork
Narrator · (3 episodes)
2013

Last Tango in Halifax
(7 episodes)
2012

Last Tango in Halifax
Harry · (24 episodes)
2012

White Heat
Alan (present day) · (6 episodes)
2012

Call the Midwife
Tommy Smith · (1 episode)
2012

Vera
Malcolm Kenrich · (1 episode)
2011

Downton Abbey
Mr. Mason · (11 episodes)
2010

Moving On
Ronnie · (1 episode)
2009

Survivors
Ted · (1 episode)
2008

Inspector George Gently
(1 episode)
2008

The Shadow in the North
Paton
2007

Kingdom
Vincent Straker · (1 episode)
2007

Torchwood
Clement McDonald · (4 episodes)
2006

When Kim & Aggie Went To Hospital
Self - Narrator (voice)
2006

The Street
(1 episode)
2006

Johnny and the Bomb
Sgt. Bourke · (3 episodes)
2006

Life on Mars
Reg Cole · (1 episode)
2006

Dead Man Weds
Blind Man · (6 episodes)
2005

No Angels
(1 episode)
2004

New Tricks
(1 episode)
2004

How Clean Is Your House?
(0 episode)
2003

How Clean Is Your House?
Self - Narrator (voice) · (74 episodes)
2003

Burn It
Terry Grimshaw · (10 episodes)
2003

The Royal
Nesbitt · (1 episode)
2003
Nice Guy Eddie
(1 episode)
2002

Born and Bred
Hubert Gough · (1 episode)
2002

The Many Lives of Albert Walker
Danny Peck
2002

Waking the Dead
(1 episode)
2001

Waking the Dead
Clifford Day · (1 episode)
2001

Messiah
Ian Fleet · (2 episodes)
2001

Hornblower: Retribution
Matthews
2001

Clocking Off
(1 episode)
2000

Queer as Folk
Roy Maloney · (2 episodes)
1999

The Worst Witch
Algernon Rowan-Webb · (2 episodes)
1998

The Worst Witch
Algernon Rowan Webb · (3 episodes)
1998

Hornblower
Matthews · (8 episodes)
1998

The Lakes
Peter Quinlan · (14 episodes)
1997

Midsomer Murders
Frank Dewar · (1 episode)
1997

This Life
Jerry Cook · (6 episodes)
1996

Dalziel & Pascoe
(1 episode)
1996

Silent Witness
(3 episodes)
1996

Roughnecks
Ian · (13 episodes)
1994

A Pinch of Snuff
Charlie Heppelwhite
1994

Cracker
Pathologist · (5 episodes)
1993
Harry
Thomas Thomas · (1 episode)
1993

Peak Practice
Tim Shardlow · (1 episode)
1993

Peak Practice
DS Patrick Hopkins · (2 episodes)
1993

Heartbeat
Dick Radcliffe · (1 episode)
1992

Heartbeat
Herbie Lloyd · (1 episode)
1992

Heartbeat
Malcolm Stainsby · (1 episode)
1992
How's Business
Jack
1991

Stay Lucky
(1 episode)
1989

The Paradise Club
Mousey Pavitt · (1 episode)
1989

Young Charlie Chaplin
Chimnery Sweep · (1 episode)
1989

Theban Plays: Oedipus at Colonus
Local Man
1986

Casualty
Frederick Chambers · (1 episode)
1986

Casualty
Mick McCarthur · (1 episode)
1986

Casualty
Arthur · (4 episodes)
1986

Silas Marner
William Dane
1985
The Bright Side
(6 episodes)
1985

Which Side Are You On?
Narrator (voice)
1985

The Bill
(1 episode)
1984

Doll’s Eye
Social Worker
1983

P.Q. 17
PO Jordan
1981
A Room for the Winter
Robert
1981

Tenko
POW · (1 episode)
1981

A Brush with Mr. Porter on the Road to El Dorado
Tom
1981

Happy
Vernon
1980

Minder
Palmer · (1 episode)
1979

Cries from a Watchtower
Andy
1979

Travellers
Young William/Middle William/Sales Rep
1978

The Turkey Who Lives on the Hill
Bill
1978

Treasure Island
(4 episodes)
1977

BBC2 Play of the Week
Finnegan · (1 episode)
1977

BBC2 Play of the Week
Bill · (1 episode)
1977

Secret Army
Eric Finch · (1 episode)
1977

A Bridge Too Far
Pvt. Wicks
1977

Arnhem: The Story of an Escape
Finnegan
1976

Days of Hope
Ben Matthews · (4 episodes)
1975

Alfie Darling
Bakey
1975

Diane
Jim
1975

Playhouse
Jim · (1 episode)
1974

Playhouse
Vernon · (1 episode)
1974

Speech Day
Woodwork Master
1973

Play for Today
(2 episodes)
1970

Play for Today
Andy · (1 episode)
1970

BBC Play of the Month
(1 episode)
1965