Actor profile

Paul Copley

25th November 1944 Denby Dale, West Yorkshire, England, UK Acting

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.

57 Movies 77 TV Shows 147 Credits

Filmography

Movies & TV Shows

Big Winners poster

Big Winners 20th November 2025 as Arthur Thistle

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale poster

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale 10th September 2025 as Albert Mason

Ticker poster

Ticker 11th August 2023 as Howard

Downton Abbey: A New Era poster

Downton Abbey: A New Era 27th April 2022 as Mason

The Infectious Imagination of Henry Bramble poster

The Infectious Imagination of Henry Bramble 7th October 2021 as Great Uncle Geoffrey

Enola Holmes poster

Enola Holmes 22nd September 2020 as Station Master

Ropeless poster

Ropeless 22nd August 2020 as Larry Windsor

Reg poster

Reg 6th June 2016 as Man 2

The Nest Egg poster

The Nest Egg 1st January 2016

The Sound of Music Live! poster

The Sound of Music Live! 20th December 2015 as Franz

The 12 Days of Christine poster

The 12 Days of Christine 2nd April 2015 as Ernie

First Encounter: King Lear poster

First Encounter: King Lear 1st June 2012 as King Lear

The Shadow in the North poster

The Shadow in the North 15th September 2007 as Paton

When Kim & Aggie Went To Hospital poster

When Kim & Aggie Went To Hospital 30th August 2006 as Self - Narrator (voice)

Marian, Again poster

Marian, Again 5th September 2005 as Phillip Walsh

The Key poster

The Key 16th September 2003

Hornblower: Duty poster

Hornblower: Duty 6th January 2003 as Matthews

Hornblower: Loyalty poster

Hornblower: Loyalty 5th January 2003 as Matthews

The Many Lives of Albert Walker poster

The Many Lives of Albert Walker 24th March 2002 as Danny Peck

Hornblower: Retribution poster

Hornblower: Retribution 15th April 2001 as Matthews

Hornblower: Mutiny poster

Hornblower: Mutiny 8th April 2001 as Mathews

Blow Dry poster

Blow Dry 1st March 2001 as Ken

Hornblower: The Frogs and the Lobsters poster

Hornblower: The Frogs and the Lobsters 2nd April 1999 as Mathews

Hornblower: The Duchess and the Devil poster

Hornblower: The Duchess and the Devil 24th February 1999 as Matthews

Hornblower: The Examination for Lieutenant poster

Hornblower: The Examination for Lieutenant 18th November 1998 as Mathews

Hornblower: The Even Chance poster

Hornblower: The Even Chance 7th October 1998 as Matthews

Written in Blood poster

Written in Blood 2nd June 1998 as Brian Chappel

Jude poster

Jude 6th February 1996 as Mr. Willis

A Pinch of Snuff poster

A Pinch of Snuff 9th April 1994 as Charlie Heppelwhite

The Remains of the Day poster

The Remains of the Day 5th November 1993 as Harry Smith

Testimony of a Child poster

Testimony of a Child 5th July 1989 as Gerry

Theban Plays: Oedipus at Colonus poster

Theban Plays: Oedipus at Colonus 17th September 1986 as Local Man

Silas Marner poster

Silas Marner 30th December 1985 as William Dane

Which Side Are You On? poster

Which Side Are You On? 8th April 1985 as Narrator (voice)

Bird Fancier poster

Bird Fancier 15th January 1985 as Roy Pearson

Doll’s Eye poster

Doll’s Eye 23rd February 1983 as Social Worker

Ghost in the Water poster

Ghost in the Water 31st December 1982 as Mr. Reed

P.Q. 17 poster

P.Q. 17 15th December 1981 as PO Jordan

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

A Brush with Mr. Porter on the Road to El Dorado 20th January 1981 as Tom

Happy poster

Happy 25th April 1980 as Vernon

Death of a Princess poster

Death of a Princess 9th April 1980 as Steve Jackson

Cries from a Watchtower poster

Cries from a Watchtower 18th October 1979 as Andy

Black Jack poster

Black Jack 9th September 1979 as Narrator

Zulu Dawn poster

Zulu Dawn 14th May 1979 as Cpl. Storey

On a Paving Stone Mounted poster

On a Paving Stone Mounted 12th December 1978

Travellers poster

Travellers 9th October 1978 as Young William/Middle William/Sales Rep

Mucking Out poster

Mucking Out 6th May 1978 as Brian Wilson

The Turkey Who Lives on the Hill poster

The Turkey Who Lives on the Hill 15th February 1978 as Bill

Destiny poster

Destiny 31st January 1978 as Paul McShane

A Christmas Carol poster

A Christmas Carol 24th December 1977 as Fred (Scrooge's Nephew)

A Bridge Too Far poster

A Bridge Too Far 15th June 1977 as Pvt. Wicks

Arnhem: The Story of an Escape poster

Arnhem: The Story of an Escape 17th November 1976 as Finnegan

The Chester Mystery Plays poster

The Chester Mystery Plays 18th April 1976

Alfie Darling poster

Alfie Darling 17th July 1975 as Bakey

Diane poster

Diane 9th July 1975 as Jim

Father Dear Father poster

Father Dear Father 25th May 1973 as Dumbo

Speech Day poster

Speech Day 26th March 1973 as Woodwork Master

Play for Today poster

Play for Today 13th November 2025 as Arthur Thistle

Rose Ayling-Ellis: Old Hands, New Tricks poster

Rose Ayling-Ellis: Old Hands, New Tricks 26th March 2025 as Narrator (voice)

DI Ray poster

DI Ray 2nd May 2022 as Terry Hunter

On the Edge poster

On the Edge 14th August 2018 as Ray

Trust Me poster

Trust Me 8th August 2017 as Arthur Hardacre

Broken poster

Broken 30th May 2017 as Joe Kerrigan

The Coroner poster

The Coroner 16th November 2015 as John Roxwell

Code of a Killer poster

Code of a Killer 6th April 2015 as Sidney Jeffreys

Inside No. 9 poster

Inside No. 9 5th February 2014 as Ernie

Father Brown poster

Father Brown 14th January 2013 as Mr Feste

Carved with Love: The Genius of British Woodwork poster

Carved with Love: The Genius of British Woodwork 10th January 2013 as Narrator

Last Tango in Halifax poster

Last Tango in Halifax 20th November 2012

Last Tango in Halifax poster

Last Tango in Halifax 20th November 2012 as Harry

White Heat poster

White Heat 8th March 2012 as Alan (present day)

Call the Midwife poster

Call the Midwife 15th January 2012 as Tommy Smith

Vera poster

Vera 1st May 2011 as Malcolm Kenrich

Downton Abbey poster

Downton Abbey 26th September 2010 as Mr. Mason

Moving On poster

Moving On 18th May 2009 as Ronnie

Survivors poster

Survivors 23rd November 2008 as Ted

Inspector George Gently poster

Inspector George Gently 8th April 2008

Kingdom poster

Kingdom 22nd April 2007 as Vincent Straker

Torchwood poster

Torchwood 22nd October 2006 as Clement McDonald

The Street poster

The Street 13th April 2006

Johnny and the Bomb poster

Johnny and the Bomb 15th January 2006 as Sgt. Bourke

Life on Mars poster

Life on Mars 9th January 2006 as Reg Cole

Dead Man Weds poster

Dead Man Weds 5th January 2005 as Blind Man

Shameless poster

Shameless 13th January 2004 as Norman Owens

New Tricks poster

New Tricks 1st January 2004 as Pat the Rat

How Clean Is Your House? poster

How Clean Is Your House? 21st May 2003

How Clean Is Your House? poster

How Clean Is Your House? 21st May 2003 as Self - Narrator (voice)

Burn It poster

Burn It 8th February 2003 as Terry Grimshaw

The Afternoon Play poster

The Afternoon Play 27th January 2003 as Dave

The Royal poster

The Royal 19th January 2003 as Nesbitt

Born and Bred poster

Born and Bred 21st April 2002 as Hubert Gough

Waking the Dead poster

Waking the Dead 18th June 2001

Waking the Dead poster

Waking the Dead 18th June 2001 as Clifford Day

Messiah poster

Messiah 26th May 2001 as Ian Fleet

Queer as Folk poster

Queer as Folk 23rd February 1999 as Roy Maloney

The Worst Witch poster

The Worst Witch 22nd October 1998 as Algernon Rowan-Webb

The Worst Witch poster

The Worst Witch 22nd October 1998 as Algernon Rowan Webb

Hornblower poster

Hornblower 7th October 1998 as Matthews

The Lakes poster

The Lakes 14th September 1997 as Peter Quinlan

Midsomer Murders poster

Midsomer Murders 23rd March 1997 as Frank Dewar

This Life poster

This Life 18th March 1996 as Jerry Cook

Silent Witness poster

Silent Witness 21st February 1996

Roughnecks poster

Roughnecks 16th June 1994 as Ian

Cracker poster

Cracker 27th September 1993 as Pathologist

Peak Practice poster

Peak Practice 10th May 1993 as Tim Shardlow

Peak Practice poster

Peak Practice 10th May 1993 as DS Patrick Hopkins

Heartbeat poster

Heartbeat 10th April 1992 as Dick Radcliffe

Heartbeat poster

Heartbeat 10th April 1992 as Herbie Lloyd

Heartbeat poster

Heartbeat 10th April 1992 as Malcolm Stainsby

Stay Lucky poster

Stay Lucky 8th December 1989

The Paradise Club poster

The Paradise Club 19th September 1989 as Mousey Pavitt

Young Charlie Chaplin poster

Young Charlie Chaplin 25th January 1989 as Chimnery Sweep

Casualty poster

Casualty 6th September 1986 as Frederick Chambers

Casualty poster

Casualty 6th September 1986 as Mick McCarthur

Casualty poster

Casualty 6th September 1986 as Arthur

The Bill poster

The Bill 16th October 1984

Big Deal poster

Big Deal 14th October 1984 as Max

The Gathering Seed poster

The Gathering Seed 7th September 1983 as Bob Henshaw

Tenko poster

Tenko 22nd October 1981 as POW

Minder poster

Minder 29th October 1979 as Palmer

Strangers poster

Strangers 5th June 1978 as Des White

Treasure Island poster

Treasure Island 16th October 1977

BBC2 Play of the Week poster

BBC2 Play of the Week 21st September 1977 as Finnegan

BBC2 Play of the Week poster

BBC2 Play of the Week 21st September 1977 as Bill

Secret Army poster

Secret Army 7th September 1977 as Eric Finch

Trinity Tales poster

Trinity Tales 21st November 1975 as Dave the Joiner

Days of Hope poster

Days of Hope 11th September 1975 as Ben Matthews

Churchill's People poster

Churchill's People 30th December 1974 as Viventius

Playhouse poster

Playhouse 13th March 1974 as Jim

Playhouse poster

Playhouse 13th March 1974 as Vernon

Play for Today poster

Play for Today 15th October 1970

Play for Today poster

Play for Today 15th October 1970 as Andy

ITV Playhouse poster

ITV Playhouse 25th September 1967 as Peter

BBC Play of the Month poster

BBC Play of the Month 19th October 1965