Paul Copley
An image from Hornblower: The Frogs and the Lobsters, one of the productions that also features Paul Copley.
Paul Copley

Paul Copley

November 25, 1944 — 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.

Downton Abbey

Downton Abbey

2010

Jude

Jude

1996

Zulu Dawn

Zulu Dawn

1979

Last Tango in Halifax

Last Tango in Halifax

2012

Hornblower: The Even Chance

Hornblower: The Even Chance

1998

Hornblower: The Examination for Lieutenant

Hornblower: The Examination for Lieutenant

1998

Hornblower: Mutiny

Hornblower: Mutiny

2001

Hornblower: The Frogs and the Lobsters

Hornblower: The Frogs and the Lobsters

1999