Paul Copley
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Paul Copley | |
|---|---|
 Copley in 2012 | |
| Born | Paul Mackriell Copley 25 November 1944 Denby Dale,West Riding of Yorkshire,England |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1972–present |
| Spouse | |
| Website | http://www.paulcopley.actor |
Paul Mackriell Copley(born 25 November 1944) is an English actor. From 2011 to 2015 he appeared asMr. Mason,father ofWilliam Mason,in 16 episodes ofDownton Abbey,and from 2020 to 2021, he appeared in theITVsoap operaCoronation StreetasArthur Medwin.
Early life
[edit]Copley was born inDenby Dale,West Riding of Yorkshire,and grew up beside a dairy farm there. His father, Harold, was involved with local amateur dramatic productions, as were the rest of his family. He went toPenistone Grammar School,then to theNorthern Counties College of EducationinNewcastle upon Tyne,where he received an Associate of the Drama Board (ADB) in Drama. He taught English and Drama inWalthamstow,before he joined theLeeds Playhouse Theatre-in-education Company in 1971.[1]
Career
[edit]Copley was the male lead character in the four-part BBC seriesDays of Hopein 1975, which depicted events between theFirst World Warand theGeneral Strikefrom a family involved in socialist politics.[2]
In 1976, Copley won theLaurence Olivier Award for Actor of the Year in a New Playfor his role in John Wilson'sFor King and Country.[3]
After appearing as Private Wicks in the filmA Bridge Too Far(1977), he played a small but noticeable role inZulu Dawn(1979) as Cpl Storey in theBritish Army.He appeared in the then controversialATVdramaDeath of a Princess(1980), playing a British witness to the killing of an Arabian princess and her lover. He has played Matthews inHornblower,Ian inRoughnecksand Jerry inThis Lifeand Peter Quinlan inThe Lakes.In the critically acclaimedQueer as Folkhe played Nathan Maloney's father. He was inBig Finish's July 2002Doctor WhostorySpare Partsand appeared inShamelessas awater sportsenthusiast. In 1980 he appeared in the highly successful comedy drama seriesMinderplaying George Palmer in episodeThe Old School Tie.He narrates theChannel 4programmeHow Clean Is Your House?.He featured in the ITV children's hit showBest Friendsin 2005–2006, playing the grandfather.
He is a regular actor inRadio 4drama, usually in gritty or romantic plays or series about hard-working folk set in the north of England, often repeated onBBC Radio 4 Extra.Whenever a genial Yorkshire accent has been cast in the BBC radio drama department, he has often been summoned. Copley played the long-suffering teacher Geoff Long in Radio 4's long runningKing Street Junior.Covering ten series and some seventy-six episodes, this ran on BBC Radio 4 from 1985 to 1998. He also narrated theYorkshire Televisionnine-part serial adaptation ofThe Pilgrim's Progress(1985) entitledDangerous Journey.
On 13 February 2006, Copley appeared as an angry hostage-taker in an episode of the crime dramaLife on Mars.Copley appeared in the TV SoapCoronation Streeton 8 August 2007, portraying a character calledIvor Priestley,and in the TV adaptation ofThe Worst Witchby Jill Murphy, as wizard and former-frog Algernon Rowan-Webb.
From 1998 to 2003, Copley played Mathews in theMeridian TelevisionseriesHornblower.He appeared as Clement MacDonald inChildren of Earth,the third series ofBBC OneshowTorchwood,in 2009. The following year, he was seen in episodes ofBBC OneshowsCasualtyandSurvivors.From 2011 to 2015 he appeared as Mr. Mason, father of William Mason, in 16 episodes of Downton Abbey; in 2012, he played Alan in the television seriesWhite Heat.
Between 2012 and 2020 he played Harry in 5 seasons of the TV seriesLast Tango in Halifax.In 2014 he played the part of Malcolm Kenrich in the episode "On Harbour Street" of the TV seriesVera.
In 2014 he narrated the Channel 5 programmeThe Railway – First Great Westernof which there are 12 episodes. He also features as the father inTom Wrigglesworth'sHang-Ups,a comedy on BBC Radio 4.
In 2016, he appeared in the BBC seriesThe Coronerepisode 2.4 "The Beast of Lighthaven" as John Roxwell.
In 2017, Copley appeared inJimmy McGovern's acclaimed seriesBroken,Red Production Company'sTrust Me,and in episode 5 ofDoc Martinhe played the eccentric Walter O'Donnell. He also took part inWhat Does an Idea Sound Likepromoting the Veterans Work Campaign and narratedA Celebrity Taste of ItalyforChannel 5.
In 2018, he played the role of Charlie Rainbird in the short filmThousand Yesterdays,currently in post production, and continues to voiceMorrisonsadvertisements on radio and television in the UK. Additionally in 2018, Copley played Charity Dingle's father Obadiah inEmmerdale.
On 7 February 2019, he made his first appearance as Leonard (Jill Archer's new love interest) in the BBC radio 4 soap operaThe Archers.
On 9 January 2020 he appeared as Feste inFather BrownonBBC1.[4]
Personal life
[edit]He married actressNatasha Pynein 1972, after performing with her in a Leeds Playhouse production ofFrank Wedekind'sLulu,adapted byPeter Barnesand directed by Bill Hays in 1971.
Filmography
[edit]- Coronation Street(1972–2021) as Photographer/Ivor Priestley/Arthur Medwin
- Alfie Darling(1975) as Bakey
- A Bridge Too Far(1977) as Private Wicks
- Treasure Island(1977) asBen Gunn
- Secret Army(1977) as Finch
- Strangers(1978) as Des White
- Zulu Dawn(1979) as Cpl. Storey
- Jackanory(1980) as Storyteller
- Doll's Eye(1982) as Social Worker
- Gruey(1988) as Mr Grucock
- War and Remembrance(1988) as Dagget
- Gruey Twoey(1989) as Mr Grucock
- Grange Hill(1989–1991) as St Joseph's Caretaker/Duncan Yeats
- The Bill(1990–2010) as Various Roles
- How's Business(1991) as Jack
- Heartbeat(1992) as Dick Radcliffe
- The Remains of the Day(1993) as Harry Smith
- ’’Dalziel & Pascoe(a pinch of snuff) 3 part series (1994)
- Casualty(1995–2010) as Frederick Chambers/Mick McCarthur/Arthur Dixon
- Jude(1996) as Mr. Willis
This Life as Jerry (1996)
- Hornblower: The Even Chance(1998) – Matthews
- Hornblower: The Examination for Lieutenant(1998) as Matthews
- Hornblower: The Duchess and the Devil(1999) as Matthews
- Hornblower: The Frogs and the Lobsters(1999) as Matthews
- The Worst Witch(1999) as Algernon Rowan-Webb
- Holby City(1999–2019) as Jeff Jones/ Ross Saunders/Roger Keelan
- Blow Dry(2001) as Ken
- Hornblower: Mutiny(2002) as Matthews
- Hornblower: Retribution(2002) as Matthews
- Dalziel and Pascoe(2002) as Jack Henslowe
- Hornblower: Loyalty(2003) as Matthews
- Hornblower: Duty(2003) as Matthews
- Johnny and the Bomb(2006) as Sgt Bourke
- Life on Mars(2006) as Angry Hostage-Taker Reg Cole
- Heartbeat(2004) as Herbie Lloyd
- Heartbeat(2006) as Malcolm Stainsby
- Doctors(2007–2018) as Various Roles
- Torchwood: Children of Earth:(2009) as Clement McDonald
- Downton Abbey(2011–2015) asMr Mason
- Last Tango in Halifax(2012–2020) as Harry
- Midsomer Murders(2014) as Frank Dewar
- Vera(2014) as Malcolm Kenrich
- Doc Martin(2017) as Walter O'Donnell
- Emmerdale(2018) asObadiah Dingle
- Father Brown(2020) as Feste
- Doctors(2021) asErnie Lynn[5]
- Downton Abbey: A New Era(2022) as Albert Mason
- Untitled Downton Abbey: A New Era sequel(2025) as Albert Mason
Radio
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019- | The Archers | Leonard Berry[6] | BBC Radio 4 Soap Opera |
| 2013 -2019 | Tom Wrigglesworth's Hang Ups | Dad[7] | |
| 2002-2005 | King Street Junior Revisited | Mr. Long | BBC Radio 4 |
| 1985-1998 | King Street Junior | Mr, Long | Also credited as Writer 1995-1998[8] |
| 1991 | The Railway Children | Perks | BBC Radio 5 |
References
[edit]- ^"Paul Copley – The Official Website – about",Paul Copley – The Official Website.Retrieved 2019-04-29.
- ^"BFI Screenonline: Days of Hope (1975)",BFI Screenonline.Retrieved 2018-03-20.
- ^"Official Winners 1976",Official London Theatre – Theatre Tickets, News & Guides.Retrieved 2018-03-20.
- ^Radio Times, Vol 384 No 4982, 4 to 10 January 2020.
- ^Timblick, Simon."'Doctors' spoilers: Karen Hollins has a BAD day! ".What to Watch.Retrieved26 October2021.
- ^"Leonard Berry".BBC.Retrieved22 January2021.
- ^"Tom Wrigglesworth's Hang Ups – Radio 4 Sitcom".British Comedy Guide.Retrieved22 January2021.
- ^"King Street Junior cast and crew credits".British Comedy Guide.Retrieved22 January2021.
External links
[edit]| International | |
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| National | |
