About
Brendan Coyle (born 2 December 1962) is a British-Irish actor. He won the Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role for The Weir in 1999. He also played Nicholas Higgins in the miniseries North & South, Robert Timmins in the first three series of Lark Rise to Candleford, and more recently Mr Bates, the valet, in Downton Abbey, which earned him a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series and a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Brendan Coyle was born David Coyle in Corby, Northamptonshire, on 2 December 1962, the son of a Patrick B Coyle and Bedelia M B Anderson. He has an older brother named Shaun Due to his British birth and Irish heritage, he holds both British and Irish citizenship. He is the great-nephew of football manager Sir Matt Busby. He studied drama in Dublin in 1981 and received a scholarship to...
Known for
Silent WitnessSeries • 1996
Downton AbbeySeries • 2010
ShamelessSeries • 2004
The BillSeries • 1984
Waking the DeadSeries • 2001
12 MonkeysSeries • 2015
Prime SuspectSeries • 1991
Me Before YouMovie • 2016
The JacketMovie • 2005
Lark Rise to CandlefordSeries • 2008
Toxic TownSeries • 2025
Mary Queen of ScotsMovie • 2018
Tomorrow Never DiesMovie • 1997
Downton AbbeyMovie • 2019
Blue MurderSeries • 2003
North & SouthSeries • 2004
DangerfieldSeries • 1995
Downton Abbey: A New EraMovie • 2022
Downton Abbey: The Grand FinaleMovie • 2025
RequiemSeries • 2018
The RavenMovie • 2012
SpotlessSeries • 2015
ConspiracyMovie • 2001
The GeneralMovie • 1998