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.

Early life 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, 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 Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London in 1983.

Career Coyle received a Laurence Olivier Award in 1999 for his performance in Conor McPherson's The Weir and won a New York Critics Theater World Award for Outstanding Broadway Debut for the same play in its New York production. In 2001, Coyle appeared in the film Conspiracy as Gestapo Chief Heinrich Müller. He played Kaz Sweeney in the British drama True Dare Kiss, and Nicholas Higgins in North & South for the BBC.

From 2008 he played Robert Timmins in three BBC series based on the Lark Rise to Candleford novels, written by Flora Thompson. In 2010, he began playing John Bates, valet and former British Army batman to the Earl of Grantham in Julian Fellowes's period drama series, Downton Abbey. Fellowes wrote the part for Coyle, and it won him nominations for a BAFTA and IFTA, as well as a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Awards as Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2012. He also won three Screen Actors Guild Awards 2013–16. Coyle also played the character of Terry Starling in the short-lived Sky comedy series Starlings.

Personal life Coyle divides his time between London and Norfolk.Downton Abbey star aims to revamp his Norfolk home Retrieved 20/4/21. He is a fan of the football team Manchester United FC, which was managed by his great-uncle Matt Busby.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes Ref. 1994 Ailsa Miles Butler1995 The glass virgin Manuel Mendoza1997 The Last Bus Home Steve Burkett The Cull Short film Tomorrow Never Dies Leading Seaman – HMS Bedford1998 The General UVF Leader Soft Sand, Blue Sea Gerry Happy Birthday to Me Short film 1999 I Could Read the Sky Francie 2001 Mapmaker Robert Bates2005 The Jacket Damon Allegiance Michael Collins 2006 Offside Duncan Miller 2007 Alice in the City Mr. Sinclair Short film 2009 Perrier's Bounty Jerome 2012 The Raven Reagan2014 Noble Gerry Shaw The Tea Break Bob Short film2016 Me Before You Bernard Clark Unless Casper Brown Bare Mick 'The Irish Hammer' Short film 2018 Mary Queen of Scots Earl of Lennox 2019 Downton AbbeyJohn Bates 2022 Downton Abbey: A New Era 2025 Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale

Television Year Title Role Notes1990 London Calling Kevin Cahill Television film He-Play Mike Episode: "The Loser"1992 The Bill Chris Bailey Episode: "Radio Waves" Fool's Gold: The Story of the Brink's-Mat Robbery Det. Sgt. Benwell Television film1995 The Glass Virgin Manuel Mendoza Mini-series (3 episodes) Dangerfield David Walsh 2 episodes: "Victim of Rape: Parts 1 & 2" 1995–1996 Thief Takers DS/DI Bob 'Bingo' Tate Series 1 & 2 (17 episodes) 1996 Silent Witness Liam Slattery 2 episodes: "Darkness Visible: Parts 1 & 2"2000 McCready and Daughter Donal McCready Television film (pilot for series) Paths to Freedom Jeremy Fitzgerald 6 episodes2001 Rebel Heart Michael Collins Mini-series (4 episodes) The Inspector Lynley Mysteries Richard Tey Episode: "A Great Deliverance" The Bombmaker George McEvoy 2-part drama Conspiracy SS Maj Gen Heinrich Müller Television film McCready and Daughter Donal McCready 5 episodes 2002–2003 Rockface Douglas McLanaghan Series 1 & 2 (14 episodes)2003 Waking the Dead Martin Corgan 2 episodes: "Multistorey: Parts 1 & 2" Single Paul Barton 6 episodes2004 Amnesia DC Ian Reid Mini-series (2 episodes) Omagh Det. Sgt. John White Television film North & South Nicholas Higgins Mini-series (4 episodes)2005 Shameless Father Polish Episode: "The Big Day" Jericho Christie Mini-series (3 episodes) The Ghost Squad Sgt. Ralph Allan Episode: "Heroes"2006 The Commander: Blacklight Carl Dirkwood Television film New Tricks Hanson Henchman with Short Hair Episode: "Congratulations" (uncredited role) Soundproof DI Dave Cox Television film Prime Suspect: The Final Act DCS Mitchell Mini-series (2 episodes) Perfect Parents EdTelevision films2007 The Mark of Cain Davey Gulliver Wedding Belles Father Henry The Good Samaritan Lewis Farrell Damage Aidan Cahill True Dare Kiss Kaz Sweeney 6 episodes 2008–2010 Lark Rise to Candleford Robert Timmins Series 1–3 (31 episodes)2009 Inspector George Gently Patrick Donovan Episode: "Gently in the Night" Blue Murder Derek Jowell 2 episodes: "Private Sins: Parts 1 & 2" 2010–2015 Downton Abbey John Bates Series 1–6 (52 episodes)Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Nominated – BAFTA Television Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (2012) 2012–2013 Starlings Terry Starling Series 1 & 2 (16 episodes) 2013 Common Ground DCI Cockburn Episode: "Sunshine Simon"2015 Spotless Nelson Clay 10 episodes Murdoch Mysteries Mr. Rankin Episode: "A Merry Murdoch Christmas" 2016 12 Monkeys Dr. Benjamin Kalman Episode: "Year of the Monkey" 2018 Requiem Stephen Kendrick Mini-series (6 episodes) 2022 Riches Gideon Havelock 6 episodes 2024 Finders Keepers Denys Elland Mini-series (1 episode) 2025 Toxic Town Roy Thomas Mini-series (4 episodes) 2026 Hit Point TBA Upcoming thriller

Anderson Shelter Productions In July 2014, Brendan Coyle and Joy Harrison formed Anderson Shelter Productions Limited with the mission to "find talented young filmmakers" and assist in funding their short film projects. On 14 September 2014, Coyle announced via Twitter his involvement with Council Child Production's short film, Starcross.

# Title Release date Notes Ref. 1 Starcross (short film, Council Child Productions) Associate Producer 2 The Loneliest Time (short film, Time Bomb Pictures Ltd.) Associate Producer 3 Bare (short film, Council Child Productions) Executive Producer 3 Margie's Garden (short film, Council Child Productions) Executive Producer 4 Emerald City (feature film, Colin Broderick) Associate Producer

References

External links Brendan Coyle Fansite