Brendan Coyle

• Name — Brendan Coyle • Birth Name — David Coyle • Born — 2 December 1962 • Birthplace — Corby, Northamptonshire, England • Occupation — Actor • Years Active — 1992–present • Relatives — Matt Busby (great-uncle)

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.

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.

Coyle divides his time between London and Norfolk. He is a fan of the football team Manchester United FC, which was managed by his great-uncle Matt Busby.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1990 — 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 film • 1995 — 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 episodes • 2001 — 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 episodes • 2004 — 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 — Ed — Television films • 2007 — 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

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

Brendan Coyle is established in Library of Congress under no2002088270. Recorded as television actor.