DOSSIER - BRENDAN COYLE of DOWNTON ABBEY

 BRENDAN COYLE

“I see myself as a performer and that applies to a Greek drama or a modern comedy.”

BORN: December 2^nd, 1963 in Corby, Northamptonshire, England

BIRTH NAME: David Coyle

HEIGHT: 6'

Born to an Irish father and Scottish mother, his parents moved to Corby from County Tyrone, Ireland. Brendan holds Irish citizenship had has lived in Dublin and London. He is the great nephew of footballer legend Sir Matt Busby of Manchester.

Brendan trained at drama school in Dublin, starting there in 1981 and received a scholarship to Mountview Theatre School in England in 1983. He has directed at least two plays at Mountview since graduating there.

Brendan has performed on stage, television and movie productions. 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. Portraying a valet, Mr. Bates in Downton Abbey, he earned a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama series and a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Brendan spends his time between London and Norfolk. He is a Manchester United Football Club fan.

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