Brendan Coyle

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. He studied drama in Dublin in 1981 and received a scholarship to Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London in 1983. 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. He is a fan of the football team Manchester United FC, which was managed by his great-uncle Matt Busby. 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