Brendan Coyle

Brendan Coyle (born 2 December 1962) is a British-Irish actor known for his performances in various TV shows and movies. He gained recognition for winning the Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role for The Weir in 1999. Coyle portrayed Nicholas Higgins in the miniseries North & South and Robert Timmins in Lark Rise to Candleford. However, he is most widely known for his role as Mr Bates, the valet, in the popular TV series Downton Abbey. This garnered him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series and a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Coyle was born in Corby and holds both British and Irish citizenship due to his British birth and Irish heritage. He studied drama in Dublin before receiving a scholarship to Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London.