Brendan's Bio

A short biography of Brendan Coyle
by Stacy L.A. Stronach, © 2004
(This article is only as accurate as the sources I pulled the information from. Please be aware there may be errors, and that there certainly are omissions, herein.)

David Coyle (later to take the stage name of Brendan Coyle) was born in Corby, Northamptonshire on 2 December 1963¹ to an Irish father and Scottish mother; his parents moved to Corby from County Tyrone, Ireland. Brendan has at least one brother. Brendan holds Irish citizenship and has previously lived in Dublin and London. However, according to a video clip from the site for "Rockface" he currently resides in Norfolk His mother and brother both still live in the Corby area. In the mid to late 90s, Brendan was dating/living with film editor/director Emer Reynolds. Currently, (as of February 2004) Brendan is single².

Brendan is also the great nephew of football (ie soccer) legend Sir Matt Busby of Manchester United fame. "Brendan was hit hard by Sir Matt's death in January 1994. 'I was in America when he died and the shock didn't hit me until saw the newspapers a day later. He was on the front of all of them. There were pictures of children crying outside Old Trafford and I was amazed to see what an impact he'd had on these kids. Sadly, I couldn't get to the funeral but I was incredibly moved by the turnout. I get a lump in my throat even now. I still miss him. He was a gracious and humble man who emanated such charisma.' "

Brendan's father was a butcher, and he worked in his dad's shop for a year after he left school, and he had no real plans to become an actor. "I'd always worked in my father's shop so I had some skills when I took the job. I trained as a trimmer which meant I had to get rid of the gristle and fat and make it into presentable meat. I didn't like the job. Cows would come in at one end and go out in boxes at the other. Now I'm a vegetarian." His father died when Brendan was a young man, and he says, " 'When my father died, I became disillusioned and needed something in my life. Although I'd never acted at school, I had been impressed by going to see Richard III on stage while I was doing my '0' Levels. I got turned on by the thought of acting and heard about this aunt in Dublin who ran a theatre there. I rang her up and finished up at drama school.' "

The drama school in Dublin, founded in the late 1960s as the Focus Theatre, was co founded by his cousin (aunt?)³ Mary Elizabeth Burke-Kennedy. Brendan started there in 1981 and then received a scholarship to Mountview Theatre School in England in 1983. He has since directed at least two plays at Mountview since leaving there.

"Brendan still has fond memories of his stage debut. 'I toured Ireland as a stage manager with a company called Trapdoor and did a number of bit parts. The first was as a waiter in a P.G. Wodehouse play where I had to walk on carrying a tray with a glass of port on it. I was so nervous I nearly spilt it. I became a comedy shaking waiter, I think the audience thought it was part of the play! I also had to make pig noises offstage...' "

Since that time, Brendan has done a number of stage, television, and movie productions, including the play "The Weir" for which he won an Olivier award Best Supporting Performance for his portrayal of the barkeeper, Brendan. To see some of his other credits, please visit the Credits page of this site. (While I'm sure it's not totally complete, it's as complete as I've been able to make it.)

¹His date of birth, 2nd December was provided by Christina who asked him. The year of birth is from an article which stated he was 35 in spring of 99 (which means he turned 35 in 98, thus 1963).

²Again, thanks to Christina, who asked Brendan about this. It may have changed by now, I honestly can't say.

³One article said it was a cousin, while another quoted Brendan as saying it was an aunt, in Dublin.

This biography was compiled by Stacy L.A. Stronach from various sources, with a very special "Thank you" to Christina for asking Brendan some pertinent questions. And to Brendan for answering them!:)

Brendan was born in Corby, Northamptonshire, the son of an Irish father and Scots mother. He now lives between Dublin and London but feels like an outsider in both countries. "In Ireland I'm a 'blow-in' and in England I'm a Paddy," he laughs, "but it doesn't bother me."

Brendan Coyle has worked extensively in the theatre and won a Laurence Olivier Award as Best Supporting Actor in 1999 for The Weir in which he appeared at the Royal Court and on Broadway. Brendan's TV credits are: Soft Sand Blue Sea; Silent Witness; Thieftakers; The Glass Virgin; The Full Wax. His film credits are: I Could Read The Sky; The General; Tomorrow Never Dies; The Cull; Last Bus Home; Ailsa.
Taken from the "Rebel heart" website. Copyright © BBC Northern Ireland / Picture Palace Productions

Brendan Coyle appeared in John Boorman's film The General and the Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies. His television work includes Soft Sand, Blue Sea for Centurion Films and Silent Witness for the BBC. His theatre work includes The Changing Room at The Duke of York's Theatre, The Silver Tassie at the Almeida, A Love Song for Ulster for the Tricycle Theatre and The Ragged Trousered Philanthropist for the Royal National Theatre. He is currently appearing in The Weir for the Royal Court Theatre which transfers to Broadway in February and for which he won the 1999 Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Taken from: Cinema.com: Brendan Coyle - Biography

Brendan (David) Coyle (Actor) last seen in the ITV series Thief Takers. Played the part of DS Bob "Bingo" Tate. Has also been seen in various BBC productions. His mother and brother still live in Corby.
Taken from a website about the town/village of Corby.
I was curious as to whether "David" was his real first name or middle name. My question has been answered! Many thanks to John M. who emailed me, confirming that David is his real first name.

Playing 'Bingo' Tate in Thief Takers has helped to establish Brendan Coyle as a heart-throb with a strong female following - but no-one could be more surprised than the actor himself

"It's really bizarre - when I started out acting I always played villains and appeared in some heavy political roles. I've played a rapist twice and terrorists on both sides of the religious divide in Northern Ireland.

"But my big break on television came in Catherine Cookson's 'The Glass Virgin'. Even though my character killed someone, the series had a huge impact and changed the way people saw me. Since then I've been cast as a ladies' man in 'THIEF TAKERS' and Amanda Burton's poet lover in 'Silent Witness'.

"I'm spotted probably every day and get lots of letters and one woman has even started a fan club for me. I love being recognised, but my girlfriend keeps my feet firmly on the ground. She laughs at all the attention and calls me 'Bimbo Tate'!"

The son of an Irish father and Scottish mother, Brendan grew up in Corby, Northamptonshire, where he started his working life in a far from glamorous role - helping in his father's butcher's shop. In those days, Brendan was best known as the great-nephew of footballing legend Sir Matt Busby of Manchester United fame.

Brendan is now planning to move to Dublin to share a home with his girlfriend Emer, a film editor. "We met when I was starring in a low budget art house movie called Ailsa, which was set in Ireland. Emer was the film editor so she spent weeks looking at my face and listening to my voice and fell in love with the person on screen, although she had never met me.

"After we finished I had to go back to do some sound dubbing and we ended up going out for a drink together. I fell for her immediately and luckily she liked the real me too!"