Jason Cope

{{short description|South African actor}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2025}} {{Infobox person | name = Jason Cope | birth_place = United Kingdom | other_names = Benoit Franc | occupation = Actor | notable_works = ''Mermaids: The Body Found'',<br />''Dredd'' }}

'''Jason Cope''' is a British and South African actor. He starred and played multiple roles in the 2009 Academy Award-nominated science fiction film ''District 9''.

== Career == In 2004, Cope played a variety of roles on the second season of the SABC1 comedy show ''The Pure Monate Show''. In 2008, he played the character of Howard Weaver in the MNet miniseries ''Ella Blue''. The title character of the miniseries was portrayed by actress Nathalie Blott, who would go on to costar with Cope in the film ''District 9''. Since 2010, he has also played a "Field Reporter" on eTV's satirical news show ''Late Nite News with Loyiso Gola''.<ref>{{cite web | title = TVSA | url = http://www.tvsa.co.za/actorprofile.asp?actorid=8053 | accessdate = 15 January 2012}}</ref>

In the 2009 film ''District 9'', Cope played a variety of characters including the alien Christopher Johnson, created entirely through CGI using Cope's motion captured performance. This process creates a character modeled on the performance of an actor or actress, allowing for on-camera performances including interaction with the other cast members. He also played the character Grey Bradnam, one of the narrators of the film, and provided the majority of the background voice work in the film, including the cameraman Trent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetimes.co.za/Entertainment/Article.aspx?id=1050681 |title=Breaking SA and World News, Sports, Business, Entertainment and more – TimesLIVE |publisher=Thetimes.co.za |date=1 January 1970 |accessdate=17 October 2009 }}{{dead link|date=April 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmmaker.co.za/readarticle.php?article_id=5465 |title=Filmmaker South Africa |publisher=Filmmaker.co.za |accessdate=17 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303192251/http://www.filmmaker.co.za/readarticle.php?article_id=5465 |archivedate=3 March 2016 }}</ref> In a deleted scene of the movie, Cope also played a doctor at a clinic visited by the film's protagonist, who was seeking to have his arm amputated due to being infected with alien DNA. The scene is featured as part of the movie's DVD "extras."

In 2010, he also had a costarring role in the South African-produced film ''Spud'', opposite veteran actor John Cleese.<ref>{{cite web|title=SA Film a SPUD-ding Success |url=http://www.varsitylife.co.za/studentportal/ArticleDetails.aspx?ID=21c1d84b-8b43-48f2-9154-8e0a50696790&type=ENTERTAINMENT |accessdate=15 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110920174147/http://www.varsitylife.co.za/studentportal/ArticleDetails.aspx?ID=21c1d84b-8b43-48f2-9154-8e0a50696790&type=ENTERTAINMENT |archivedate=20 September 2011 }}</ref>

In 2012, Cope had a minor role in DREDD 3D as one of the thugs killed during the film's introduction sequence. In 2015, he played a Tetravaal Lead Mechanic in Neill Blomkamp's science-fiction film ''Chappie''.<ref>{{cite web | title = Chappie| url =http://bloody-disgusting.com/reviews/3334886/review-chappie-is-a-formulaic-crowdpleaser-crippled-by-die-antwoord/ | accessdate = 15 January 2012}}</ref>

== Filmography == * 2013: ''Spud 2: The Madness Continues'' — Sparerib * 2013: ''Dredd'' — Zwirner * 2012: ''Mermaids: The Body Found'' (TV documentary) — Dr. Rodney Webster * 2011: ''Spoon'' — Conway * 2010: ''Spud'' — Sparerib / Mr. Wilson * 2009: ''District 9'' — Grey Bradnam / Christopher Johnson * 2008: ''Doomsday'' — Wall guard * 2008: ''Ella Blue'' (TV series) — Howard Weaver * 2007: ''Big Fellas'' — Fabio / Wimpie * 2007: ''Flood'' — Young survivor * 2006: ''Bunny Chow'' — Cope * 2006: ''Alive in Joburg'' — UN Official / alien

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == *{{IMDb name|2271261|Jason Cope}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cope, Jason}} Category:Living people Category:South African male film actors Category:South African male television actors Category:South African people of British descent Category:Year of birth missing (living people)