Prolific actor became a star in biker-gang series
While growing up, Kim Coates, who was born in Saskatoon on Feb. 21, 1958, never considered pursuing acting as a career.
But after fatefully enrolling in a drama course at the University of Saskatchewan, he knew it was what he wanted to spend his life pursuing.
“I took drama by chance, even though I’d never taken a drama course or even been in a play in high school. Two years later, I was majoring in drama and I knew I wanted to be an actor. I still remember the teachers; they had a huge influence on me and were instrumental in becoming who I am today,” Coates said
Although his onscreen acting career spans three decades, he has only recently begun to see himself in the spotlight thanks to his portrayal of Alex (Tig) Trager in the FX series Sons of Anarchy. With more than 100 acting credits to his name in everything from Broadway to TV, film and even voice acting in video games, Coates has played many characters but is known best for playing a villain.
“Listen, everybody is typecast,” Coates told the Calgary Herald. “Every actor is either a leading man or a character actor or an ingenue. You’re pretty or you’re fat. I’ve got blue eyes. I’ve got these cheekbones. I’ve got a big nose. Yeah, I’m a tough guy. But I love to mix it up.”
Coates has lived with his wife and two daughters in Los Angeles since the mid-’90s, becoming a dual citizen in 2010, but he frequently returns home to visit family and lend support to local charities.
“I love Canada and I always come back as much as I can,” he said.