Proud Canadian Kim Coates charts his rise from Sask. jock to Hollywood star

How do you go from growing up in Saskatoon, and going to the University of Saskatchewan, to becoming a Hollywood actor featured in blockbuster TV and movies? 

Kim Coates has one answer — he chalks it up to fate. Before going to university, he described himself as a jock who loved hockey and his classic car, and who'd never even seen a play in a theatre.

"I was going to be a history teacher," he told CBC's This is Saskatchewan in its latest podcast featuring the Sask. actor's rise to fame. 

But when the word "drama" popped out at him as a potential elective he could take at the U of S, he signed up, thinking the class would be an easy pass.

"And the rest is history."

LISTEN: Actor Kim Coates chats fame and success with This is Saskatchewan:

This is Saskatchewan26:41Saskatoon to stardom: Actor Kim Coates reflects on his prairie roots

As we roll through summer movie and TV season, we check in with one of Saskatchewan’s most successful exports: Sons of Anarchy star Kim Coates. He explains why being from Saskatoon is his super power.

It started a love of acting on stage. He's still the youngest person to ever play Macbeth at the Stratford Festival in Ontario. He segued into a movie career with roles in Waterworld, Pearl Harbour and Black Hawk Down, and grew into starring roles in shows like Sons of Anarchy and The Walking Dead: Dead City.

"I had no idea about the power about being on a show like Sons, which was so huge around the world and what that can do to your career," he said.

Next up, Coates has a new rom-com coming out with funny man and friend Kevin James that will be released on Valentine's Day. He also recently wrapped filming in Calgary for a new movie that's yet to be announced.

Through it all, Coates has stayed connected to Saskatchewan — his family still lives in Saskatoon — even though he has dual U.S-Canada citizenship. 

"I just feel at home in Canada and I knew I always would," he said, describing the current state of the U.S. as a "horror show." 

"And so for me to be a proud Canadian and talk about it every day that I get the opportunity to," he said. "I'll never stop. This is the greatest country in the world."

This story is from the This is Saskatchewan podcast — your connection to the stories Saskatchewan is talking about. Every week, the podcast covers local issues that matter. Hear the voices that are creating change, shaping policy and fuelling creativity in Saskatchewan.

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