Kim Coates, celebrated for his intense, dynamic roles in television and film, took center stage in the latest episode of Debunking AI to discuss his character Brugal’s complex relationship with Negan in The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2. The episode, released this week, saw Coates respond to an AI chatbot’s attempts to recount his personal background and on-screen experiences, offering immediate corrections and revealing fresh insights about his upcoming projects. As artificial intelligence continues to influence entertainment reporting, Coates engaged with both the promise and the pitfalls of this emerging technology, clarifying rumors, stories, and misconceptions about his career in a candid, engaging conversation.
For many viewers, Kim Coates is best known as Alexander ‘Tig’ Trager in Sons of Anarchy, but his prolific career has spanned genres and decades, including a lead role in Bad Blood and a memorable turn as Wyatt Earp in American Primeval. Recently, his return to the small screen in The Walking Dead: Dead City has generated anticipation, especially after news broke that he will play Brugal, a cunning and unpredictable new force in post-apocalyptic Manhattan. The latest episode of Debunking AI provided Coates with a platform to address the nature of this new role, set the record straight on his career milestones, and supply behind-the-scenes details that fans are eager to absorb.
The episode began with the artificial intelligence attempting to recount Kim Coates’ middle name and early life. When the AI answered that his middle name was Frederick, Coates confirmed this, laughing as he quipped, “I thought it meant ‘Kim F***ing Coates’–I really did–for years and years.” The AI performed well in tracing his hometown—Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada—and Coates’ entry into acting, which began in a high school drama class. However, the bot faltered when discussing his breakout role, suggesting it was the film The Boy in Blue. Coates was quick to clarify, “False, AI. False.” He explained that although The Boy in Blue marked his film debut, his first true acting role was actually in a play called The Lottery, showing how even well-designed algorithms can miss crucial details about human experience and memory.
Other misfires included the AI’s claim that Coates was proficient in violin and bass guitar. Humorous in his response, Kim Coates admitted he had played those instruments for a role but confessed, “I’m such a slacker,” revealing, “I never picked them up again.” These honest confessions pulled back the curtain on the mechanics of acting careers and entertained viewers used to the polished persona he portrays on screen.
The topic soon shifted to Sons of Anarchy, a pivotal project in Kim Coates’ career. The AI assumed it was his favorite role, but Coates firmly stated, “I don’t have any favorites.” Despite his initial reluctance—he originally turned down the part of Tig for being, as he put it, “so psychotic and so crazy”—Coates shared that showrunner Kurt Sutter’s promise to make Tig “the moral compass of the club” convinced him to accept. Ultimately, he described this decision as “the best decision that I made.” This revelation allowed viewers a rare look at how one of television’s most memorable characters nearly never came to be, and just how much faith a skilled actor places in a showrunner’s vision.
When the AI described Brugal from The Walking Dead: Dead City as greedy, intense, and complex, Coates seized the opportunity to elaborate on this new role. He explained that Brugal, the cunning gang leader ruling over a post-apocalyptic faction in Manhattan, will pose significant obstacles, especially for Negan. “He’s a frenemy of Negan,” Coates revealed, indicating the nuanced dynamic that will unfold onscreen. Praising the series writer, Coates said, “Eli Jorné did an incredible job of writing season two, and he really let me fly with this guy. I brought a lot of comedy to him, I think. I hope… He was really fun to play. Wait ‘til you see my wardrobe.”
Coates continued by confirming the speculation that the part of Brugal was conceived specifically for him. He recounted, “Eli did call me specifically after my agents and managers went through a little phone call saying that he had me in mind for this guy,” demonstrating the trust and excitement surrounding his casting. After reading key episodes from the new season, Coates remembered thinking, “Where do I sign?” The enthusiasm in his voice was unmistakable and contagious, reflecting his passion for diving into challenging, distinctive characters.
Discussing the broader significance of participating in The Walking Dead universe, Kim Coates reflected, “It just really was incredible for me to inhabit that world of zombies. It was just so different from anything I’d ever done with Sons of Anarchy or American Primeval or all the movies I’ve got coming out and that I’ve done.” He called his involvement “really special,” expressing a deep sense of fulfillment and pride at joining a franchise beloved by millions around the world. For Coates, the opportunity to explore new storytelling frontiers with Brugal has offered both professional satisfaction and a personal milestone he won’t soon forget.
As artificial intelligence continues to innovate and reshape how stories are told and re-told, Kim Coates’ episode on Debunking AI offered viewers a unique glimpse at the intersection of technology, celebrity, and storytelling. His willingness to correct the record while sharing revealing, passionate insights about both old favorites and new adventures resonated with audiences, leaving many eager for what comes next. With The Walking Dead: Dead City season 2 poised to showcase his dynamic portrayal of Brugal, and the promise of more episodes of Debunking AI to come, Kim Coates stands as a testament to vibrant, evolving careers shaped by risk, collaboration, and an openness to new experiences. The impact of his roles and candor is sure to extend far beyond this episode, keeping audiences invested in both the actor and the stories that define him.
