'Follow your bliss': Sons of Anarchy actor Kim Coates awarded honorary doctorate by U of S

Actor Kim Coates traded his motorcycle leathers for a graduation gown Tuesday as he received an honorary doctorate of letters from the University of Saskatchewan.

Coates, 59, who starred in the F/X series Sons of Anarchy, is one of the university's famous alumni, having graduated in 1981 with a bachelor of arts degree.

He said it was an "incredibly humbling honour" to receive an honorary doctorate.

You beautiful, talented, sexy, smartbrainiacs.- KimCoates

"Thirty-six years agoI was sitting right out there, like all youbeautifulgraduates," he told Tuesday's convocation.

"Thirty-six years from now I want you all to try to look half as good as I do right now."

Coatesgrew up in Saskatoonand said he was dressed to honour all of the educational institutions he attended.

"I have my black shoes, representingThorntonelementary school. I've got my blue suit NutanaCollegiate and of course I've got my white and green tie go Huskies."

He has previously said he enrolled in a drama course by chance while at U of S and that sparkedhis interest in acting. He went on to studydrama at the school and said his education there preparedhim for his career.

Coateshas since appeared in more than 100 movies and television series over the past 30 years, including Black Hawk Down, Pearl Harbor and the seven-season run of Sons of Anarchy, which wrapped up in 2014.

"You beautiful, talented, sexy, smart brainiacs," he said to the grads.

"You're told this all the time but I'm going to tell you one more time: Please, with all your love and tolerance and brains and sharing and listening, follow your bliss like I did. And never be afraid to fail because if you do that, you never will fail ever."

Coatesis one of six honorary degree recipients at the U of S spring convocation.

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