Hundreds of fans lined up on Saturday to get an autograph from Kim Coates - best known for his role as Alexander 'Tig' Trager on FX's hit show Sons of Anarchy.
Coates was scheduled to be at Pine Centre Mall from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, as part of a fundraiser for the local branch of the Special Olympics, organized by Citizen Special Events and the B.C. Northern Exhibition (BCNE).
"Every dollar raised here is going to the Special Olympics," BCNE president Alex Huber said. "[Coates] has time to do 350-400 signatures. That's all the time we have... but I'm sure we'll have more people than that."
Each ticket to get an autograph required a minimum $25 donation to the Special Olympics, he said.
"[Coates] usually doesn't go this kind of stuff, but because its for the Special Olympics he made an exception," Huber said. "He's not doing a tour, he's flying back to L.A. after this."
Coates, who grew up in Saskatchewan, was a leading man on Broadway and at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, and was a character actor for film and television before being cast for Sons of Anarchy.
He's been in films including Goon, Resident Evil: Afterlife, Black Hawk Down, Waterworld, Pearl Harbor and the The Last Boy Scout. He also had recurring roles on the TV shows CSI: Miami and Prison Break.
But it was his role as the violent, troubled sergeant-at-arms for the fictional outlaw motorcycle club the Sons of Anarchy that most fans in line seemed interested in.
Frank Prest and his daughters Lexus, 16, and Terriny, 11, arrived at Pine Centre Mall around 9:30 a.m. to be first in line to meet Coates. All three are big Sons of Anarchy fans, he said.
"He's a great character on the show," Prest added.
Courtney Stubbs said she's a big fan of Coates and the show.
"Who isn't? If you don't like Sons [of Anarchy], there is something wrong with you," Stubbs said.
Caitlyn Taylor said she was impressed by Coate's support for the Special Olympics.
"It's for a great charity," she said. "It's awesome to see someone come to town to fundraise for a charity, not their bank account."
Sheldon Wiens said while he's a fan of Sons of Anarchy, he's also a fan of Coates' film roles.
Sons of Anarchy fan Tania McGraw couldn't wait to meet Coates.
"We're excited," McGraw said. "I love it. Me and my daughter watch [Sons of Anarchy] all the time."
Of course, she said, it doesn't hurt that, "he's pretty hot."
Skylar Williams and Cherise Wessel were at the back of the line at 11 a.m. when Coates arrived, with hundreds of fans ahead of them.
"It's totally worth the wait," Williams said.
Wessel said she is a big fan of Coates, and was particularly impressed with his acting chops in a scene from season five of Sons of Anarchy when Coates' character watched his daughter Dawn Trager burn to death while he was helpless to stop it.
"He does amazing roles. I just can't imagine," she said. "[And] the fact he's donating the proceeds to charity, that really speaks to who he is."
A final total of the funds raised was not available as of press time.
--With files from Frank Peebles
