Kim Coates on Playing Jeremiah, the Menacing Power Player of Anna Pigeon
Kim Coates discusses his role as Jeremiah in USA Network's Anna Pigeon, a show-original character who looms large over the procedural's first season, and praises the series' unique setting and cast.
Kim Coates has built a career on playing characters who command attention, and his latest role in USA Network's Anna Pigeon is no exception. In an interview about the new procedural, Coates opened up about crafting Jeremiah, a show-original character who has become a focal point of the series as it moves toward its season finale. The actor described his character as a constant, looming threat whose presence is felt even when he is not on screen.
«Jeremiah is quite the force,» Coates said, explaining that the character's power lies in the psychological pressure he exerts on others. He described a scene in which Jeremiah confronts Jeff, a character played by Ryan Northcutt, with a chilling ultimatum. «I've got my thumb on his neck, feeling his pulse. Either you're taking my 625, or I'm going to take it for free. It's up to you.» Coates noted that while Jeremiah may appear kind on the surface, «the drums are pounding» underneath, creating a tension that keeps viewers on edge.
That tension is central to what Coates believes makes Anna Pigeon stand out. The series follows a female forest ranger — an alcoholic with a dead husband and a heart of gold — who solves a crime almost every week. But unlike traditional procedurals, the show maintains a serialized throughline involving Tricia Helfer and Coates himself. «We're all the way throughout. We pop in and out, and so where's this going to end? What's the climax going to be?» he said. «I think it's going to be super exciting for people.»
Coates credited showrunner Morwyn for balancing the procedural format with that ongoing narrative. He also praised the ensemble cast, including Paulina and Alexis, and spoke warmly about working with Ronnie, who plays an FBI agent Coates described as «an old sheriff» with a gun at his hip and a smooth, no-nonsense demeanor. «It was great to work with Ronnie because my character doesn't work with a lot of people,» Coates said. «But going on their set, it wasn't my set. I was walking onto Tracy's set, and it was an incredible family.»
The actor emphasized how seriously the cast and crew take the scripts while still enjoying the process. «You could tell all these rangers how much fun they were having, how seriously they took the scripts, and how well everyone got along,» he said. That camaraderie, combined with the show's distinctive mountainous setting, has helped Anna Pigeon resonate with audiences looking for something different from the standard crime drama.
Coates also reflected on the broader significance of the series for USA Network, which has returned to scripted programming after a hiatus. «USA's put the money in the center of the table, and now they're coming up with some scripted series,» he said. Anna Pigeon was the first of eight planned shows, and Coates noted that the network is «not fooling around» when it comes to casting and production values. He mentioned an «incredible premiere in LA» where he met Nevada Barr, the New York Times bestselling author whose novels inspired the series. «She and her husband were so gracious,» Coates recalled. «She goes, 'It's like I'm in a dream, Kim. I'm watching these shows. I'm in a dream, like a dream.' She was so happy and so proud of this show.»
As for Jeremiah's future, Coates confirmed he appears heavily in the final five episodes of the season. «I'm there a lot, coming up in the last five episodes, and God, he was just so much fun to play,» he said. The actor's enthusiasm extends to the possibility of a second season, which he believes is «percolating now as a series.» For now, viewers can expect Jeremiah's grip on the story to tighten as the season reaches its climax — a prospect Coates clearly relishes.
