SHOWDOWN BRIDGER VS.BRIGHAM

DOES AMERICAN PRIMEVAL TELL THE TRUE STORY?

- BY HENRY C. PARKE

The two most compelling characters in American Primeval are, not coincidentally, the two based on frontier legends: Jim Bridger and Brigham Young. Young took over the Church of Latter-Day Saints from its assassinated founder, and led the Mormons through hell, to found Salt Lake City; Bridger had so many adventures, from mountain man to building Fort Bridger, that INSP has a series, The Tall Tales of Jim Bridger, just about his famous exaggerations!

Kim Coates, who plays Brigham Young, is probably best known for playing Tig Trager on seven seasons of Sons of Anarchy, but he also has a remarkable Western career. Beginning with the classic Open Range, Coates has spread villainy through Black Fox, Gunfighter’s Pledge, Dead Man's Gun and Godless. “I was a farm boy in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan,” he says, “and I’ve always loved horses. And I’ve got that craggy kind of face that can suit period pieces. Yeah, I’ve done a few Westerns, though to me, American Primeval isn’t a typical, pure Western; it’s more of a history lesson.” Young is an atypical role for him. “I didn’t carry a gun; I didn’t shoot anybody; I didn’t get shot. What a turning of events for Kim Coates that is!”

In addition to playing Eli Thompson in Boardwalk Empire, and G. Gordon Liddy in