Since leaving WMU, Coates moved with her late husband, Thomas (BA '77, Social Science), to Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he attended law school and became the first black member of that city's Council since the early 1900s. Aside from helping with his campaign and official duties, Coates became the first black person to work at the Veterans Administration Department of Neurology, and later became a real estate manager for Sherman Associates Real Estate.
While working in real estate, a friend suggested Coates try acting, something she hadn't done since she acted in plays at church and in high school in Flint, Michigan. For many reasons, it was a good suggestion. Since 1984, Coates has been featured in a number of television commercials for various businesses and organizations including TJ Maxx, United Way, and Walgreens; the PBS Nova documentary Forgotten Genius: Percy Lavon Julian; and even held a few small principal parts in television shows.
More recently, you may have seen Coates in Fox's Chicago Code —or you can catch her in the upcoming comedy Sirens, set to air on the USA Network in early 2014.
Coates is hopeful that her appearance in Sirens will be more than one episode. In the meantime, she attends auditions when contacted by her agent, Dawn Gray, and keeps busy with her other various hobbies and activities including with SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) Senior Radio Players, a group that performs recreations of old radio shows.
Since 2006, Gray has been instrumental in securing roles for Coates, and being grateful and appreciative of the hard work Gray dedicated to her, Coates wanted to repay the kindness. In November 2010, Coates nominated Gray for Screen Actors Guild Agent of the Month and because of the wonderful words Coates shared in her nomination, Gray was awarded the honor.
With her amount of success throughout the years, Coates laughs as she says it is never too late for Hollywood.
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