Update: This really did happen. George Hamilton, playing the part of the Crispy Colonel, delivered Friday's commencement address at The Art Institute of Portland.

"Life you will take you places you have never imagined," he told graduates. "Maybe one day you'll be an actor, or a chicken salesman, or an actor who's pretending to be a chicken salesman."

Watch the five-minute speech below. Hamilton's parting words to the class of 2018: "Be humble. Stay crispy."

George Hamilton, dressed as Colonel Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame, will apparently give the commencement address Friday evening at The Art Institute of Portland.

A spokesperson with Edelman advertising agency confirms this is a real thing that is happening.

The announcement from Edelman states, "Celebrity Colonel George Hamilton will be dressed as the Extra Crispy Colonel in full AIP regalia and will provide the school's Commencement address at 5:30pm PST."

According to the announcement, the Colonel will tell graduates:

Every failure is a stepping stone to something better.

Life brings you places you have never imagined. No matter what, enjoy the ride.

The road ahead isn't set. It's a profound, scary and powerful opportunity.

A woman who answered the phone at the Art Institute of Portland said she could "neither confirm nor deny" Sanders'/Hamilton's scheduled appearance.

The late Harland Sanders was a real person who started the KFC chain of restaurants, opening his first restaurant in Corbin, Kentucky. Today, his likeness is played by a cast of celebrities as the marketing face of the company. Colonel Sanders performance art would be fitting for an institute preparing students for careers in marketing and art design.

Obviously, stay tuned as this is a developing news situation.

Update and Correction:

This is happening Friday evening not Wednesday evening.

Edelman reports that video of the speech will be posted Friday evening on KFC's YouTube channel. Unfortunately, there are no plans to serve chicken at the commencement.

-- Samantha Swindler

@editorswindler / 503-294-4031

sswindler@oregonian.com