CBS has officially shaken up daytime television with Beyond the Gates, its first new soap opera in over two decades. Set in an upscale Maryland suburb just outside Washington, D.C., the show zeroes in on the Dupree family, a wealthy Black family living behind the gates of an exclusive community. This isn’t the typical soap backdrop.
It’s fresh ground, with stories focusing on power, privilege, and the complicated dynamics that come with it. Created by Michele Val Jean, known for her long tenure on The Bold and the Beautiful, the show stands out not only because of its setting but also because of its cast.
It’s the first daytime soap in decades to feature a predominantly African-American cast, something viewers haven’t seen since Generations ended in the early '90s.
Val Jean and her team have stacked the show with veteran actors and rising talent, making sure every character feels fully formed right from the start.
Here are Beyond The Gates actors and where you have seen them before
1. Tamara Tunie (Anita Dupree)

Tamara Tunie plays Anita Dupree, the Dupree family’s matriarch, a former singer who carved out her own fame before marrying Vernon Dupree. In Beyond the Gates, Anita keeps her family’s public image intact while controlling internal conflicts, particularly between daughters Nicole and Dani.
Tunie excels in scenes where Anita asserts her authority without raising her voice, like when she reminds Nicole who built the family foundation. Tunie is best known as Dr. Melinda Warner on Law & Order: SVU, appearing in over 200 episodes. She also played Jessica Griffin on CBS’s As the World Turns, giving her longstanding daytime credentials.
In film, she starred as attorney Margaret Thomason in Flight alongside Denzel Washington. Tunie’s long history in legal and family dramas informs her performance, grounding Anita as the glue that holds the Dupree empire together without softening the character’s sharp edges or control.
2. Clifton Davis (Vernon Dupree)

Clifton Davis plays Vernon Dupree, Anita’s husband and a retired U.S. senator, who provides calm leadership inside the family. Vernon serves as the mediator, especially when conflicts between daughters Nicole and Dani threaten the family’s carefully controlled image.
Davis’s portrayal stands out in quieter moments, like when Vernon counsels his grandson Martin about balancing ambition with integrity. Davis is well-known for his role as Reverend Reuben Gregory in the sitcom Amen (1986–1991), where he brought a composed, principled presence to every episode. On Broadway, he starred as the Sultan in Aladdin, adding musical theatre credentials to his resume.
Davis has also appeared in Madam Secretary and Godfather of Harlem, consistently cast as a calm authority figure. His portrayal of Vernon in Beyond the Gates gives the show a stabilizing center, with Davis’s background in both comedy and drama shaping Vernon’s role as the family’s steadying influence.
3. Karla Mosley (Danielle "Dani" Dupree)

Karla Mosley plays Danielle “Dani” Dupree, Anita’s younger daughter, a former model who left the spotlight to focus on her family. Dani’s storylines often center on managing her teenage daughters while navigating tension with her ex-husband Bill Hamilton, particularly when he becomes engaged to her daughter’s best friend.
Mosley’s standout moment comes when Dani confronts Bill about his influence over their daughters’ lives, exposing Dani’s buried resentment and personal sacrifices. Mosley is widely recognized as Maya Avant on The Bold and the Beautiful, where she made daytime history portraying the first transgender lead character.
She also starred as Christina Boudreau on Guiding Light, where she played a med student balancing relationships and career. Mosley’s background in portraying women torn between personal ambition and family obligation makes Dani’s arc in Beyond the Gates layered and specific, giving the character emotional depth without sentimentality.
4. Daphnée Duplaix (Nicole Dupree Richardson)

Daphnée Duplaix plays Nicole Dupree Richardson, Anita’s eldest daughter, a polished psychiatrist and philanthropist who micromanages every aspect of her family’s public image. Nicole’s defining scenes involve her clashes with sister Dani and son Martin, particularly when she interferes with Martin’s political career to protect the family’s reputation.
Duplaix previously played Valerie Davis on NBC's Passions and Rachel Gannon on One Life to Live, both assertive, multi-dimensional characters in complex family dynamics. She’s also appeared in procedural shows like CSI and NYPD Blue, typically cast in roles that require intelligence and emotional control.
In Beyond the Gates, Duplaix leans into Nicole’s perfectionist tendencies without softening the character, highlighting how her need for control masks deeper insecurities about her family unraveling. Her history in soaps allows her to bring specificity to Nicole’s layered, polished persona—balancing ambition, status, and the pressure of maintaining appearances.
5. Timon Kyle Durrett (Bill Hamilton)

Timon Kyle Durrett plays Bill Hamilton, Dani’s ex-husband and a high-profile criminal defense attorney known for his charm and strategic mind. Bill’s storylines center on his complicated relationship with Dani and their daughters, especially when he becomes engaged to Naomi’s best friend Hayley, adding layers of personal and family tension.
Durrett is best known as Davis West on OWN’s Queen Sugar, where he played another complicated husband caught between ambition and family loyalty. He’s also appeared in Single Ladies and The Real Husbands of Hollywood, often cast as a confident, sometimes manipulative man.
In Beyond the Gates, Durrett’s portrayal of Bill is specific—he’s not a cartoon villain but a man who knows how to leverage relationships for personal gain. His presence raises stakes in every family scene, particularly when his legal career and personal decisions directly challenge Anita’s efforts to keep the family unified.
6. Jon Lindstrom (Joey Armstrong)

Jon Lindstrom plays Joey Armstrong, a veteran attorney closely tied to the Dupree family’s business dealings. Joey’s scenes focus on legal strategy, often working behind the scenes to shield the family from scandals and political fallout. Lindstrom is best known in soap circles for playing Kevin Collins and Ryan Chamberlain, identical twins with opposing personalities, on General Hospital and Port Charles.
His portrayal of Kevin, a principled psychiatrist, and Ryan, a dangerous criminal, showcases his range of handling morally complex roles. Outside daytime, Lindstrom has appeared in True Detective and Bosch, frequently playing men in positions of authority.
In Beyond the Gates, his steady, sharp delivery anchors the show’s legal subplots, making Joey a crucial player when family loyalty and professional duty collide. Lindstrom’s background in playing characters with dual loyalties enhances Joey’s ability to navigate between protecting the Duprees and managing his own interests.
7. Mike Manning (Bradley "Smitty" Smith)

Mike Manning plays Bradley "Smitty" Smith, husband to Martin Richardson and co-parent to their two adopted children. Smitty’s character grounds Martin’s political ambitions, balancing the pressures of public life with private family responsibilities. Manning’s standout scenes often involve managing conflicts between Martin’s career goals and their children’s needs, adding realism to the family dynamic.
Manning has played characters with darker edges before. On Days of Our Lives, he took on the role of Charlie Dale, whose manipulative behavior and violent storyline left a strong mark before the character was killed off. He also appeared in the digital soap The Bay, which earned an Emmy, and took on a role in Teen Wolf during its run.
Outside of acting, Manning produced Kidnapped for Christ, a documentary exposing abusive practices in religious camps. In Beyond the Gates, his portrayal of Smitty stands out because he doesn’t rely on soap tropes. Instead, he plays Smitty as steady and realistic, balancing family life against the Duprees' constant pressure and political games.
Stay tuned for more updates.

Your perspective matters!
Start the conversation