'I owe that to my dad' — Carlos E. Palacio goes Beyond the Gates in Exclusive Interview

Beyond the Gates debuted last week on CBS, the first new daytime drama to hit the airwaves in decades, and it took off with a shot. New faces, new names, and for some, new actors have fans anxious to learn everything they can.

Soap Central went beyond the gates to get to know actor Carlos E. Palacio, the fascinating man behind Fairmont Crest resident and the community’s most popular personal trainer, Diego Sanchez.

Carlos E. Palacio goes Beyond the Gates

On Beyond the Gates, Carlos E. Palacio plays Diego Sanchez, a personal trainer who caught the eye of several Fairmont Crest residents (and future clients) on the episode that aired Thursday, February 27th. As we are getting to know the show, actor Carlos E. Palacio told us a bit about his character and himself.

“I’m my mind, I think I’m just a simple guy. But if you ask my friends and family, they’ll tell you a whole different story,” Palacio shared. He explained that he may seem like he’s all over the place, but he is always learning something new and getting into new hobbies.

He credited Beyond the Gates’ stage manager, Antony, for his latest obsession: playing chess. Palacio and co-star Alex Alegria, who plays Tomas Navarro, have been “non-stop playing against each other, getting better every day.”

Carlos E. Palacio behind the Gates

Palacio started acting after he finished film school. “I couldn’t find any work, and honestly, working behind the camera was something I realized I no longer wanted to pursue. I found acting to be more natural to me,” he explained.

Not only was it a natural fit, but Palacio may have inherited the acting bug. “I think I owe that to my dad. He was a professional actor in Cuba, and when I was 8 or 9 years old, I can remember my dad and I running scenes and recording it. I didn’t know what I was doing back then, but I look back, and I’m very grateful for those moments,” he added.

“He also taught at a theater called Case de Cultura, and he was the first person in the world to do Hamlet in pantomime,” Palacio shared. It was a talent that the actor valued having the opportunity to learn. “Him teaching me pantomime made me understand how to build an imaginary world with nothing,” Palacio explained.

Palacio plays a personal trainer on TV, but in real life, he is a first degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Robson Moura. He was born and raised in Hialeah, FL, and has also owned a Jiu-Jitsu school in the state for the past ten years. “I love training,” he told Soap Central. Palacio may have a great sense of humor, but he wasn’t kidding when he said he enjoyed a wide range of hobbies. By the time he was five years old, his dad had introduced him to photography. “I also LOVE thrifting and garage sales,” he told us. He even has a store on eBay called palaciosells.

Diego Sanchez on Beyond the Gates

Diego Sanchez works in the country club as a trainer. He works closely with members of the Dupree family, the Richardsons, and if real estate agent Vanessa McBride (Lauren Buglioli) has her way, she’ll be a client soon.

“Diego is an obsessed character, just like me. We both get fixated on something until we get it,” Palacio said.

Watch Carlos E. Palacio on Beyond the Gates weekdays on CBS or stream live and on-demand on Paramount Plus.