Beyond the Gates
EXCLUSIVE: ‘Beyond the Gates’ Star Clifton Davis Talks the Inner-Life of Vernon Dupree, His Co-Stars and Key Storylines
This weekend’s birthday boy has been none other than Beyond the Gates patriarch, Clifton Davis (Vernon Dupree) who on October 4th turned 80-years young. Davis, who stars on daytime’s newest soap opera and the first Black-led one-hour soap is part of history in the making.
Over the past few days, videos have surfaced from the set in Atlanta, when the cast and crew surprised Davis last Friday with an impromptu birthday celebration. Clifton’s co-star Trisha Mann-Grant (Leslie Thomas) captured the moment on her Instagram account, where she shared the legendary actor/singer/songwriter was moved to tears.
Michael Fairman TV’s Atlanta crew caught up with Davis recently at the CBS Atlanta Fest event, which featured the stars of the network’s soap opera line-up from Beyond the Gates, The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful.

Photo: CBS
Davis spoke on how Vernon isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty to protects the Dupree family at all costs. “I want to see him with his fingers in different pies with him involved with this, that and the other,” shared Clifton. “I want to see him strong. I want to see him compassionate. I want to see him emotional because it gives me a chance to perform all of those colors on the show. And so, as far as Vernon Dupree is concerned, I think he’s perfect. He’s a former senator. He loves his wife and family. He’ll do anything for them, and sometimes he’s done almost anything.”
The veteran star also shared his thoughts on how Beyond the Gates handled the recent racism storyline, where Vernon and his grandson, Martin (Brandon Claybon) were on the receiving end of a violent attack by two white men, only for the scene to turn deadly, when Martin killed one man and severely injured another to protect himself and his grandfather.

Photo: CBS
Clifton explained his viewpoint, “I think our writers are brilliant. I think we touched on a subject without, without getting too, too close to any headlines, but at the same time, touching on a subject that happened in many, many African American lives. You know, sometimes people come along and they have an ill will for you, and you have to try to protect yourself. And of course, it’s a fictional character and occurrence (in this case). I’ve never had an experience like that, but I thought it was entertaining, and I thought it was edifying.”
Working with Brandon Claybon as Martin in the storyline, Clifton shared, “Vernon loves his grandson, and he’ll do whatever he can to protect him up to a certain point. I think the writers and the producers protected Vernon from going beyond the line. So, I’m pleased with the way it turned out … onto the next story. You know, you got to keep watching. I can’t share with you anything that’s getting ready to happen, but if you keep watching, you never know what you’re going to see. You never know!”

Photo: CBS
As to the pace of working in daytime at now 80, Davis stated, “It’s had its challenges. I just put on my running shoes and I took off and I keep up pretty good with the ladies and the rest of the cast. I met the challenge and I’m continuing to meet it every day.”
Lest you think we didn’t ask Clifton his thoughts on how his song, “Never Can Say Goodbye” released by the Jackson 5 1971, remains one of the most popular songs ever-written, Davis explained, “It’s been a blessing. A lot of folk have recorded it. I’m proud to have written words and music, but what did I think when the Jacksons picked it? I was excited, like a crazy person. When I first heard it on the radio, I was in the car and I was screaming out loud. It was so exciting. It was so wonderful to have a song not only on the air, but a hit. Then, when Isaac Hayes came along and recorded it, we got a Grammy nomination. I was thrilled for both Jackson 5 and Isaac Hayes to record my music.”

Courtesy/Motown
Now that season 2 is happening, Clifton shared what it means to him and the cast, crew and creatives. “First of all, it has tremendous meaning because we were picked up fairly early in our first season, which means the numbers are good, the audiences are good. They like us. They care for us,” Davis said proudly. “They appreciate the work that we’re doing, and we appreciate it too. We are meeting every challenge that comes our way, and we’re doing the best we can to bring you the best stories possible with the best performances we can manage.”
Check out the video interview with Clifton Davis below, where he also teased that fans just got to be watching because Vernon may be singing a tune again on the show sometime soon!
Now let us know, are you loving Clifton as Vernon Dupree? What do you think about the remarks he shared about the writing and the performances on Beyond the Gates? Wish Clifton a Happy 80th birthday too! Drop your comments below.
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Beyond the Gates
RATINGS: ‘Beyond the Gates’ Scores Third Most-Watched Week Since Its Premiere With ‘The Young and the Restless’ Crossover Event

The tornado that ripped through Fairmont Crest and put the lives of the characters of Beyond the Gates and several from The Young and the Restless in jeopardy had viewers tuning-in for the week of June 8-12.
The highly-publicized crossover event kicked off on the Tuesday, June 9 episode of Beyond the Gates where six residents of Genoa City came to to visit the D.C./Maryland country club for a fundraiser for Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon), only no one expected a twister to tear into the proceedings, leading to several storylines intersecting as people were trapped with one another with Eva Thomas (Ambyr Michelle) being the most severely injured and now requiring a liver transplant to survive.
According to the ratings report from CBS and Nielsen ratings and as supplied to Variety, Beyond the Gates brought in on average 1.8 million viewers throughout the wee. That is up 11% from its season-to-date numbers and it makes the crossover/tornado episodes its third most-watched week for the soap since Beyond the Gates premiered back on February 24, 2025.

Photo: CBS
A GENOA CITY TOUCHDOWN
With the strength of the story, its special effects and bringing over cast of the top-rated, The Young and the Restless which included: Eric Braeden (Victor Newman), Michael Mealor (Kyle Abbott), Peter Bergman (Jack Abbott), Susan Walters (Diane Jenkins), Melissa Ordway (Abby Newman) and Bryton James (Devon Hamilton), the Thursday, June 11 episode was the week’s most-watched.
According to the numbers, the Wednesday June 10 episode brought in the most total viewers for the week with 1.87 million (up 17% week-to-week), followed closely by the Friday, June 12 episodes which had 1.84 million watching.

Photo: JPI
Over on The Young and the Restless, the week of June 8-12, also saw an increase based on the early return that week of Shemar Moore as Malcolm Winters wrapping up his leg of the story where viewers learned he had a son Holden Novak (Nathan Owens) with Stephanie Simmons (Vivica A. Fox), and survived his bone marrow transplant surgery thanks to Cane Ashby (Billy Flynn).
Y&R scored 3.11 million viewers for the week up 2% from its season average with the June 8 and June 9 episodes featuring Moore averaging 3.2 million viewers and up 9% year-over-year.
So, did you enjoy the tornado episodes of Beyond the Gates and seeing the residents of Genoa City crossover to Fairmont Crest? Share your thoughts via the comment section on the latest ratings for the two CBS daytime soaps.
Beyond the Gates
‘Beyond the Gates’ Star Karla Mosley Weighs-in on Dani Dupree’s Love Life Endgame: Are You Team Bill or Team Andre?

Last week, viewers of CBS daytime’s Beyond the Gates watched as a tornado ripped through Fairmont Crest. In its wake, people were trapped with one another or seriously injured.
For Dani Dupree (Karla Mosley), she found herself stuck in an elevator with her ex-husband, Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett). And wouldn’t you know, one thing led to another, and the two gave into their unresolved feelings for one another and did the deed.
Meanwhile, Dani’s current husband, Andre Richardson (Sean Freeman) suffered a minor injury to his leg, and was worried sick in the ballroom because he had no idea where Dani was after the twister decimated the place. Eventually, Dani and Bill part ways go back to their families and act like nothing happened.

Photo: CBS
When Dani is reunited with Andre, he professes his love for her even more than ever. As for Bill’s current wife Hayley Lawson (Marquita Goings), she could care less because she was making out with Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor, Y&R) in a closet at the country club!
THE TORNADO MAY HAVE CHANGED DANI’S HEART
For months, Beyond the Gates viewers have found themselves torn; rooting for Dani and Bill to get over themselves and get back together, or rooting for Dani and Andre, because its clear he truly loves her, even though their marriage may not have started out as the greatest love affair of all time.
Karla Mosley opened up to PEOPLE on Dani’s romance plight and who the writers of the soap might ultimately pair her with, expressing “I cannot say. I honestly have no idea.”
As it seems now, this triangle of Andre/Dani/Bill is about to heat up even more following Dani’s elevator exploits. However, according to Mosley, the popularity of Dani and Andre came as surprise to the writers, which has led to the romantic drama. “The writers did not think Dani and Andre were gonna pop off the way that they did,” explained Karla. “Originally, they thought Bill and Dani would be back together by the end of season one. And then it was like, ‘wait, what is happening?’”

Photo: CBS
WRITERS ARE TAKING THE PULSE OF THE FANS
The decision to not have Dani and Bill reunite within season 1 or half-way though season 2, Mosley shares is a sign of the times: “The old soap trope is the torn woman who goes back to her man. But I think there are enough women now who are like, I want to see her win.”
In the end, Karla believes that in this case, fans speaking up, can also translate to the writers room and influence their potential decision of who should be the ultimate man for Dani. She tells Beyond the Gates viewers, “Keep talking about it, y’all.”
Meanwhile, questions remain: Could Dani and Bill’s elevator sex find her pregnant with his child, which would make this whole situation more messy? Stay tuned.
Now, let us know, who do you want to see Dani ultimately with … Bill Hamilton or Andre Richardson? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
Beyond the Gates
Phillip Boyd Makes His Debut on ‘Beyond the Gates’ in Recurring Role of Dr. Miles Arnold

A new face emerged on today’s episode of CBS daytime’s Beyond the Gates when actor, Phillip Boyd made his debut in the recurring role of Dr. Miles Arnold.
In story, Dr Arnold is a doctor and surgeon and on the June 16 episode, Miles had to sadly deliver some disappointing new. Neither of Eva’s (Ambyr Michelle) parents, Ted Richardson (Keith D. Robinson) or Leslie Thomas (Trisha Mann-Grant) is a donor match for the life-saving transplant surgery Eva desperately needs.
Eva, among others, was injured in the tornado that ripped through Fairmont Crest and its devastating aftermath. She sustained critical injuries during the storm and was trapped with her half-sister, Kat Richardson (Colby Nixon).

Courtesy/CBS
Phillip Boyd recently appeared on The McCord List, where he talked about his career between working in Los Angeles and Atlanta and said about his latest acting gig, “Dr, Miles Arnold works in the hospital. There’s something that happens, a natural disaster and a lot of the characters on the show are at this event and something tragic happens and they’re rushed to the hospital.”
The actor is also appearing in the final season of Tyler Perry’s Netflix series Beauty in Black where he shows up in 7 episodes. Boyd previously appeared in short term roles on General Hospital, The Young and the Restless and Days of Our Lives. In primetime, he also played the role of Mitch on 90210 and played Oscar in Tyler Perry’s The Haves and Have Nots for five-seasons.
So, so you think Beyond the Gates might make Phillip Boyd’s role bigger over time on the soap? Will Kat be the match that Eva needs? If not, who? Many people were ruled out on today’s episode. Drop you thoughts and picks for the donor via the comment section.
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