Beyond the Gates will finally unveil their newest cast member and character on the upcoming Monday, December 8 episode of the CBS daytime drama series, when Daytime Emmy winner, and soap opera favorite, Greg Vaughan makes his highly-anticipated debut!

For months (since BTG tapes several months ahead of air), series executive producers Michele Val Jean and Sheila Ducksworth previously teased that a “hot male” would be coming to the show, and it is indeed Vaughan who they were talking about. Val Jean at that time added, “I think the soap opera world will be very, very happy about (the casting).”

When he hits your screens, Vaughan will portray the role of “Kial Rollins,” a widower, a father to grown children, and an orthopedic surgeon. The official description for Kial (which is pronounced like Kyle) shares he is “athletic, personable, and spontaneous.”

Photo: CBS

In Kial’s backstory, following the death of his wife a few years ago, Kial became a traveling physician, allowing him to explore the country, experience different cultures, and meet interesting people. Kial has romanced women, but hasn’t met the one who could get him to settle down again, However, could a blind date change his mind? It appears the doctor is willing to test the waters. Rumors have been swirling that Kial will hit it off with Nicole played by Daphnee Duplaix.

Greg Vaughan is best known for his previous daytime roles as Eric Brady on Days of our Lives (on and off from 2012-2025), Diego Guiterrez on The Young and the Restless (2002-2003), and Lucky Spencer  on General Hospital (2003-2009), plus primetime roles as Dan Gordon on Charmed, Cliff Yeager on 90210, and more recently, Calvin on Queen Sugar. Vaughan took home the Daytime Emmy award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in 2018 for his performance on DAYS.

Michael Fairman TV caught up with Greg to get some insights on his decision to come to Beyond the Gates and to learn more of what fans can expect when his latest on-screen incarnation hits our soap screens come Monday!

THE LOWDOWN ON DR. KIAL ROLLINS

When Greg Vaughan premieres on Beyond the Gates, his brand new character may be the good guy hunk you’d expect from the actor’s previous roles, but with a twist! Is Dr. Rollins a playa with the ladies?

Vaughan teased, “He’s a mixture of both. I know that everybody wants a certain version, or their expectation, of what I think they would believe I am, or what I used to be like, maybe when I was in my twenties. (laughs). I am playing a doctor. So, I’m intellectual. I have money and I have an occupation. I have medical jargon to say! God love, Michele. This is my biggest fear in everything and I avoided it my whole life and career.”

HOW GREG ARRIVED AT FAIRMONT CREST

After mostly appearing on Days of our Lives over the last 13 years on and off as a recast Eric Brady, Vaughan shared that he didn’t have to audition to play Dr. Kial Rollins and that in fact, BTG’s creator, EP and head writer, Michele Val Jean sought him out!

“Michele called me and said she had a role that she really wanted to write, and she said she’d only write it if I took the role,” explained the popular soap vet. “So, I paused. I had to think about it. I was like,  ‘So what’s the character?’ She grabbed me by the wrist through her phone and behind my back said, ‘Greg Vaughan, you’re taking this role because I want you to do it’. And I said, ‘OK!’ There was not a “no” in our vocabulary. She wouldn’t accept anything less than a ‘yes.’ I was grateful and humbled at the same time that of all the talent she knows in her Rolodex, she called and offered me a role.”

Photo: CBS

Vaughan also had full support of CBS, and all of the producer and writers at Beyond the Gates, who couldn’t wait for him to start taping his new journey at the soaps’s Assembly Studios in Atlanta. “Everyone connected with the show gave me the green light to do it. So I was like, ‘I’m not going to disappoint them or you and I would be honored.’ I remember telling Michele that this role will be really challenging.” shared Vaughan. “Michele said, ‘Just be you! You could do whatever you want to do. because it’s not a recast. You’re going into this with a clean slate.’ I”m really leaning into what this guy is all about and I’m  discovering things about myself that I haven’t been able to do. I remind myself: ‘Don’t be Eric. Don’t be Lucky. Just be you.”

Coming to Beyond the Gates, Greg recognized some familiar faces. “I knew Julie Caruthers (executive producer) and I knew Jon Lindstrom (Kevin, GH and Joey, BTG), from their days at Port Charles being a former sister show to General Hospital. I also got to get reacquainted with some of my former cast members from Queen Sugar who are also there. So far, I have mixed it up with everybody. I’ve got to go over to the Fairmont Crest Country Club and make nice and rub some elbows. So as a traveling surgeon, Kial has been to a lot of medical conventions and he’s made a friend who has become of interest in his life and, you know, trying to get him to come into the environment.”

WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS

The landscape in the world of soap operas is very different these days. Actors may be part of two shows, as has been the case up until now of Jon Lindstrom, who this week has been seen back at General Hospital for a series of episodes as Kevin Collins, but who is now mostly appearing as Joey Armstrong on Beyond the Gates. Vaughan spoke to his current situation with Beyond the Gates, and if a return to Days of our Lives might also be in the cards, given both shows tape months ahead of air/streaming.

“I’m not a contract player (at Beyond the Gates),” explained Vaughan. “Michele and I are navigating our way through this until something comes about, which is so nice. I have no fear. I’m just creating. And then, if they see something magical and they said, ‘Hey, we need to get you on board longer,’ then it’s something to have a conversation about. If they offered me a contract, I would take it because it’s been such a reward for me to be here. I feel such a hunger and excitement and creativity that I haven’t felt in a long time.”

Photo: JPI

As to a return to Salem, never say never, “I can’t see why not. There’s never been a conversation where they have a closed door on me,” expressed Greg. “DAYS can do whatever they plan to do. I’m happy that all my friends are still there that wish me well, and they have success ahead. They brought in some new fresh life ( and it’s going be great for them. I’m glad everybody’s still got a job.”

As for Monday’s December 8 episode, where everyone should tune in to see Greg’s debut on Beyond the Gates, all the Emmy-winning star would say is, “It’s going to be magical. Get your popcorn!”

So, excited to see Greg’s imminent debut on Beyond the Gates as Dr. Kial Rollins? Share your thoughts via the comment section below. But first check out the video version of our interview with Greg now on the Michael Fairman Channel, where Michael was stationed outside an LA courthouse conducting the conversation while he was called to jury duty!