Two of daytime televisions most familiar and notable stars are coming to CBS’ newest soap opera, Beyond the Gates. In a surprise announcement during a media press conference attended by Michael Fairman TV, Jon Lindstrom (Kevin, General Hospital) and Cady McClain (ex-Dixie, All My Children, ex-Rosanna, As the World Turns and ex-Jennifer, Days of our Lives) have joined the cast of the upcoming and groundbreaking daytime drama series.
Beyond the Gates creator, executive producer, co-head writer and showrunner, Michele Val Jean revealed the casting news, expressing, “I now know the meaning of chomping at the bit because I’ve been so excited to share what we’re about to reveal. It’s my honor, my privilege, my joy, to introduce our newest cast members who are not only soap opera icons and brilliant actors, but two of my favorite people on the planet. Say hello to (the characters of) ‘Joey Armstrong’ and ‘Pamela Curtis,’ also known as Jon Lindstrom and Cady McClain.”
McClain is a three-time Daytime Emmy winner, and is the first actress to win the award for her work in three different roles on three different soaps and in three different categories. Cady won the gold in 1990, 1994, and 2021. Jon Lindstrom is a four-time Daytime Emmy nominee for his work as Craig Montgomery on As the World Turns in 2010, and as Kevin Collins and Ryan Chamberlain on General Hospital in 2019, 2020, 2023.
Photo: JPI
On joining the cast of Beyond the Gates, Cady McClain shared, “I’m just so thrilled to be a part of this incredible, cast and this amazing show. I think it is so exciting. It’s such a beautiful production with such amazing actors. I have the great pleasure of getting to work a great deal with Karla Mosley (Dani Dupree), and we have so much fun … probably too much fun. We play very, very, very, very, very dear old friends. We get up to a bit of trouble. I think that’s all I’ll say.”
Photo: JPI
Jon Lindstrom also gave some insight into his newest daytime role, “I would describe Joey as a bit of an entrepreneur, in a kind of way. Joey comes from the other side of the tracks. He has fought his way up in many ways, but he’s never lost his charm. Joey runs a casino, which, if you’ve ever been inside a casino, you know, a casino is kind of like what a bar is to an alcoholic. So, people can get into a lot of trouble around Joey, and Joey doesn’t like trouble. He knows how to end trouble, but he doesn’t like trouble.”
Throughout the years, Jon has been a very vocal advocate for the exquisite writing talents of Michele Val Jean. The actors credits the success of the Kevin/Ryan twin storyline to Michelle during her tenure with the GH writing team. So, when talking on his favorite part of joining the cast of Beyond the Gates, Lindstrom was very frank stating, “Michele Val Jean … that’s about all I can say about that. Everybody knows that Michelle is the best writer in the business. They may not want to admit it, especially if they’re another writer, but she is the very best in the business. To be able to come down here to this brand new spanking new studio (in Atlanta), where you could eat off the floor, I mean, usually we walk into stages where there’s dust from 1949!”
Photo: JPI
Summing up his experience at Beyond the Gates thus far, Lindstrom said, “Every single member of this cast is incredible, and this crew who are so happy to walk through those doors every day and to be a part of something. So to me, to everybody, I think it is so groundbreaking. That’s the most special part of it at all.”
Back in April of 2024, Cady and Jon took to social media and offered up a since-deleted post at that time that they were going their separate ways after ten years of marriage. The actors met when they were both appearing on As the World Turns. There is no word yet as to what Lindstrom’s role on Beyond the Gates means for the status of his role as GH’s Kevin Collins.
Photo: JPI
Beyond the Gates debuts on Monday, February 24 on the CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+ weekdays at 2PM ET/1PM PT. To get you ready for the new series, CBS is airing a five-part special Beyond the Gates: Welcome to the Neighborhood the week of February 17-21 weekdays from 2-2:30pm ET/1-1:30pm PT.
What do you think of both Jon Lindstrom and Cady McClain joining the cast of Beyond the Gates? Excited to see them in their new soap roles? Comment below.
