First announced earlier this month, actor Jon Lindstrom (“General Hospital,” “Port Charles”) has joined the cast of “Beyond the Gates” in the recurring role of Joey Armstrong, a casino owner who doesn’t like trouble but has no problem with getting rid of it.
Lindstrom debuts in the Friday, March 7 episode of the daytime drama series with his character sharing his first scenes with Doug McBride, played by Jason Graham, who is also on recurring status with the series.
During a press junket last month, Lindstrom said of his character, “I would describe Joey as a bit of an entrepreneur in a kind 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.” Additionally, Lindstrom says, “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.”
One of the things that drew Lindstrom to the role was his connection to series creator Michele Val Jean, who also serves as the show’s head writer, showrunner and executive producer.
“Everybody knows that Michele is the best writer in the business, and they don’t want to admit it, especially if they’re another writer, but she is the very best in the business. And to be able to come down here to this brand-new studio—this brand-spanking new studio where you could eat off the floor. I mean, usually we walk into stages where there’s dust from 1949,” commented Lindstrom of the experience of working at the show’s brand new Atlanta-based studio. “To come here every day, every single member of this cast—this incredible cast—and this crew, who are so happy to walk through those doors every day and be a part of something—so, to me, to everybody, I think it is so groundbreaking, that’s the most special part of it all.”
CBS
Addressing the show’s costume designer Jeresa Featherstone (previously from “The Bold and the Beautiful”) for her and her team’s hard work, Lindstrom notes, “I just think we have to point out the clothes. Jeresa’s designs and what she’s done to make everyone look fabulous is really just stunning to me. And I’ve said this to Cady [McClain; Pamela Curtis] and to Michele. Every time I do a wardrobe fitting here, I say to Jeresa, ‘I don’t have any clothes like this in my closet, and I don’t know why.’”
Before joining “Beyond the Gates,” Lindstrom is probably best known for his portrayal as Lindstrom Kevin Collins on “General Hospital,” having joined the show initially in 1992, playing the nightmarish Ryan Chamberlin. By 1993, he began playing dual roles when the show introduced Ryan’s twin brother, Kevin.
With the continued success of “General Hospital,” ABC commissioned a spinoff in hopes it would help correct sagging ratings in the timeslot preceding “All My Children,” which was previously held by the likes of “Loving” and “The City.”
In June 1997, the network introduced “Port Charles,” which saw a few of the parent show’s characters segue into the spinoff, including Kevin, and would often allow for crossover appearances. Later canceled in 2003, Lindstrom returned to “General Hospital” in a recurring capacity until 2004. After a nearly nine-year absence, Lindstrom once again reprised his role as Kevin on “General Hospital,” appearing on recurring status, with Kevin now married to Laura Collins (Genie Francis).
In 2010, Lindstrom received his first-ever Daytime Emmy Award nomination for his portrayal as Craig Montgomery on “As The World Turns,” nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, where he appeared alongside McClain’s Rosanna. He later received nominations for his “General Hospital” work as Kevin in 2019, 2020 and 2023, the latter of which was for Outstanding Supporting Actor.
For a sneak peek at what to expect from Lindstrom, and what’s going to happen next week on “Beyond the Gates,” check out a promo for next week’s episodes below.
