Soap veterans Jon Lindstrom (“General Hospital,” “Port Charles”) and Cady McClain (“All My Children,” “Days of our Lives”) have joined the cast of CBS’ “Beyond the Gates,” it was announced on Sunday. The announcement follows a press junket with the soap media in recent weeks.
Lindstrom will portray the role of Joey Armstrong, an entrepreneur who runs a casino, while McClain takes on the role of Pamela Curtis, an old friend of Dani Dupree (Karla Mosley).
Sonja Flemming/CBS
Michele Val Jean, the show’s creator, said of casting the duo, “Well, I finally 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 Joey Armstrong and Pamela Curtis, also known as Jon Lindstrom and Cady McClain.”
Talking about his new character, Lindstrom shared, “Joey comes from the other side of the tracks. He has fought his way up in many ways and, uh—but he’s never lost his charm. But 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.”
Quantrell Colbert/CBS
As for McClain, she says,” 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 and such amazing actors, and I have the great pleasure of getting to work a great deal with Karla, and we have so much fun—probably too much fun.” She added, “We play very dear old friends, and we get up to a bit of trouble, and I think that’s all I’ll say.”
Quantrell Colbert/CBS
Details on when both actors will make their debut on the soap opera were not revealed at press time, however, from photos (shown above) McClain will be on hand to support her friend as the big wedding between Dani’s ex-husband, Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett), and Hayley Lawson, (Marquita Goings), Bill’s former mistress turned fiancée, gets underway. The episode was filmed in early November and is credited as the show’s fifth episode. Meanwhile, Lindstrom appears in a scene that was taped in early December and is credited as the show’s 13th episode.
Quantrell Colbert/CBS
An actress and director, among other creative talents, McClain is the winner of three Daytime Emmy Awards, becoming the first woman ever to have received the prestigious award for portraying three different characters on three different daytime dramas – Dixie Cooney on “All My Children,” Rosanna Cabot on “As The World Turns” and Jennifer Horton on “Days of our Lives.” McClain’s soap credits also include “The Young and the Restless,” where she appeared as a recast Kelly Andrews from 2013-2014, and appeared in five episodes of “St. Elsewhere.” She’s directed several independent films and has appeared in multiple theater productions.
Lindstrom first joined the cast of “General Hospital” in 1992, playing the nightmarish Ryan Chamberlin. By 1993, he began playing dual roles when the show introduced Ryan’s twin brother, Kevin Collins.
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. The series was later canceled in 2003, with Lindstrom back at “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.
In addition to creating “Beyond the Gates,” Michele Val Jean also serves as the show’s head writer, executive producer and showrunner. She previously served as a scriptwriter at “The Bold and the Beautiful” and “General Hospital,” the latter of which saw her as the show’s head writer for a brief period in 2001. She began her soap writing career in 1989 as a scriptwriter for NBC’s “Generations,” the half-hour series that broke ground for its inclusion of an American Black family as part of its core group of characters.
“Beyond the Gates” is the first brand new soap opera set to debut on a broadcast network in more than 25 years, since the launch of “Passions” in 1999, and the first-ever one-hour Black-centric daytime drama series. The series premieres Monday, February 24 at 2:00 p.m. ET/1:00 p.m. PT on CBS, and will be available to stream Live and On Demand on Paramount+*.
More “Beyond the Gates”
One week before the show’s premiere, CBS will broadcast a five-part daytime special, titled “Beyond the Gates: Welcome to the Neighborhood,” during the week of February 17-21, 2025 which will provide viewers with a unique experience into the journey of bringing the new daytime soap opera to life, from its powerful representation of Black culture and history to the 27 meticulously designed sets that create the world of Fairmont Crest, a wealthy gated community with leafy tree-lined streets and luxurious mansions.
In the fifth episode of “Beyond the Gates: Welcome to the Neighborhood,” titled “Sneak Peek and Guest Stars,” airing Friday, February 21, viewers will get an exclusive first look at the show’s premiere episode, featuring high-stakes action, deep secrets, and unforgettable drama. The sneak peek sets the stage for a season filled with twists, turns, and lots of surprises. Plus, hear directly from the cast and creators about what’s in store for Fairmont Crest. Later in the episode, the “Entertainment Tonight” Vault will revisit where fans first met the stars of “Beyond the Gates” and where they might have seen them before.
The five-part half-hour special is hosted by “Entertainment Tonight” co-host Kevin Frazier and uber soap fan, comedian and television personality Sheryl Underwood (“The Talk”).
