Ben Gavin achieved soap opera stardom with his role as Derek on Beyond the Gates. But long before Fairmont Crest, the actor auditioned for the role of a Young and the Restless bad boy.
Key Takeaways
- Gavin played Derek on BTG from February 2025 to May 2026.
- Before BTG, Gavin auditioned for the role of Adam on Y&R.
- After Derek’s death on BTG, fans are wondering what’s next for Gavin.
Soap Opera Beginnings
In 2019, Gavin worked multiple side jobs while pursuing his dream of becoming an actor. Gavin met many aspiring actors long the way, including Y&R star Mark Grossman.
“We used to do catering together,” Gavin told The Soap Scene. “We were living in L.A. and trying to pay rent.”
Grossman and Gavin became friends, and Gavin knew his pal was destined for stardom. When the two were up for the role of Adam on Y&R, Gavin sensed that the part wasn’t meant for him.
“One day, we both auditioned for Adam Newman. I was there before him, and then in walks Mark. I looked at him, and I was just like, ‘You’re gonna get this dude.'”
Gavin’s gut feeling was right, and Grossman got the role. Although he lost out on the iconic role, Gavin had no hard feelings towards his friend.
“I wasn’t surprised when he got that job. You could tell there was a different level of focus that he had. Mark is an actor to his core.”
Gavin would go on to land small roles in TV shows and films, but in 2025, he got his big break. The actor became a soap star as hunky firefighter Derek Baldwin on BTG. Fans were intrigued by Derek and his on-again, off-again romance with Ashley (Jen Jacob).
Sadly, Derek’s time on the show has come to a tragic end. On the May 20th episode, Derek died after taking a bullet for Jacob (Jibre Hordges) during his sting operation.
Soap Fans Want to See More of The Actor
Derek’s death has sparked outrage with BTG fans, who felt it was too soon for his departure. As fans and Fairmont Crest mourn Derek, the question remains: what’s next for Gavin?
Well, there’s always the possibility that Derek could be alive. On soap operas, characters are always returning from the dead. It’s possible that Jacob faked Derek’s death as a way to capture “The Impaler.”
Whether Derek is alive remains uncertain, but fans are hopeful they’ll see the actor back onscreen. Perhaps another soap, such as Y&R, could use Gavin.
