Beyond The Gates Final Casting Including Clifton Davis Revealed

Beyond the Gates revealed the last wave of casting for the upcoming soap opera, which is slated to begin filming in November. This is the final casting announcement for the original cast of the daytime drama from CBS Studios and NAACP, which will premiere on CBS in early 2025.

BTG Casting News

Veteran television and stage actor Clifton Davis will star as Vernon Dupree, the Dupree family patriarch and husband of Anita Dupree (Tamara Tunie). Alex Alegria, Lauren Buglioli, Ben Gavin, Jibre Hordges, Jen Jacob, and Mike Manning are also joining the new daytime series.

Character Breakdown

Clifton Davis stars as Vernon Dupree, the Dupree family patriarch married to Anita and father to Dr. Nicole Dupree Richardson and Dani Dupree. A venerable former senator, Vernon is gentle, humble, and generous with his knowledge and experience. Retired now, Vernon was at the forefront of the civil rights movement.

Davis is a veteran actor with a 60-year career that spans television, film, Motown, and nine Broadway shows. His most recent recurring roles include the series Clipped, Godfather of Harlem, and MADAM SECRETARY on the Network. Recently on Broadway, he played Dr. Dillamond in Wicked and originated the role of The Sultan in Aladdin. Davis is a Tony Award nominee for Two Gentlemen of Verona, a Theatre World Award winner for the Gershwin Review Do It Again, and a GRAMMY nominee for writing “Never Can Say Good-bye” for The Jackson 5. 

Jibre Hordges stars as Jacob Hawthorne, Naomi Hamilton Hawthorne’s husband and a robbery/homicide detective with the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia. Jacob hails from a family of law enforcement. He is proud of his wife, the family he comes from, serving the community, and seeking justice for victims.

Hordges’ credits include Grown-ish, 9-1-1, and The Resident.

Mike Manning stars as Bradley “Smitty” Smith, husband to Congressman Martin Richardson and father to teenagers Tyrell and Samantha. A former political reporter turned househusband, Smitty is a fantastic dad who has guided his children with warmth and good humor. Smitty is thinking of resuming his writing career but is hesitant to tell Martin, who likes their home life the way it is.

Manning’s credits include The Bay, Days of Our Lives, and This Is Us.

Jen Jacob stars as Ashley Morgan, Naomi Hamilton Hawthorne’s best friend, who is the only child of a young single mother. Ashley was a latchkey kid who has never been afraid of rolling up her sleeves. She is a nurse at Washington D.C.’s Garland Memorial Hospital and has the perfect temperament for her profession – positive, cheerful, brisk, resourceful, and independent. She can be serious but is also fun-loving with a smile that lights up a room.

Jacob’s credits include The Union and Law & Order: Organized Crime.

Ben Gavin stars as Derek Baldwin, a devoted firefighter in a relationship with Ashley Morgan and best friend to Jacob Hawthorne. Derek is fearless, holds nothing back and goes into a zone when he fights fire – which is almost personal for him rather than just a professional calling. Incredibly handy, Derek can fix almost anything.

Gavin’s credits include Super 8, The Dark Tower, My Christmas Love, and Missing at 17. His recent roles include the films A Place Called Home, Going for Two, and Winterset.

Lauren Buglioli stars as Vanessa McBride, a high-end real estate agency owner who specializes in luxury property and is neighbors with Dani Dupree and best friend to Dr. Nicole Dupree Richardson. The mother of twins, Vanessa is in a loveless marriage with her high school sweetheart.

Bugliogli’s credits include Bad Monkey, Florida Man, and A Jazzman’s Blues.

Alex Alegria stars as Tomas “Tom” Navarro, a handsome and confident young attorney at Bill Hamilton’s law firm. Tomas has an eye for Katherine “Kat” Richardson.

Alegria’s credits include CSI and Gossip Girl.

They join previously announced cast members, including Tamara Tunie, Daphnee Duplaix, Karla Mosley, Brandon Claybon, Timon Kyle Durrett, Sean Freeman, Marquita Goings, Maurice Johnson, Trisha Mann-Grant, RhonniRose Mantilla, Ambyr Michelle, Colby Muhammad and Arielle Prepetit.

READ MORE: BTS casting announcement.

BTG is developed and produced by the CBS Studios/NAACP Venture, led by Sheila Ducksworth, in partnership with P&G Studios, a division of Procter & Gamble. This marks the first-ever one-hour Black daytime soap and the first daytime drama to premiere since “Passions” in 1999.

Michele Val Jean is the creator, executive producer, and showrunner alongside executive producers Sheila Ducksworth, Robert Guza Jr., Julie Carruthers, Leon W. Russell, Derrick Johnson, Kimberly Doebereiner, and Anna Saalfeld.