Things are shaking up behind the gates.
Keith D. Robinson is officially joining Beyond the Gates as the show’s first recast, stepping into the role of Dr. Ted Richardson. He replaces Maurice Johnson, who originated the character when the daytime drama premiered just weeks ago. Robinson’s first episodes are set to air in May, and if you know anything about soaps, you know a casting switch-up is just part of the territory.
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So why the change? CBS hasn’t shared an official reason, but in the world of daytime TV, recasts happen more often than people change their coffee order. Whether it’s scheduling conflicts, behind-the-scenes adjustments, or just creative decisions, it’s all part of the soap playbook—especially for a new show still finding its groove.
And if you’ve been watching, you know Ted Richardson is no background player. He’s a high-profile plastic surgeon with a luxe private practice and a polished life that seems perfect. He’s married to psychiatrist Dr. Nicole Dupree Richardson (played by Daphnee Duplaix), and they have two kids. But of course, this is a soap, so secrets don’t stay buried for long.
Currently, Ted is knee-deep in drama, thanks to a past affair with Leslie (Trisha Mann-Grant) resurfacing—and she’s not coming back quietly. She’s using her daughter Eva (Ambyr Michelle), who she claims is Ted’s child, to blow up his life and his marriage. So yeah, Robinson’s walking into the middle of a storm, and we can’t wait to see how he brings the heat.
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The show, set in an ultra-wealthy, predominantly Black Maryland suburb just outside D.C., has been turning heads since day one. With winding streets, big money, and even bigger secrets, Beyond the Gates explores the lives of the Dupree family—think Black royalty with a whole lot of skeletons in the closet.
Robinson is no stranger to drama. You’ve seen him in A Million Little Things, Saints & Sinners, and on the big screen in Dreamgirls and All Eyez on Me. When the casting news dropped, he shared a grateful message on Instagram:
“God is Good ✨️…This is gonna be a fun ride… Glad to be the topic of your daily water cooler conversations along with my talented comrades ????????.”
Beyond the Gates airs weekdays on CBS at 2PM ET/1PM PT and streams on Paramount+. The soap is the first-ever Black-led daytime drama from the CBS Studios/NAACP venture, spearheaded by Sheila Ducksworth in partnership with P&G Studios. Created and run by Michele Val Jean (a legend in the genre), the series has been a ratings force, even beating out General Hospital in key demos and pulling over 5.2 million viewers during its first week.
So buckle up. If you thought things behind those gates were wild before, Keith D. Robinson is about to bring even more drama to the block.