Fans of Beyond the Gates have watched the Dupree universe expand all year, but one young star has captured attention more quickly than most. His arrival stirred curiosity, and now he’s shedding light on how he stepped into the drama.
A Breakout Entrance That Started Earlier This Year
When Beyond the Gates introduced Alex Cheeks as the son of Vanessa and Doug earlier this year, viewers immediately took notice. The role placed him alongside two well-established cast member, Lauren Buglioli and Jason Graham and set him up for emotional storylines right out of the gate. In a recent conversation with YouTuber Cornelius Hocker, Cheeks looked back on what it felt like to walk onto the CBS daytime drama for the first time.
He said his first filming day landed in early June and involved three scenes, including one with Maurice P. Kerry, who plays Randy. That episode happened to be the very first one he had ever shot. Cheeks remembered that his first shoot didn’t unfold smoothly because of unexpected technical delays. With time to spare, he and Kerry ended up running lines together. He told Kerry it was his first day and first scene, and Kerry reacted with genuine excitement about sharing that moment with him.
The Guidance That Helped Him In Early Episodes
Cheeks went on to film his remaining scenes that day with Ernestine Johnson, who plays Shanice, and Lauren Buglioli, who portrays his on-screen mother Vanessa. He noted that something clicked immediately between him and Buglioli. From his very first day, they connected easily, and he shared that they talk almost every other day. He described her as a wonderful TV-mother figure who lived up to everything the producers had told him that she was the best and that he would love working with her.
The actor said Buglioli didn’t wait until shooting day to lend her support. Before he stepped onto the set for the first time, she jumped on a Zoom call to help him prepare. According to Cheeks, she walked him through her interpretation of Vanessa, the family dynamics, and the emotional context surrounding their characters, which helped him form a deeper understanding of his own role. Cheeks kept returning to the same point.
He called her an amazing human being and said the relationship he built with her was something he would carry with him long after the scenes wrapped. As fans speculate about the character’s future, Cheeks didn’t hesitate to confirm that his time in the Dupree world isn’t over yet. He revealed that he is still filming and plans to travel back and forth to continue shooting additional scenes. Stay tuned to Soap Opera Daily for more Beyond the Gates updates.