Beyond The Gates’s Brandon Claybon and Mike Manning Chat with Michael Fairman
Marriages are complicated, and Beyond The Gates’s Martin Richardson and Bradley “Smitty” Smith’s marriage is no exception. Join actors Brandon Claybon and Mike Manning, who play the happily wed duo, as they delve into the pair’s complex on-screen relationship, share their thoughts on the importance of LGBTQ+ representation on television, and more — all on YouTube’s Michael Fairman Channel on Thursday, May 8 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.
Catching Up
The couple currently finds themselves at a crossroads. Martin, who has major political aspirations, is also dealing with a trauma from his past that he isn’t willing to divulge to his husband. Meanwhile, Smitty, a once well-known and respected political reporter, is dipping his toe back into his career, after years of being a house husband and devoted father to the two teenage children he shares with Martin, Samantha and Tyrell. The question is: Can Martin and Smitty’s marriage survive as they each pursue their career goals?
Manning is well known to soap opera fans. He previously portrayed Charlie Dale on Days of Our Lives (2020-2022), the character revealed to be the man who raped Allie Horton and the father of her son, Henry. He also played Caleb McKinnon on The Bay (2019-2020, 2022-2024), a young man estranged from his parents after he married his true love, Daniel Garrett. Manning’s powerful portrayal of the character earned him a 2021 Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor.
Claybon began his career as a model before segueing to acting. He appeared in the popular ABC primetime series How to Get Away with Murder and Grey’s Anatomy, Tyler Perry’s Zatima, and various other projects. His only previous daytime experience was a day player role on General Hospital.
You can watch Claybon and Manning discuss their characters’ conundrum, tease what’s ahead for their characters and field fan questions and comments by tuning in to their appearance on the Michael Fairman Channel. To participate in the live stream, click here.
Conversation
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