The CBS soap opera Beyond the Gates continues to outshine its legacy competitors for representation of people of color. This doesn’t come as a surprise, considering it’s the first American daytime drama to feature a predominantly African-American cast since NBC’s Generations (1989-1991). The soap has successfully balanced screen time for its contract and recurring cast members since its debut in February 2025.
In August, CBS’s The Bold and the Beautiful made significant improvements towards representation of people of color, as several contract actors saw increases in episode counts. Peacock’s Days of Our Lives features a steady presence of characters of color month to month. The longest-running American daytime drama in production, ABC’s General Hospital has a steady presence of actors of color in its cast. However, several of these actors haven’t appeared in several months. The Young and the Restless, which consistently features fewer actors of color than its competitors, saw an impressive increase in representation in August.
Beyond the Gates: On America’s youngest daytime drama, Karla Mosley (Danielle “Dani” Dupree) dominated the screen once again in August. Mosley was featured in 17 episodes out of 21 to air during the month. She was followed closely by co-star Timon Kyle Durrett (William “Bill Hamilton), who appeared in 16 episodes, up from 12 in July. Brandon Claybon (Martin Richardson) made fewer appearances than any contract and several recurring actors of color, with just seven episodes. On the recurring side, Maurice P. Kerry (Randy Parker) and Ellie Wang (Caroline Lee) topped episode counts with nine appearances. August was a milestone for both actors, as it was the first time either topped episode counts.
Recurring actors Madison Alsobrook (Francesca Belleclaire), Destiny Love (Laura Peterson), Carlos Palacio (Diego Sánchez), and Timeca Seretti (Anastasia Belleclaire) didn’t appear in August. Despite being the only soap opera on air to feature a predominantly African-American cast, Beyond the Gates tied with General Hospital for having the most actors of color not appear on screen in August. Many of these actors haven’t appeared in several months, and this data suggests that the writers of Beyond the Gates must evaluate the space (or lack thereof) that these characters have on the canvas.
Contract and Recurring Performers of Color on 'Beyond the Gates'
Recurring:
Maurice P. Kerry (Randy Parker): 9
Ellie Wang (Caroline Lee): 9
Robert Christopher Riley (Dr. Carlton Fitzgerald): 7
Alex Alegria (Tomás Navarro): 5
Jordi Vilasuso (Grayson Perez): 5
Jasmine Burke (June Hughes): 3
Darryl W. Handy (Detective Marcel Malone): 3
Najah Jackson (Samantha Richardson-Smith): 3
Ernestine Johnson (Shanice Johnson): 3
Jaden Lucas Miller (Tyrell Richardson-Smith): 3
Derrex Brady (Jaylen Pierce): 2
Angela Fairley (Deanna McBride): 2
Camryn Jade (Jessica Harris): 2
Karan Kendrick (Mona Wilson): 2
Kenjah (Madison Montgomery): 2
Malachi Malik (Elon Hawthorne): 2
Milly Figuereo (Tatum Stewart): 1
Iona Morris Jackson (Dr. Monica McCormick): 1
Dawntavia Marrero (Shonda): 1
Monique Mosee (Darlene Hawthorne): 1
Brianna Roberts (Allison Bailey): 1
Madison Alsobrook (Francesca Belleclaire): 0
Jason Graham (Douglas McBride): 0
Destiny Love (Laura Peterson): 0
Antwan Mills (Wayne Maddox): 0
Carlos Palacio (Diego Sánchez): 0
Timeca Seretti (Anastasia Belleclaire): 0
Contract:
Karla Mosley (Danielle "Dani" Dupree Hamilton): 17
Timon Kyle Durrett (Bill Hamilton): 16
Sean Freeman (Andre Richardson): 13
Marquita Goings (Hayley Lawson Hamilton): 13
Colby Nixon (Katherine "Kat" Richardson): 13
Daphnée Duplaix (Nicole Dupree): 12
RhonniRose Mantilla (Chelsea Hamilton): 11
Arielle Prepetit (Naomi Hamilton Hawthorne): 11
Lami (Izaiah Hawthorne): 10
Ambyr Michelle (Eva Thomas): 10
Keith D. Robinson (Theodore "Ted" Richardson): 10
Jibre Hordges (Jacob Hawthorne): 9
Tamara Tunie (Anita Williams Dupree): 9
Clifton Davis (Vernon Dupree): 8
Trisha Mann-Grant (Dana "Leslie" Thomas): 8
Brandon Claybon (Martin Richardson): 7
The Bold and the Beautiful: August was a better month for representation of people of color on The Bold and the Beautiful. Lawrence St. Victor (Carter Walton) made more appearances than any actor of color on the soap, with 13 out of 21 episodes. This figure is up significantly from Victor’s July totals, when he also topped episode counts with just four episodes. Naomi Matsuda (Dr. Li Finnegan) made the most appearances of the recurring actors, and contract actor Delon de Metz (Zende Forrester Dominguez) made three appearances. Metz’ figure is down from his July total, when he tied for episode totals with Victor, with four appearances.
Contract and Recurring Performers of Color on 'The Bold and the Beautiful'
Recurring:
Naomi Matsuda (Dr. Li Finnegan): 3
Brittany Bardwell (Flight Attendant): 2
Sandra Aguilar (FC Crew #2): 1
Sincere Cato (Alex): 1
Lonnie Henderson (Lonnie): 1
Dan Martin (Lieutenant Bradley Baker): 0
Contract:
Lawrence St. Victor (Carter Walton): 13
Murielle Hilaire (Daphne Rose): 10
Delon de Metz (Zende Forrester Dominguez): 2
Days of Our Lives: Tyler Joseph Andrews (Theo Carver) once again topped episode counts in August. At 12 out of 21 episodes, Andrews topped his July total of 11 appearances. August marked the third consecutive month in which Andrews topped episode counts for actors of color on Days of Our Lives. Jacob Richard Martinez (Javi Hernandez) topped episode counts for the recurring actors of color, with seven appearances, which was also more than several actors of color on the soap. Elia Cantu (Jada Hunter) made fewer appearances than any contracted actor and several recurring actors of color.
Contract and Recurring Performers of Color on 'Days of Our Lives'
Recurring:
Jacob Richard Martinez (Javi Hernandez): 7
Nikki Crawford (Lexie Carver): 6
Michael Ocampo (Gus): 2
Lamon Archey (Eli Grant): 1
Shi Ne Nielson (Amy Choi): 1
Tina Huang (Melinda Trask): 0
Stephen Oyoung (Jason Choi): 0
Contract:
Tyler Joseph Andrews (Theo Carver): 12
Jackee Harry (Paulina Price Carver): 10
Raven Bowens (Chanel DiMera): 7
James Reynolds (Abe Carver): 7
Cherie Jimenez (Gabi DiMera): 6
Sal Stowers (Lani Grant): 5
Elia Cantu (Jada Hunter): 4
General Hospital: Donnell Turner (Curtis Ashford) was featured in more episodes than any contract or recurring performer of color on General Hospital in August. Out of 21 episodes, Turner appeared in 11. Turner topped his July total, when he appeared in only six episodes. Nazneen Contractor (Justine Turner) once again made the fewest appearances of the contract performers, with only three episodes. This figure is down from Contractor’s July total of five episodes.
On the recurring side, Jens Austin Astrup (Kai Taylor) topped episode counts again, with six appearances, even with his July total. August marked the second consecutive month in which Astrup beat Contractor for episode totals. Once again, recurring actors Dioni Michelle Collins (Deanna Sirtis), Cassandra James (Dr. Terry Randolph), Lydia Look (Selina Wu), and Parry Shen (Brad Cooper) made zero appearances in July.
Contract and Recurring Performers of Color on 'General Hospital'
Recurring:
Jens Austin Astrup (Kai Taylor): 6
Robert Gossett (Marshall Ashford): 2
Vernee Watson (Stella Henry): 2
Jequan Jackson (Quinn): 1
Dioni Michelle Collins (Deanna Sirtis): 0
Cassandra James (Dr. Terry Randolph): 0
Yirah Aviah Lafond (Desmond Ashford): 0
Lydia Look (Selina Wu): 0
Parry Shen (Brad Cooper): 0
Contract:
Donnell Turner (Curtis Ashford): 11
Tabyana Ali (Trina Robinson): 10
Tanisha Harper (Jordan Ashford): 10
Brook Kerr (Dr. Portia Robinson): 7
Sawandi Wilson (Dr. Isaiah Gannon): 7
Nazneen Contractor (Justine Turner): 3
The Young and the Restless: The highest-rated soap in the country saw an impressive upward trend in screen time for actors of color. Once again, Christel Khalil (Lily Winters) topped episode counts. Appearing in 12 out of 21 episodes, Khalil’s totals are up significantly from July, when she made only six appearances. August marked the fifth consecutive month in which Khalil topped episode counts on The Young and the Restless. Meanwhile, Nathan Owens (Holden Novak) and Zuleyka Silver (Audra Charles) made the fewest appearances out of the contract actors, with just four episodes, tied with recurring actress Vivica A. Fox (Dr. Stephanie Simmons), who was the only recurring actress to appear on the soap in August.
Lastly, recurring actors Shemar Moore (Malcolm Winters) and Valerie Pettiford (Amy Lewis) once again made no appearances. Pettiford hasn’t been featured for several months, while Moore just returned to the soap in April. Given the soap’s already large canvas and, until August, its general lack of screen time for characters of color, the showrunners of The Young and the Restless should consider what purposes these characters serve and write stories for them accordingly.
Contract and Recurring Performers of Color on 'The Young and the Restless'
Recurring:
Vivica A. Fox (Dr. Stephanie Simmons): 4
Shemar Moore (Malcolm Winters): 0
Valerie Pettiford (Amy Lewis): 0
Contract:
Christel Khalil (Lily Winters): 12
Sean Dominic (Nate Hastings): 6
Bryton James (Devon Winters): 5
Nathan Owens (Holden Novak): 4
Zuleyka Silver (Audra Charles): 4
