HOT – Thorsten Kaye is departing from The Bold and the Beautiful to take on a role in Beyond the Gates.
In a move that is sending shockwaves through the world of daytime television, Thorsten Kaye — the indomitable force behind Ridge Forrester on CBS’s The Bold and the Beautiful — is officially stepping away from the role he has owned for over a decade. The Emmy-winning actor, who first donned the designer shoes of the iconic Ridge in December 2013, is now pivoting to a bold new chapter: a starring role in Beyond the Gates, the groundbreaking new daytime drama that critics and fans alike are calling the next great evolution in soap storytelling.
For loyal viewers of B&B, Kaye’s departure feels like the end of an era — and perhaps, the beginning of another. The decision, though heartbreaking to some, is steeped in both artistic ambition and personal necessity. And as Kaye prepares to leave behind one of the most complex and beloved characters in soap opera history, the entire industry is watching closely.
A Reign as Ridge: A Decade of Drama and Dominance
When Thorsten Kaye first stepped into the role of Ridge Forrester, he faced the nearly impossible task of replacing fan-favorite Ronn Moss. But in true Ridge fashion, Kaye didn’t just inherit the character — he reinvented him. With brooding intensity, sharp intelligence, and an emotional depth that earned him multiple Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor, Kaye made Ridge his own.
Over the past twelve years, Kaye’s Ridge has weathered scandal, betrayal, corporate warfare, and countless romantic entanglements — most notably, the ongoing love triangle with Brooke Logan and Taylor Hayes. He’s fought for Forrester Creations, reconciled with estranged children, battled addiction and heartbreak, and served as the emotional anchor for the show’s most pivotal plotlines.
“Thorsten brought a rugged complexity to Ridge that transformed the character,” says a longtime Bold and the Beautiful producer. “He was passionate, flawed, fiercely loyal — and never predictable. That made him unforgettable.”
Behind the Scenes: The Pull Toward Change
Though Kaye’s performances have remained electrifying, rumors of his restlessness have been swirling for months. Sources close to the production hint that the actor, who lives on the East Coast with his Emmy-winning wife Susan Haskell and their two daughters, has long found the bi-coastal commute draining.
“Flying back and forth constantly while raising a family — it’s unsustainable,” one insider revealed. “He’s a devoted father and husband. And creatively, he was hungry for something new.”
Indeed, even Kaye himself hinted at a desire for reinvention during a recent interview. “I’ve loved every second of playing Ridge,” he said. “But as an artist, you’re always searching for the next challenge — the next role that pushes you beyond your limits.”
Enter: Beyond the Gates.
A New Frontier: Beyond the Gates
Created by Bold and the Beautiful alum Michelle Valene, Beyond the Gates premiered in February 2025 with a thunderous reception. Heralded as the first predominantly African-American daytime soap since NBC’s Generations (1989–1991), the show is being praised for its rich storytelling, complex characters, and fearless exploration of social and cultural issues that have long been ignored in the genre.
Set in a fictional southern city steeped in history and mystery, Beyond the Gates weaves themes of legacy, generational trauma, forbidden love, and power struggles into a tapestry that is as addictive as it is timely. The series has already attracted major talent and is climbing in the ratings with each episode.
And now, it has Thorsten Kaye.
While details about his role remain tightly under wraps, early rumors suggest Kaye will be playing a morally ambiguous figure with ties to both the city’s elite and its darkest secrets — a man whose past could unravel the very foundations of the world Beyond the Gates is building.
“This isn’t just a role — it’s a reinvention,” Valene teased in a press release. “Thorsten brings gravitas, vulnerability, and danger to every scene. He’s not coming to play it safe — he’s coming to burn the house down.”
The Impact on The Bold and the Beautiful
Kaye’s departure leaves a gaping hole in The Bold and the Beautiful — not just in the cast, but in the heart of the story. Ridge Forrester has long been the gravitational center around which many of the show’s most iconic characters orbit. Without him, the entire dynamic shifts.
The question on every fan’s mind: Will Ridge be recast, or written out?
While CBS and executive producer Bradley Bell have yet to confirm a replacement, insiders suggest that Ridge may be sent abroad on a long-term business venture or pulled into a medical crisis storyline that allows for his absence to be explained without permanently closing the door on a future return.
“Never say never in soaps,” one source noted. “Characters rise from the dead every day. If Thorsten wants to come back, he’ll always have a place here.”
Still, the timing couldn’t be more critical. With B&B currently immersed in a high-stakes family rift involving Thomas, Hope, and the fallout from Luna’s mysterious disappearance, Ridge’s calming (if not always stable) presence is sorely needed.
Brooke Logan’s future now hangs in uncertainty. Will she rekindle sparks with Deacon? Will her focus shift entirely to protecting Hope’s unraveling world? And what about Taylor Hayes — long Ridge’s rival and sometimes soulmate? Will she too exit the canvas, or rise into the power vacuum left behind?
Only time will tell.
The Legacy of Thorsten Kaye’s Ridge
Regardless of what the future holds for Ridge Forrester, one thing is certain: Thorsten Kaye’s legacy is indelible.
He didn’t just play Ridge — he was Ridge. A man of passion, contradiction, and enduring complexity. A father. A lover. A fighter. A titan of the Forrester dynasty.
And now, he leaves the fictional hills of Los Angeles for the uncharted depths of Beyond the Gates — a move that could very well redefine his career, and set a new standard for what daytime drama can achieve in the modern age.
Final Curtain — Or Just the Next Act?
Thorsten Kaye’s departure is not just a casting change. It’s a seismic shift in the world of soap operas — one that reflects the evolving landscape of the genre itself. From The Bold and the Beautiful to Beyond the Gates, Kaye is not stepping away. He’s stepping forward.
And as he embarks on this daring new chapter, fans across the globe will be watching, waiting, and following him beyond the world they thought they knew.
Because in the realm of daytime drama, no exit is ever final — and no entrance ever quiet.
📺 The Bold and the Beautiful airs weekdays on CBS.
🔥 Beyond the Gates airs Monday–Friday on BET and streams on Paramount+.
Stay tuned for casting updates and exclusive interviews with Kaye and the Beyond the Gates cast in next week’s feature!