Maurice P. Kerry journey from being recruited for the U.S. Marine Corps at Arbor Place Mall to starring in CBS and Paramount’s new soap opera, “Beyond The Gates,” is nothing short of inspiring.
Kerry’s path has taken him from serving in the Marines to appearing in hit shows like “Atlanta, Law & Order: Organized Crime,” BET Her’s “The Waiting Room,” and “A Merry Single Christmas.” Now, with his role in “Beyond The Gates,” he continues to showcase his talents and undeniable screen presence.
Kerry is a Douglas County High graduate.
Kerry says his early times in Douglas County were awkward for him, but there were some benevolent souls along the way that made all the difference.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the few people who accepted me as I was, even when I didn’t exactly fit the mold,” Kerry said. “I wasn’t popular. I wasn’t the good-looking kid. I wasn’t into sports like most of the guys my age. I was a nerd. A gamer. I spent my time lost in TV shows, creating worlds through long stories I’d write just to escape or express what I couldn’t always say out loud.”
He got his first job at 15, working at the McDonald’s on Fairburn Road, and over the years he clocked in at five more places across Douglasville, he said, just hustling, learning, and figuring life out one paycheck at a time.
And then, at 17, he had his first run-in with the police. But that officer didn’t treat him like a criminal.
“He treated me like a human being who just made a mistake,” Kerry said. “He was respectful. Patient. It’s experiences like that, being different, making mistakes, meeting people who show you grace that remind me how much we all grow through the struggle.”
Kerry left Douglasville in 2001 when he made the life-changing decision to join the Marine Corps.
“Crazy to think I was actually recruited right out of Arbor Place Mall,.” he said.
Since then, Gwinnett County is where he’s planted roots. He first got to know the area back in 2015 when he joined to Gwinnett Fire Dept. But he remains open to the future.
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my time in the Marines, the fire service, and just life in general, it’s that you never really know where the road will lead.”
Kerry explained how he got the acting bug.
“The very first time I ever acted was back in 1998 at Douglas County High School,” he said. “I played The Cowardly Lion in our version of The Wiz, which we proudly called Wiz’N It. Somehow, I even ended up on the front page of the local paper! Still cracks me up. But truthfully, I think I’ve always been an entertainer at heart. I just didn’t know exactly how that part of me would show up in life.”
Kerry says it was in 2018 that everything shifted for him.
“I signed with my first agent. Three months after that, I found myself on CBS’ MacGyver, standing on set, saying my very first lines on national television. And just like that, a dream I didn’t even fully know I had, became real.”
Kerry’s says his longer-term goal is to win both an Emmy and an Oscar.
“Not just for the recognition, but to honor the journey and the people who’ve poured into me along the way.” he said.
Kerry says he strives to produce and direct more films and create meaningful television. And he also has the dream of bringing a drama series to life based on a 20-year chapter of his own story.
Additionally, Kerry is a passionate advocate for veterans, using his platform to shed light on their struggles and uplift fellow servicemen and women.
“Right now, I have the absolute honor of working alongside Betty Diaz from the Paramount Veterans Network. Together, we’re on a mission to shine a light on the incredible value and contributions that Veterans bring to the entertainment industry both in front of the camera and behind the scenes,” he said. “But it doesn’t stop there. We’re also committed to making sure Veterans know about the countless resources
and benefits available to them as real tools that can make a real difference.”
And they’re working to amplify the conversation around mental health issues within the Veteran community.
“Whether combat or non-combat, far too many of our brothers and sisters carry invisible wounds like depression and PTSD,” Kerry said. “It’s time we not only acknowledge that but actively support one another in healing.”
Kerry cites the Rocky movies 1-4 as a prime contributor to why he’s making it in a tough industry.
“Those films aren’t just entertainment; they’re blueprints for resilience,” he said. “Rocky didn’t win because life was easy. He won because, no matter how impossible the odds, he refused to stay down. He kept showing up, round after round, punch after punch. That’s greatness. Not talent. Not luck. Just relentless heart.”
Kerry says it’s that same mindset that got him through four years in the toughest branch of the military, and surviving a war in Iraq.
“130-degree heat, bullets snapping overhead, bombs shaking the earth, choking on moon dust, and the kind of smells you never forget,” Kerry said. “If you can make it through that — chasing a dream like acting feels a whole lot more possible. Because a “No” doesn’t scare me. Rejection won’t break me. I believe there’s always a way. If somebody else did it — why can’t I? And if I can do it — why not you?”
You can catch Kerry as Randy Parker on Beyond the Gates, airing on CBS and Paramount+ Monday through Friday at 2 p.m..
“I’m honored to bring Randy Parker to life and can’t wait for audiences to dive into the world of Beyond The Gates,” he said.
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