*Clifton Davis says the key to feeling strong at 80 is not focusing on age at all.
“Forget that you’re 80. Don’t think about it,” he said in an interview with PEOPLE. The “Beyond the Gates” star says staying engaged in his work has helped keep him sharp. He also credits his wife with helping him stay on track when it comes to health and care.
“I just keep working [and] keep my mind working. And, I’m fortunate enough to have a loving wife who takes excellent care of me and makes sure that if I need medicine, I have it and I take it.”
He adds, “And I try to stay active. I fight those things that come on normally because you’ve lived 80 years and by God’s grace, I’m still hanging in there.”
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On screen, Davis portrays Vernon Dupree, a retired senator and family patriarch in “Beyond the Gates.” The series follows the Dupree family in the fictional gated community of Fairmont Crest outside Washington, D.C. Davis has described Vernon’s relationship with his wife Anita as one of the most meaningful dynamics he has played. He says the character has also influenced how he thinks about love, faith, and connection, both on and off screen.
“With Vernon, I’ve explored a deeper sense of love, actually. I love my family and I love my children and I love my wife, but there’s something about Vernon’s love for Anita that is different in a sense,” he explained.
“They have a connection on the level of entertainment and of philosophy and politics and ideology. They can finish each other’s sentences on many subjects,” Davis continued. “And so, that relationship I’ve not had on stage before, [and] I thank my wife for helping me to understand what that kind of love is.”
Reflecting on the series, Davis said he did not anticipate its success when he first joined the cast. He credited the ensemble cast and crew for the show’s momentum and praised its collaborative energy.
“I didn’t expect this and for it to be such a hit,” he said. “The lovely thing for me is that it is so diverse, and everybody is giving so much of themselves. We all contribute the best we can as much as we can.”
Tune in to “Beyond the Gates” weekdays at 2 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT on CBS.
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