Who Is Joey Armstrong? What We Know About Beyond the Gates’ Most Mysterious Mobster

On Beyond the Gates, Joey Armstrong quickly became one of the show’s most intriguing characters. While viewers know him as the owner of a casino with connections to Fairmont Crest’s power players, much of Joey’s past has remained a mystery. 

Over the past several months, however, he has gradually revealed pieces of his story through conversations with Vanessa, offering insight into the man behind the mobster-businessman. Here’s everything we know about Joey Armstrong’s background.

Joey Was Raised In A Crime Family

According to Joey Armstrong, played by fan-fave Jon Lindstrom, he grew up in a criminal organization run by his father. In a conversation with his partner, Vanessa McBride (Lauren Buglioli), Joey described his dad as an old-school syndicate boss who expected his son to follow in his footsteps. 

While other children spent their time playing and enjoying childhood, Joey was being trained for the family business. From a young age, he was taught how to collect money, handle operations like money laundering, and navigate the criminal world his father controlled.

Joey made it clear that he never had much say in the life that was chosen for him. He revealed that his father could be physically abusive and expected complete obedience. If Joey stepped out of line, there were consequences.

His Father Chose His Future

While his father wanted him to become his successor, Joey’s mother had different dreams. She hoped her son would attend college and pursue a more traditional career path, which interested him far more than organized crime.

“My mother wanted me to go to college and study finance and game theory,” Joey told Vanessa. Although he never got that opportunity, Joey joked that he ended up studying game theory in his own way through his casino operation.

One of the most surprising things Joey revealed was that he never wanted the future his father envisioned for him. But despite his mother’s talk of a future outside of their criminal lifestyle, his mother deferred to her husband’s wishes, and Joey never had the opportunity to go to college instead.

Joey Lost His Mother and Sister

Joey has spoken emotionally about his mother on several occasions and revealed that she died due to complications from plastic surgery. According to Joey, his mother believed her value was tied to her appearance. Her death left a lasting impact on him and shaped many of his views.

Perhaps the most personal stories Joey has shared involve his younger sister, Heather, whom he fondly describes as ambitious, intelligent, and incredibly determined — qualities he says she shares with their father.

As children, she was their dad’s favorite. Joey said Heather was a lot like him, but there was one major difference between them: While Joey desperately wanted out of the family business, Heather wanted in. She believed her talents could be put to use within the organization, but their father refused to allow it.

Heather Walked Away

Eventually, Heather made a decision that changed both of their lives. Not wanting to remain connected to the Armstrong family, she left and cut off contact. Before leaving, she wrote Joey a letter explaining that she needed a clean break in order to become the woman she wanted to be. She also asked him not to look for her, and Joey honored that request. Years later, he still rereads the letter annually on the anniversary of the day she left.

Joey’s feelings about Heather became clear when Vanessa attempted to help him reconnect with his sister. After researching property records and tracking Heather’s movements over the years, Vanessa excitedly shared what she had discovered. Joey was furious.

He reminded Vanessa that Heather had specifically asked not to be found and accused her of violating a boundary he had spent years respecting. The moment showed just how deeply Joey values the promise he made to his sister.

One major question remains unanswered. Although Joey has frequently discussed his father, he has never revealed what ultimately happened to him. Whether the Armstrong family patriarch is dead, imprisoned, or still alive somewhere remains one of the biggest mysteries in Joey’s backstory.