What is Roger Howarth doing now?

Roger Howarth has officially announced his departure from General Hospital, marking the end of his 11-year tenure on the daytime soap opera. The seasoned actor shared the news in an interview with Soap Opera Digest, revealing that he received a call from executive producer Frank Valentini several weeks ago, notifying him that his contract with ABC would not be renewed.

In the interview published on Monday, November 20, Howarth recounted the conversation with Valentini, stating, “I would not be offered a new contract, and that the character of Austin would be killed, and that this was something that both wanted and needed to do to move [the] story forward.”

Howarth initially joined General Hospital in 2012, bringing to life the character Todd Manning, a role he had previously portrayed on One Life to Live from 1993 to 2012. Following the conclusion of the Franco Baldwin storyline in 2021, Howarth returned to the show as Dr. Austin Gatlin-Holt later that same year.

The final chapter of Howarth’s character unfolded in the Friday, November 17, episode when Dr. Austin was fatally shot, bringing closure to Howarth’s longstanding run on the show.

Reflecting on his departure, Howarth expressed gratitude for the opportunity to engage in work he truly loved for over a decade. Despite the unexpected nature of the decision, he acknowledged feeling fortunate to have collaborated with people he genuinely enjoyed working with.

Describing his emotions on the last day of filming in October, Howarth mentioned being overwhelmed and conveyed his love for storytelling. He received flowers from the producers and had the chance to express his gratitude and bid farewell to many colleagues he admired.

In a heartfelt message to General Hospital viewers, Howarth expressed deep appreciation, referring to them as “the most loyal, smartest, most discerning, enthusiastic, supportive bunch of people in the whole history of entertainment ever.” He extended his thanks for their support and love, emphasizing the collective effort to please the audience. Concluding his message, he expressed, “It was cool. I had a great time.”

As Roger Howarth takes his leave from General Hospital, fans and colleagues alike are left with a profound sense of gratitude for the actor’s contributions to the show and the lasting impact of his performances over the past 11 years.