Key Highlights
- Roger Howarth returns to Young and the Restless as Matt Clark.
- The character is described as a “true bad guy” with complex motivations.
- Howarth’s experience spans multiple soap operas, including General Hospital.
- The actor discusses his approach to playing villainous roles on daytime television.
Roger Howarth Returns as Matt Clark in ‘Young and the Restless’
Actor Roger Howarth has returned to the world of soap operas, stepping into the role of Matt Clark on The Young and the Restless. This casting news comes after a period where fans speculated about his return as Mitch Bacall. However, Howarth’s character will be a surprise twist for viewers, revealing that Mitch is actually Matt Clark, the long-absent nemesis of Nick and Sharon.
A Breakout Role and Villainous Returns
Howarth, known for his roles in General Hospital (2012-2023) as Todd Manning, Franco Baldwin, and Austin Gatlin-Holt, is no stranger to playing complex characters. His return to the show marks a significant casting move by Executive Producer/Head Writer Josh Griffith, whom Howarth first worked with in the early 1990s.
Howarth describes his role as Matt Clark: “Matt Clark is an awesome character! What’s not to be excited about?” He adds, “I’m really thankful that I get to play a character with mischief and devious qualities. It’s super-fun.”
The Actor’s Preparation
Howarth praised the preparation process for his new role: “Mandi is really, really talented and hard-working and dedicated and detail-oriented,” he said of the show’s costumer Mandi Line. “She thought of it all, man. She made me feel like it was going to be easy to slip into the character because visually, so much of it had been taken care of.” This preparation is crucial for Howarth, who has played back-from-the-dead characters before in his career.
For Howarth, understanding Matt’s history and motivations is key: “If a person is pretending to be another person, you kind of know everything about that person. Like, if they are lying about who they are, what else are they lying about? Matt, on some level, really believes in the life that he has been living all these years as Mitch,” Howarth explained.
Expectations and Villainy
Fans can anticipate a swift transformation for Matt Clark: “The ramp was short — Matt gets up to no good very, very quickly,” said Howarth. The actor is confident that his portrayal will challenge the status quo: “He’s had a long time to kind of ruminate in that and stew and if anything, I think his maliciousness has gotten louder and deeper.” This approach ensures that Matt Clark remains a compelling and dangerous figure for viewers.
Howarth’s return is highly anticipated by both longtime fans and new viewers. “I’m really touched by the support,” he added. “The whole point of doing what we do is so an audience enjoys it. That’s what we’re all here for!” As Matt Clark steps back into Genoa City, his presence promises to shake up the narrative and challenge established storylines.
