General Hospital
Roger Howarth Explains His Short Break From General Hospital
General Hospital fan favorite Roger Howarth (Austin) hasn’t been on screen on recent episodes of the ABC daytime drama seres, and now the actor himself has explained his short disappearance.
While sharing a selfie via his Instagram account, Roger explained he was out of commission, while offering up some inspiration along the way. Howarth, who has been publicly private on social media, recently joined the social media platform, much to the delight of many.
In his post, Roger explained his absence with a photo of him working out at the gym.
“Work,” he noted. “Progressive overload is the theory that whatever you do next, should be more challenging. After a month off for Covid and knee MRI, I am back. And…accountable to you. Another gym post in 30 days. In that time, we can both try something new and difficult! Deal? It’s a way for us all to support and lift one another up. Peace. Seriously… peace.
Photo: RHowarthIG
Since coming to GH, the Daytime Emmy-winning star has played three roles. When One Life to Live came to its conclusion, after being cancelled by ABC, Howarth brought his character of Todd Manning to GH. However, when legal troubles over rights ensued between ABC and Prospect Park (who launched the online version of the series), he had to be given a new role specific to GH, and thus Howarth took over the role of Franco, previously played by James Franco. Later, when GH killed off the character in 2021, Roger returned to the series some time later as a new character, Dr. Austin Gatlin-Holt.
Photo: ABC
Roger’s return to taping all-new episodes of GH couldn’t come at a better time, as Austin’s story with Ava (Maura West) and his knowing that Nikolas Cassadine (Adam Huss) is alive and well, while she does not, will provide plenty of drama in the months ahead. Many are also hoping that a love story between Austin and Ava will fully bloom.
So, glad to know Roger is on the mend and coming back to tape all-new episodes of GH? Comment below.
The role of Austin is so beneath this actor.
Franco, Liz and the boys was a priceless story that GH destroyed. One of their biggest mistakes IMO.
I agree 100%.
Agree 100%
Franco and Liz had magic.
Her boys knew it too.
Still confused why the SL went south…
I agree! I read that RH no longer wanted to play Franco as the character committed too many terrible crimes and felt he couldn’t be redeemed. I really liked his version of Franco. I thought Roger H and Rebecca H. had great chemistry. I loved the relationship he had with her boys. I wish they would have recast RH as Lucky, if only to keep that pair together and reunite Liz and Lucky. Crazy thought I guess….
It wasn’t Roger’s decision to kill off Franco. That was the network edict to remove long term characters associated with sexual assault. That’s why they denied the request to bring back Todd and brought around a quick exit for Harmony.
RH as Lucky??? He’s only 5 years younger than Genie Francis!
He has been a great actor to watch and enjoy since he first appeared on OLTL… and to watch his character grow from the whole Marty / Todd original storyline
GH really dropped the ball here when they killed off Franco, then they dropped the ball again by with just having his new character idle for so long, Is he not a Quatermaine? why give up on the character association with the shows biggest family? doesn’t make sense, somebody got to fix this mess. He’s a Quatermaine so have him play with them..
Gh missed there calling by not making Roger(Austin) Alan Quartmaine’s Son. There would have been plenty of story there. Very sad that the Ex Producer Frank Valentini only plays on. The Corinthos family. The Q family is a legendary family and is definitely more important than Sonny and Carly Corinthos. Love Roger and Maura
Well.. they did make him Alan’s nephew. Eventually. But now they seem to ignore his Quartermaine family connections while trying to build up this ridiculous redneck “mafia” family (apparently his mother’s side of the family tree) which they have now retconned once again to be somehow connected to Cyrus the Virus.
Probably should have made him Jimmy Lee’s kid the first time around. Todd Manning never belonged on GH, and any attempt to resurrect “Franco” as a mild mannered art therapist and family man was beyond ridiculous. The real Franco was a psychotic serial killer who was properly disposed of when Jason emptied a clip into him and then burned down the building his body was in, just in case. No reason to ever undo that ending, let alone write something as weak as a “brain tumor” to excuse all of his crimes & terrorism.
I wish they would bring Kim Zimmer on as his mother
In theory, that works, but not gonna happen due to some comments Kim made that Frank took the wrong way when she returned to OLTL in its final years as Echo.
I didn’t even notice that he was gone. Too bad he didn’t take his cousin with him.
I love Roger as an actor whatever role he plays…one of the primary reasons I tune in to GH. He’s my favorite of the cast
Roger Howarth is the best actor on daytime, and in my opinion one of the best actors on any medium. I would watch him play any character but it’s a shame he can’t continue to play Todd Manning since I watched that character for so many years and enjoyed seeing the character development that happened with the character. Either way I’ll be watching Roger!
The writing for Austin was pretty bad. He was never given a good story line. They paired him up with Maxie not a good fit then they kill him off and no expectation as who did it.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Serena Sets Her Sights on Michael; Jason’s Emotional Exit from the Mob
This week on all-new episodes of General Hospital, new and old motivations come into play with dangerous consequences. According to the just released GH video spoilers video for the week of August 3-7, a bailiff calls out, “All rise!”
Now it’s Isaiah (Sawandi Wilson) vs. Curtis (Donnell Turner), as the surgeon is suing the owner of the Savoy for assault that ruined is ability to operate. At the end of the day, which of these men has enough evidence against the other? Portia (Brook Kerr) is by Isaiah’s side, while Jordan (Tanisha Harper) is with Curtis.
Next, Lucy (Lynn Herring) has a plan to get the controlling shares of Deception away from Michael (Rory Gibson). She wants her daughter, Serena (Kelly Kruger) to seduce Michael. She tells her, “Pick out your most seductive suit.” Soon, we see Serena in her bathing suit at the Metro Court face to face with Michael.
Later, there is a small baggie containing three blue pills. Nina (Cynthia Watros) ask Willow (Katelyn MacMullen), “What did you do?” We also see Michael asking the same thing of Jacinda (Paige Herschell). Leading into this week, viewers know that Willow doesn’t want the former escort anywhere near her children, Amelia and Wiley. Is this how she stops her, or is Jacinda up to old tricks and wants to frame Willow? Remember when Jacindsa drugged Drew (Cameron Mathison)? Stay tuned.
Finally, in the pick-up from last Friday’s cliffhanger, an emotional Jason (Steve Burton) continues to tell Sonny (Maurice Benard) that he cannot work for him anymore. Sonny ask, “So that’s it? You’re Out?” We fade to black.
Take a look at the official GH spoilers for the week below.
MONDAY, AUGUST 3
Jason makes a sacrifice for Danny. Elizabeth becomes privy to a secret. Carly is touched. Valentin has a warning for Nina. Josslyn cautions Brennan.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 4
Brook Lynn and Chase celebrate a milestone. Trina gets an earful. Carly’s plan backfires. Curtis is skeptical. Michael is anxious about his family’s’ future.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5
Sonny wants answers. Ava is struck with inspiration. Curtis’ trial begins. Brook Lynn wrestles with a big decision. Lucy and Serena scheme.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 6
Sonny makes a stunning announcement. Serena makes her move. Willow faces a new threat. Isaiah takes the stand. Lucy questions Laura.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 7
Josslyn is taken aback. Ava courts a new ally. Jordan and Anna catch up. Isaiah vents to Lucas and Elizabeth. Michael questions Jacinda.
Check out the latest ABC promo for General Hospital entitled, “What Did You Do?” below.
Now weigh-in: Do you think GH is about to pair Serena with Michael? Is it curtains for Jacinda? Can anyone stop Willow once and for all, or make her pay for her crimes? What will Jason do without Sonny and the mob? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.
General Hospital Fan Club Weekend brought out many of your favorites to the four day event; with the main cast gathering on Saturday, August 1. Fans near and far attended the weekend held this year at the Burbank Marriott Hotel. Whether it be the main cast event or the smaller more intimate events featuring two or three cast members a great time was had by all.
Some of the cast participating in the main cast event included: Cyrus Hobbi (Yuri), Gary James Fuller (James), Bradford Anderson (Spinelli), Viron Weaver (Wiley), Paige Herschell (Jacinda), Chris McKenna (Brennan), Josh Kelly (Cody), Kayden Brenna Tokarsi (Scout), Cassandra James (Terry), Laura Wright (Carly), Dominic Zamprogna (Dante), Carolyn Hennesy (Diane), Rick Hearst (Ric), Adrian Anchondo (ex-Marco), and Chloe Lanier (ex-Nelle).
In addition to, Van Hansis (Lucas), Cameron Mathison (Drew), Ryan Paevey (ex-Cassius), Easton Rocket Sweda (Leo), Maurice Benard (Sonny), Kristen Vaganos (Molly), Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis), Kate Mansi (ex-Kristina), Rebecca Herbst (Elizabeth), Cynthia Watros (Nina), Kristina Wagner (Felicia) and more.
Take a look at some of the snaps from the main event arrivals below:
Photo: HutchinsPhoroi
GH’s Rick Hearst with on-screen daughter, Kristen Vaganos, plus Nancy Lee Grahn, and Kate Mansi.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
GH’s Maurice Benard on-hand to meet the fans.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto.com
Jack Brennan in the house … Chris McKenna.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
Adrian Anchondo, Van Hansis and Anchondo’s boyfriend, Days of Our Lives, Colton Little.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
GH’s Josh Kelly and his gal, the former Nelle Benson of Port Charles, Chloe Lanier.
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
Who is James’ father? Not Cassius or Spinelli, actually. Actors Gary James Fuller, Ryan Paevey and Bradford Anderson!
Photo: HutchinsPhoto
One of General Hospital’s newest cast members, Kayden Brenna Tokarski attends her first GHFCW event.
Check out some more arrival images featuring: Laura Wright (Carly), Cassandra James (Terry), Carolyn Hennesy (Diane) and more in the gallery below.
Michael Fairman TV will be adding more images to this post in the day ahead.
So, were you glad to see so many of your GH favorites attending this year’s General Hospital Fan Club Weekend? Let us know via the comment section.
General Hospital
Vincent Pastore of ‘Sopranos’ Fame and ‘General Hospital’s’ Maximus Giambetti Dies at 80
Vincent Pastore, best known for his memorable role as Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero on HBO’s The Sopranos has passed away.
The veteran actor was found dead on August 1st in his home in the Bronx, New York. Pastore was 80-years-old. The cause of death is yet to be determined.
As well as his role on The Sopranos, many soap fans will recall he played multiple smaller roles on the beloved One Life to Live from 1995 and 2004. However, in 2008, he landed the short-term role as Maximus Giambetti on General Hospital.
PASTORE WANTED TO BE ON GENERAL HOSPITAL
Maximus was the mobster father of Sonny Corinthos’ (Maurice Benard) bodyguards: Max (Derk Cheetwood) and Milo (Drew Cheetwood)
According to Soap Opera Digest, Pastore told Soaps In Depth back in 2009, after appearing in a SOAPnet promotional campaign as a celebrity fan of General Hospital: “‘I’d love to be on the show. So they called up GH’s casting director (Mark Teschner) and Bobby (Robert Guza Jr. ex-head writer, GH) and they wrote me in!”
Pastore was a huge General Hospital fan from way back, who at one point told producers that he would watch the ABC soap opera while working in bars and nightclubs in the 70s and 80s.
Throughout his decades long career, Pastore appeared in films including: Goodfellas, Carlito’s Way and Men of Respect, The Jerky Boys: The Movie and the 1996 HBO TV movie Gotti.
In TV, besides The Sopranos, Pastore’s credits included: Law & Order, The Practice, Son of the Beach, Queens Supreme, Hawaii Five-0, Wu-Tang: An American Saga, plus the miniseries The Last Don II. Most recently, Vincent was a series regular on Gravesend and guest starred on Yellowjackets.
Pastore is survived by his daughter, Renee, son-in-law and granddaughter.
Share your remembrances and condolences for Vincent Pastore on his memorable role on ‘The Sopranos’ and his time on ‘General Hospital’ via the comment section below.
Lucas Adams and Tamara Braun Written Out of The Young and the Restless
Rosie O’Donnell Says She Will Return to ‘The View’ During its Season 30
WWE SummerSlam 2026 Night Two: Top 5 Takeaways
GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Serena Sets Her Sights on Michael; Jason’s Emotional Exit from the Mob
‘General Hospital’ Fan Club Weekend 2026 (Photos)
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL: Katie is Disowned By The Logan Sisters
GH Alum Nicholas Alexander Chavez Lands Role in Paramount’s Remake of ‘Possession’
‘General Hospital’s’ Steve Burton Reveals His Lead Actor Daytime Emmy-Nominated Reel Did Not Contain Monica’s Funeral
‘General Hospital’ Ethan Lovett Recast: Christian Howard Replaces Nathan Dean
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Lucas Adams and Tamara Braun Written Out of The Young and the Restless
Rosie O’Donnell Says She Will Return to ‘The View’ During its Season 30
WWE SummerSlam 2026 Night Two: Top 5 Takeaways
GENERAL HOSPITAL Preview: Serena Sets Her Sights on Michael; Jason’s Emotional Exit from the Mob
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