5 Shocking Revelations About Roger Howarth’s Return To Daytime As Y&R’s Matt Clark

The daytime world was rocked recently when veteran soap actor Roger Howarth, a fan-favorite from *General Hospital* and *One Life to Live*, made his highly anticipated move to CBS’s *The Young and the Restless* (*Y&R*). As of this writing in December 2025, the news isn't just that he joined the cast—it's the shocking revelation of who he is playing: the notorious, presumed-dead villain Matt Clark. This casting move is one of the biggest shake-ups in Genoa City history, immediately plunging the Newman family into a deadly, vicious new storyline that is dominating the airwaves.

Howarth's transition from playing multiple beloved (and complex) characters on ABC to stepping into a deeply problematic, decades-old role on *Y&R* has sparked intense fan debate and promises one of the most explosive plotlines of the current 2025 season. His return as a character from the past has brought a terrifying sense of history back to the forefront, particularly for Sharon Newman and Nick Newman.

Roger Howarth: A Daytime Legend's Full Biography

Roger Howarth is one of the most recognizable and critically acclaimed actors in the world of daytime television. Born on September 13, 1968, in Westchester County, New York, his career is defined by memorable, often troubled, and always compelling characters across multiple major soap operas.

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• Full Name: Roger Howarth
• Born: September 13, 1968
• Birthplace: Westchester County, New York
• Education: Attended George Washington University; studied acting at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center.
• Spouse: Cari Stahler (married 1995)
• Breakout Role: Todd Manning on *One Life to Live* (*OLTL*) (1992–2003, 2011–2012). This role earned him a Daytime Emmy Award.
• Notable Roles Before *Y&R*:
  • Kent Winslow on *Loving* (1992)
  • Paul Ryan on *As the World Turns* (*ATWT*) (2003–2010)
  • Todd Manning / Franco Baldwin / Dr. Austin Gatlin-Holt on *General Hospital* (*GH*) (2012–2023). He played three distinct characters over his decade-long tenure on the show.
• Awards: Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actor in a Drama Series (1994) for his work as Todd Manning.

The Shocking Reveal: From Mitch Bacall to Matt Clark

The anticipation surrounding Howarth’s arrival in Genoa City was enormous. Initially, the show kept his role a closely guarded secret, first introducing him under the alias Mitch Bacall (or sometimes Carter Mills in earlier reports).

The true identity was finally revealed in a stunning twist that sent shockwaves through the fanbase: Roger Howarth was portraying Matt Clark. This character is not a new creation but a returning villain who terrorized Genoa City over two decades ago.

Who is Matt Clark?

Matt Clark is a notorious figure from the past of Sharon Newman (Sharon Case) and Nick Newman (Joshua Morrow). In the original storyline from the 1990s, Matt Clark was a serial rapist and stalker who assaulted Sharon and made her life a living nightmare. He was believed to have died by suicide in an attempt to frame Nick for his murder.

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Bringing back a character with such a dark and difficult history—one who was presumed dead and even appeared as a ghost—is a major creative choice. This decision immediately established Howarth's new role as a formidable, high-stakes threat to one of *Y&R*'s most iconic families, the Newman clan.

The Vicious 2025 Storyline: Targeting the Newmans

The character of Matt Clark, now played by Howarth, has not returned to Genoa City for a quiet life. The current 2025 storyline is centered on his vicious plot to strike back at the people he blames for his original downfall.

The central conflict involves Clark actively targeting the Newman family, particularly his former victims, Sharon and Nick. The current plot has escalated dramatically, moving far beyond mere harassment into outright criminal conspiracy.

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A Murderous Agenda

Recent spoilers for the latter half of 2025 indicate that Matt Clark has turned murderous. Reports suggest he is orchestrating a plot that involves ordering the murder of a character named Sienna, utilizing another accomplice, Annie, to carry out his deadly intentions. This shows a chilling determination to eliminate those who pose a threat to his renewed presence in the city.

His actions have put him directly in the crosshairs of the powerful Newman family, who are desperate to protect Sharon and Nick. The tension has been palpable, with the threat of Matt Clark looming over every move the family makes, particularly as the plot is set to climax around the holidays and into the new year.

Fan Reaction and Topical Authority

The fan reaction to Howarth's new role has been a mixture of excitement and controversy. Long-time viewers of daytime television are thrilled to see the Daytime Emmy winner back on screen, praising his commanding presence and performance.

However, the choice of character has sparked significant debate. Some fans questioned why the writers chose to resurrect a character like Matt Clark, given his dark history, while others noted that Howarth excels at playing complex, villainous, or morally gray roles—a typecasting he embraced as Todd Manning on *OLTL* and later as Franco Baldwin on *GH*.

Howarth himself has spoken about the warmth of the *Y&R* cast and crew, including his co-stars Sharon Case and Joshua Morrow, acknowledging the strong connection they have with the audience. His commitment to delivering a compelling performance, regardless of the character's past, solidifies his status as a true scene-stealer and a major asset to the *Y&R* cast.

As the Matt Clark storyline continues to unfold through early 2026, one thing is certain: Roger Howarth's presence has injected a fresh wave of high-stakes drama and topical authority into *The Young and the Restless*.