‘General Hospital’ Star Roger Howarth Dishes About The Surprise Phone Call Where He Learned He Was Getting Killed Off: “It Took A Second For Me To Let That Settle In”

Roger Howarth has officially bid farewell to General Hospital. After shooting his final episode for the long-running soap opera, the actor revealed how he learned that his contract would not be renewed.

Howarth first joined GH back in 2012 as his One Life to Live character Todd Manning. He then went on to play two more characters on the show: Franco and most recently, Austin, who was shot and killed on Friday’s (Nov. 17) episode.

According to Howarth, executive producer Frank Valentini called him “several weeks ago” to break the news that he would not be offered a new contract, and that Austin would instead be killed off — a decision he said was “needed” to help move the story along.

 “It took me a minute to kind of adjust, to kind of hear the news; it took a second for me to let that settle in,” he told Soap Opera Digest. “And then, immediately, I realized how lucky I was to have been able to do something I really love doing for more than a decade with people who I really enjoyed working with. I’m a lucky guy.”

Howarth continued, “I had a great run and this was a decision made by people who make these kinds of decisions for a living. For me, I felt it was very much like the scene in Moneyball and Jonah Hill had just told me I’ve been traded. I feel very respected and supported.”

While looking back on his last day on set, Howarth said everyone was “very sweet” to him.

“The producers gave me flowers and I got to say thank you and goodbye to an awful lot of people who I really admire,” he added.

It may be the end of Howarth’s run on GH — but it sure isn’t the last we’ve seen from the actor, who said his life has been “great” since exiting the soap opera.

“I’m adjusting to the idea that I have a lot of potential [career-wise] and I’m not scared and I’m not anxious,” he explained. “This feels like a new beginning to me and I really do believe that all things happen for a reason and I have a great trust in that. It’s a very exciting time to be me.”

Howarth even told Soap Opera Digest that he would be “100%” open to doing another daytime television show.

“I’m an actor. I love acting,” he said. “If somebody’s gonna ask me, I’m gonna go! I’m gonna get in the car.”

General Hospital airs on weekdays at 3 p.m. ET on ABC. New episodes are available to stream the next day on Hulu.