When a soap opera villain returns from the dead after nearly a quarter-century, fans are bound to lose it. But when the actor who originally played the role reacts with shock of his own? That’s when things get really interesting.
Rick Hearst, remembered by loyal The Young and the Restless viewers as the original Matt Clark, recently broke his silence following the show's decision to resurrect one of Genoa City’s most notorious troublemakers — this time with daytime icon Roger Howarth stepping into the role. The twist? Matt’s been gone for 24 years, presumed dead since 2001, when he seemingly took his final breath on-screen. Back then, Hearst delivered one of Y&R’s most chilling exits — Matt pulling out his own breathing tube to frame Nick Newman (Joshua Morrow) for murder. With a death scene that definitive, even Hearst never imagined the character would get a second life.
“Everyone jokes that no one in soaps stays dead,” Hearst told Soap Opera Digest with a laugh. “But seriously — that guy was gone! The way Matt died was almost medieval. Think [15th-century Scottish knight] William Wallace being dismembered — that’s how definite it felt. So, yeah, I didn’t see this coming!”
Hearst learned about Howarth’s casting in August, right after another daytime favorite, Tamara Braun, joined Y&R as Sienna Bacall. Hearst, who worked with Braun during his General Hospital years, reached out to congratulate her. “Tamara and I have stayed close. We keep up with each other,” he said. What he didn’t know at the time was that Sienna’s husband was none other than Matt Clark — now living under the alias Mitch Bacall. “When fans started posting clips online with Roger and Sharon [Case] and the caption ‘Matt Clark is back!’ I was floored. I literally said, ‘Wait, WHAT?!’”
Once the surprise faded, Hearst found himself applauding the move. “It’s an inspired choice,” he said. “Roger’s a powerhouse actor — bold, unpredictable, and incredibly nuanced. If anyone can bring Matt Clark back in a fresh, magnetic way, it’s definitely Roger Howarth.”
Hearst spoke fondly of their shared history on General Hospital, where he played Ric Lansing opposite Howarth’s Franco. “Working with Roger is like playing chess against someone who moves the pieces just when you think you’ve figured out the game. You have to stay completely in the moment — and that’s what makes every scene with him so electric.”
Their dynamic was tested, he recalled, during GH’s ambitious 2015 live episodes, when Franco discovered his true love, Nina (then played by Y&R’s own Michelle Stafford), had impulsively married Ric. “During rehearsals, I was trying not to blank out because live TV doesn’t allow retakes,” Hearst said, laughing. “In one run-through, I forgot a line and fought like crazy to push through. When I finally regained focus, Roger just grinned and said, ‘You’re cute when you go up!’ Meanwhile, I was drenched in sweat thinking, ‘Cute for you, maybe!’”
Come showtime, things flipped. “I nailed my part, but Roger was the one who went up live,” Hearst recalled. “He handled it smoothly and joked afterward, ‘See? My turn!’ I laughed and said, ‘Better you than me, buddy.’ It’s those chaotic, real moments that make live TV unforgettable.”
But here’s where fans might debate: should iconic characters like Matt Clark be resurrected at all, or does bringing them back risk rewriting soap history? Some viewers love the nostalgia — others feel it stretches believability. Still, Hearst’s gracious reaction shows deep respect for Howarth’s work and for the unpredictable, often wild world of daytime storytelling.
So what’s your take — are soap opera “resurrections” thrilling throwbacks or creative overreach? Do characters like Matt Clark deserve another shot, or should the past stay buried? Drop your thoughts below — chances are, this conversation is far from over.
