My May 21, 2004 Encounter with Roger Howarth after the Daytime Emmy Awards
They say the "third time is the charm" and is that ever so true for my third direct meeting with Roger Howarth after the 31st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards. While the first two were awesome, I found him so giving this last Friday evening especially.

My husband Ted and I had taken a vacation in NYC Emmy week. I was especially excited that Roger was again nominated. With me, I had my Roger Howarth Fan Club t-shirt I'd hoped to get him to sign, plus the As The World Turns album I bought for my mother years ago, and a sweet new Roger-topical email from my friend Helene that I wanted him to see and sign. It's a wonder they let me in the Emmys with that huge purse!

Ted, being a couple inches taller than me, first spotted Roger's entrance. Moments later, as we were being lead in a line to our seats, Ted turned back and told me "You are about to pass right by Roger Howarth!" Roger and his little boy were dressed almost alike and does that beautiful child look like his handsome dad! They were laughing and seemed to be having such a good time together, as well as looking so mutually proud of each other. As we turned the corner by Roger, I swooped down to his ear, as he was turned backwards toward other ATWT actors in a conversation, as a listener; and I whispered "Good luck, Roger!" I just had to let him know I was pulling for him!

I kept Roger in my sights most of the evening. He seemed so moved when co-star Cady McClain won. When the award show was over and I had 2 main men to get to, Roger, and my husband who was off retrieving our unallowed camera, since the show was over as it was after 11 p.m. I made my way to Roger, who I found smiling and happy with his wife, little boy, and new ATWT family who seem to absolutely adore him. Ted even noticed that fondness, for instance, when Martha Byrne greeted Roger with a kiss and later leaned up and rubbed his shoulder after Tony Geary's name was announced as the Best Actor winner. Ted was pleased to see the new fellow actors being so nice to Roger; and I was glad to hear and witness it too!

I was so happy to let him know he is still beloved by many good fans. When I first got face to face with Roger, I congratulated him on the nomination, to which he smiled and said "Thank you". Then I went on to tell him I'd been a member of his fan club since I first got my computer about 6 years ago and that I'd been amazed by his performances since day one about 11 or 12 years ago. He was very nice and thankful through all of that. Then I asked him if he'd mind signing a couple of autographs. It was so obvious I had come with a plan to meet him! He seemed happy to sign my shirt, my mom's book, and he signed my friend's email with thankful sentiments for all she, and other fans, are doing for him. I told him how his first day on ATWT was my mom's 73rd birthday and I told her that regardless of her gifts, her best birthday present was getting THE BEST ACTOR IN THE INDUSTRY on her soap she's watched 40+ years. Roger looked right into my eyes and thanked me for that, and said that was sweet of me to say, or something very close to that. I felt he really truly apprecicated what I said. Then Ted appeared, while Roger was finishing up his signing, and I put my hand on Roger's back and exclaimed, "Ted! Look who I've got!" I was just so proud and thrilled! 

Ted said Roger was smiling & friendly the whole time. I recall saying "Roger, this is my husband Ted, and he thinks you're awesome as well." Roger stopped and gave Ted a warm handshake and said hi to him. I told Roger I missed him from One Life To Live, but that he was doing an incredible job on ATWT and that I was just thrilled he was back being nominated again, as he deserved. I recall telling him from the bottom of my heart, and with my hand actually over my heart, I believe; that the year he did those 6 fake D.I.D characters to perfection and did not get nominated, I really sincerely grieved over it. He thanked me for saying that and said he really appreciated it. Then he gave me my load of stuff back, and BTW, I'm sharing these autographs with many of you and I just wish I could have gotten one individually for ALL my fellow RH fans, but there just wasn't time. At one point, Roger very sweetly turned back to his wife Cari and gave her a kiss; he's always made it clear how very much he adores her. It took my mind back to his first Emmy win, over a decade ago, how he told Cari he loved her so much, from the acceptance stage.

Roger was always gracious, friendly, smiling, and thankful. He seemed to really enjoy and appreciate the compliments, both from Ted and me, and those I passed on from other fans.

Then, when I thought things couldn't get any better, we were saying our goodbyes, and Ted said "Ask him if he'd mind a picture." I was almost scared at this point because it has been a well known fact that Roger doesn't do pictures. In all the years I've read encounter stories, or met and talked with anyone who asked him for a picture or who may have known anyone who's asked him for one, he has politely declined.

The 2 first direct encounters I had with Roger, once in NYC when I'd met another fan club member, then with Ted during OLTL live week; I didn't dare ask him for a pic. In fact, I recall telling Ted, OLTL live week, "There's Roger, we need to put the camera away." So here I was Fri. night wanting to make sure Ted's mention of a picture didn't leave a sour note, after this wonderful time we'd just spent with Roger; so I asked nicely as I could, to make it easy and comfortable for Roger to decline, and hopefully still like me afterwards, "Roger, you don't do pictures, do you?" He paused and thought for a moment and said "A photograph? Sure, you can take a photograph."

I was shocked, amazed, thrilled and thanking God in my head and thanking Roger with my voice all at the same time! Roger looked right at Ted, smiled a sweet slight smile, I think his arm went around me to about a third to a half a hug, while mine was around his back a little again as well; and I just can't say how extra givng this was of this very shy, very sweet guy. You who have met him know what I mean. Though Roger acts these characters larger than life, he is truly shy and quiet.

Now I don't know if Roger will ever be up for a picture again, but til the day I die I'll be thankful to him for this one. As I turned and told him "That was an answer to my prayers!" when the snapshot was done, he seemed pleased. Ted said Roger looked happy in the picture to him, so I'm sharing it with all my co-fans & hoping you all enjoy it at least a fraction as much as I will! Beautiful as this picture is, it still doesn't do Roger's beauty justice! To the right of him is his lovely wife Cari, and their beautiful son, who as you can see from the side, is looking so much like Roger, especially when Roger was closer to his age when I first saw him on TV 11 or 12 years ago. The family was clearly so happy together.

I'm pretty sure they heard me telling Ted I'd never had the nerve to ask for a picture, I couldn't believe what just happened, and Ted said he didn't think it'd hurt to ask as well as things had gone. He knew it'd mean so much to me to capture the moment on film, if Roger agreed, so much that I had to wrap my arms around Ted's shoulders to hold myself up for a minute til it all sunk in after we walked away from the Howarths. I'm eternally grateful to Ted for making this picture happen, and believe me he is taking FULL credit and giving me many things I can do to show him my gratitude!

Roger has risen even further to the top of my list where he would've been forever, picture or not. God bless him, he is a good guy and I can honestly tell you he does appreciate his fans' devotion; in his words "Many Thanks"!