Viewers recently noticed a new face in Port Charles. That would be Matt Merchant, who made his debut in the recurring role of Agent Harker on General Hospital.
Following his first appearance, Merchant took to Instagram to share a lengthy and heartfelt post about joining the long-running ABC soap.
He kicked things off by writing:
“WARNING! LENGTHY ACTOR GRATITUDE POST!!!”
He then officially introduced fans to his new character.
“Welp! Cat’s outta the bag. I was gonna do this tomorrow but my first episode already aired!! Say hello to Agent Harker, a new element in the WSB.”
A Casting Call Unlike Any Other
Merchant went on to explain how the opportunity came about.
According to the actor, the call arrived in early April from legendary casting director Mark Teschner.
“Mark Teschner is a god among casting men and reached out to see if I’d be interested in playing an imposing character with heavy dialogue.”
For Merchant, that description immediately stood out.
He explained that most of his previous television roles had been much smaller.
“I’ve never had the phrase ‘heavy dialogue’ placed in an inquiry before. It’s always been under fives, quick blips on the screen. Don’t blink or you miss me moments.”
Even so, he viewed every role as a stepping stone.
No Audition Required
Merchant shared that after sending over his reel, he expected to receive an audition notice.
Instead, he heard nothing for a few days and assumed it was time to move on.
Then came an unexpected message.
“How tall are you?”
Merchant responded:
“I’m 6’3″.”
The reply?
“That’s the right answer.”
And just like that, he had the job.
“BOOM! BOOKED!! No audition necessary! Just a body of work that led to a chance and an Emmy Award-winning casting director with the trust of an entire decades-long franchise putting his trust in me.”
Merchant revealed that he filmed his first scenes on April 27, just one day before his mother’s birthday.
A Career Milestone
The actor made it clear just how much the opportunity means to him.
Merchant described the role as the most significant work he’s had the chance to do on network television and expressed gratitude to everyone involved in making it happen.
He also credited Tim Davison for helping open the door.
“This one I will treasure. It’s the most I’ve had a chance to do on network television and today was the first day!!!”
The good news for fans is that Merchant hinted there is more to come from Agent Harker.
“There’s gonna be more so if you’re into that kinda thing keep an eye out.”
A Familiar Face to Soap Fans
While Agent Harker may be new to Port Charles, Merchant is no stranger to daytime television, nor even to General Hospital. He played one of Helena’s henchmen back in 2013.
His résumé also includes appearances on both The Young and the Restless and Days of Our Lives.
What did you think of Matt Merchant’s debut as Agent Harker? And do you think his role will become a bigger part of the WSB storyline? Let us know in the comments below.
Who plays Agent Harker on General Hospital?
Matt Merchant plays Agent Harker on General Hospital. The actor recently shared the story behind his casting and revealed that he booked the role without having to audition.
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