Interactive Q&A with PC's
Mitch Longley
Soap Opera Digest Online
Soap Opera Digest at www.soapdigest.com
April 30, 2000
After three years in the role of Dr. Matt Harmon, original cast member Mitch Longley
has elected to leave Port Charles. When SoapDigest.com asked his loyal fans if there was
anything they'd like to ask the actor before he checked out of General Hospital, our
in-box was inundated with thoughtful queries and poignant goodbye messages for the popular
star. After taping his final scenes, set to air Thursday, April 27th, Longley took the
time to reflect back on his PC stint and to say a special farewell to his supporters.
Q: I just wanted to say thank you for bringing Matt
to life. As someone with a disability, it was great to watch a show like PC without
feeling invisible. -- Duncan C.
A: The invisibility issue is something those with
disabilities deal with out in society every day. So I feel that when we get some kind of
sign through a character or storyline that it's not like that, really, and that things are
changing, it kind of gives us hope. Thank you.
Q: Sorry to hear you're leaving PC. I've really enjoyed Matt
the past three years. My question is: What was your last day on the set like? -- Tracey L.
A: It was both emotional and emotionally satisfying, because
I had worked hard to get to that day. I had actually looked forward to that day for a long
time, and it was definitely worth it.
Q: All your fans are so disappointed you're leaving PC. Do
you have a current address to send donations to your organization, SOWOHO? -- Sara A.
A: Thank you for your interest, Sara. You can send donations
to this address:
SOWOHO
Darien, CT
P.O. Box 1166
06820
Q: I read in Soap Opera Digest that you decided when you
first joined the show that you would leave after your initial contract expired. Still, was
it difficult to make the decision when the time came? -- Clara S.
A: No, because I am a person who's
got several projects going on at one time, and what leaving did was allow me to finally
focus on creating some new things in my life. It was kind of like leaving wasn't the end;
it was a new beginning for me.
Q: Your work has been inspirational to a lot of people
(myself included). Over the years, have you spoken with fans who use wheelchairs, and what
have they told you about what your portrayal means to them? -- Gina M.
A: I've actually gotten letters from a lot of
people -- not just people who use chairs, but sometimes the parents or the significant
other of someone with a disability of some kind. And there's just a real sense of
connectedness, and almost a little bit of relief, that they are seeing someone, a
character being portrayed, with a disability of some kind. Even if their disability is
different, they feel a real kinship. And it's a relief, I feel, because it's very
important for people to be able to identify with either a character or a storyline of some
kind, so you feel like you are part of the culture in some way. And this was, I think, an
opportunity for a lot of people to finally see that character that they can relate to.
Q: Were you able to have any input into the
character of Matt and his storylines? --Joanna L.
A: Mitch Longley: In soaps, you've
got to either hope that they write things for you that you feel ring true, or try to help
to create some of that yourself: have meetings with the writers, come up with your own
ideas about what would make for an exciting and challenging storyline to play, stuff like
that. In my case, I felt like I had a better opportunity to do that than another actor
might have, because I understand my situation, obviously, so well. At Port Charles, I felt
that, generally speaking, if you had a real problem with the script, then you could talk
about it with the people there. They do have the final say, of course, and I think if
actors have a real problem with that, they need to investigate their own feelings before
they sign the contract, to understand what they're getting involved in.
Q: How can I get some information on the ParaStep-I system
that you take part in? I've looked all over the net and cannot find any info on it. Any
info would be greatly appreciated! -- Kristi
A: For information, you can call
Sigmedics, Inc. at 1-800-582-9255.
Q: I know that you use the Parastep-I system in real life. Do
you use it mainly in rehab as a therapeutic tool for exercise, or do you also use it
around your house? How far can you walk with it? -- Barbara
A: I use the Parastep as an exercise tool to prepare myself
for a hopeful cure. I can walk between 200-300 yards.
Q: With this new storyline, were you nervous about using the
machine in front of a large television audience? -- Alayna P.
A: It was a little nerve-wracking in the beginning
because I hadn't really walked in front of a lot of people before. And then I had to act
and walk...! I think I just kind of realized that I had given birth to this, to what was
happening, and I needed to just "mind over matter" a bit. And I was prepared: I
knew my lines that day, so what I told myself was that this is still me, it's just a
little bit of a different representation physically. I just kind of had to pull myself
together and do it.
Q: What does it feel like to be walking using the Parastep-I?
I don't mean how you feel about it, but how it feels physically to use the apparatus. --
G.G.
A: I get tired -- but it feels great!
Q: What was your favorite storyline of Matt's? (Mine, of
course, was the romance of Matt and Ellen.) -- Kara K.
A: I agree with you. I'd say the extended love
story between Matt and Ellen is my favorite, because it didn't happen overnight, it
happened over several months. I felt that it included a lot of very realistic components
to the affair. That was exciting because you saw it develop slowly as time went on, as
opposed to just being there one moment and gone the next.
Q: How did the decision to incorporate the Parastep-I into
your storyline come about? Did they approach you or vice versa? -- Donna W.
A: That was my suggestion because I knew I would be taking
some time off, and it had come into my life recently, and I saw how much it benefited me.
And knowing that the clock was ticking, I wanted to take advantage of the timing of it. So
I proposed it to them, and fortunately, they agreed.
Q: What are your plans for the future? I'm
disappointed that you're leaving PC, as you're one of the main reasons I watch the show.
-- Diana
A: I'm looking forward to doing some
writing -- I'm writing a project right now -- and pursuing acting again in the future.
Q: Do you have any favorite memories from the show? -- Laura
S.
A: My favorite memory is lots of laughing with the crew and
cast.
Q: Will you please keep in contact with your fans? We still
want to know what you're doing and how you are, even if you're not Matt on PC anymore. --
Linda R.
A: I appreciate that -- and I will
certainly try.
Q: I really liked you as Byron on Another World and was happy
to find you on Port Charles as Matt when it started. You had some good storylines on both
shows and I've missed you since you've been on the backburner of PC lately. Now that
you're not renewing with PC, is there any chance we'll see you on another soap in the
future? -- Debbie
A: It's possible. Before I ever worked in daytime, which was
back in '91, on Another World, I didn't know if I would do daytime at that point, before I
ever worked on it. And I had a relatively positive experience when I worked on Another
World. When this came up for me, with Port Charles I felt like it was a real opportunity
to do something that hadn't been done before. So now, looking back on the three years and
all the hard work, I realized a second time that sometimes it doesn't matter which medium
you work in, as long as you feel that what you're creating, what you're giving to society,
is something worthwhile. And it's hard for me to exist, period, in any form, when I don't
feel that. And so this certainly was an opportunity for me to feel like I'm doing
something worthwhile, other than just paying my bills. So if daytime can offer me the
opportunity to continue working and creating in that way, then yeah, I could see myself
coming back at some point.
Q: Is there anything you'd like to say to your fans by way of
a goodbye? -- Digest Online
A: First of all, I want to thank everyone who wrote in for
their thoughtful words and questions. I read and appreciated everything.
As a private person, there's always an arm's length with fans. I think that's
out of my own survival instinct, to separate my professional life from my personal life.
But when I know that my professional life is part of their personal life, it makes me
feel... It transcends the work, see? Because you have to understand as a performer that
what you're doing is contributing to someone's life in some way. And that's a very
fulfilling job to have, because it deals with a lot of things: emotional, psychological,
and cultural. So I would say to them that I appreciate them letting my work into their
life and a very heartfelt thank you -- and respect -- for that.
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