Erik Howell(1941-2017)

Erik began his life in the South, moving with his mother to New York City where he became an actor at the age of three or so. Acting was the only paying work he ever did. As a boy, he tagged along with his mother, Karen, to the Copacabana nightclub where she mingled with the mighty and he toe-tapped with the showgirls. They summered in Norway with Erik's grandparents, eating fish for every meal, and he never ate fish again. His lovely mother, a model herself, married a rich man with children, sending Erik off to military school. It was a harsh reality for such a sweet boy. He was a trooper, nonetheless, quickly matriculating and going off to the College of William & Mary at the age of sixteen. Erik graduated with a degree in Acting and never looked back. He appeared on Broadway and off-Broadway in multiple productions, most notably "The Fantasticks" as Matt (the Boy). He spring boarded from there to television, where he took over the role of Johnny Fletcher in Guiding Light (1952). Erik had character roles in many prime-time dramas during the 1970s. He returned to daytime drama in the 1980s in a role heard only via the telephone on General Hospital (1963). Many will remember Erik from his memorable turn on the sitcom _"Night Court" (1984)_, where he played an actor playing George Washington. Erik never considered himself retired from acting because, as most actors know, you just never know. Erik knew or worked with many of the greatest luminaries of the day including Rock Hudson, Tab Hunter, John Gavin and Troy Donahue. He also worked with Richard Chamberlain, Richard Thomas and his great friend, Michael York. Erik had the good fortune to know Elizabeth Taylor, Angela Lansbury, and Glynis Johns. He also befriended Susan Sarandon, Annette O'Toole and Demi Moore. Acting was Erik's first love for most of his life until he met Randy, but he was always surrounded with love.