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Johnny Wactor, best known for his role as Brando Corbin on the soap opera "General Hospital," was tragically shot and killed in Los Angeles early Saturday morning while confronting thieves attempting to steal his car's catalytic converter. He was 37 years old.
The incident occurred around 3:00 a.m. in downtown LA as Wactor was leaving his side job at a rooftop bar. Accompanied by a female colleague, he noticed three men tampering with his vehicle and initially thought it was being towed. When he approached them, one of the masked men shot him. Despite the efforts of paramedics, who quickly arrived on the scene, Wactor was pronounced dead at a local hospital. The suspects fled the scene in a separate vehicle and remain at large.
Wactor’s mother, Scarlett, shared with TMZ that her son did not attempt to fight or stop the thieves but was shot nonetheless. His younger brother, Grant, confirmed that Johnny was shot in the chest and praised his brother's chivalry, noting, "We're Southern, born and raised, and we would never let a female walk to their car by herself."
Johnny Wactor had a varied acting career, appearing in over 160 episodes of "General Hospital" from 2020 to 2022. He was also known for his roles in "Siberia," "The OA," "Westworld," and "Hollywood Girl." His first television role was a three-episode guest spot on the Lifetime series "Army Wives." In addition to acting, Wactor had ventured into producing and writing, with several projects listed on his IMDb page, including a short film titled "Broken Riders." His most recent work included an appearance in the horror anthology "Dead Talk Tales: Volume I" released earlier this year.
His agent, David Shaul, expressed deep sorrow over Wactor’s untimely death, calling him "a real moral example to everyone who knew him." Shaul remarked, “In the highs and lows of a challenging profession he always kept his chin up and kept striving for the best he could be... He would literally give you the shirt off his back.” Co-stars and friends from "General Hospital" also shared their grief. Perry Shen described Wactor as "a beautiful, beautiful soul," while Jon Lindstrom remembered him as "kind, unassuming, humble, and always thought about other people."
The Los Angeles Police Department continues to investigate the case, urging anyone with information to come forward.