Johnny Wactor, a well-known actor from the popular soap opera “General Hospital,” was tragically killed in the early hours of Saturday morning in downtown Los Angeles. The 37-year-old actor was reportedly confronting a group of masked individuals who were attempting to steal a part from his car when he was fatally shot.
According to sources close to the situation, Wactor and a colleague noticed three individuals allegedly trying to remove a catalytic converter from his vehicle around 3:30 a.m. Wactor’s mother, Scarlett, was informed by law enforcement that despite her son not resisting, the thieves shot him before fleeing the scene in a vehicle.
Scarlett Wactor shared with local media that her son was returning to his car from his job at a rooftop bar when he initially thought his car was being towed. He attempted to communicate with one of the thieves, who was masked, and was shot.
Law enforcement confirmed to local media that Wactor did confront the thieves before he was shot. He was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. As of Sunday afternoon, no arrests have been made in connection with the incident.
Wactor was a familiar face on television, best known for his role as Brando Corbin in “General Hospital,” where he appeared in 164 episodes between 2020 and 2022. His character was later written out of the show. Wactor’s acting credits also include roles in the supernatural drama “Siberia,” the series “Army Wives,” and an episode of “Criminal Minds.”
The news of Wactor’s untimely death has sent shockwaves through the acting community. Fellow actors have taken to social media to express their grief and shock at the violent incident. Jon Lindstrom, a co-star on “General Hospital,” expressed his sorrow on Twitter, praising Wactor as a kind and humble individual who was always considerate of others.
Nancy Lee Grahn, another co-star from the soap opera, described the incident as “tragic, enraging, and heartbreaking” on Twitter. She remembered Wactor as a lovely man. Scarlett Wactor also shared her memories of her son as a loving individual. Wactor is survived by his mother and two younger brothers.
Wactor’s Instagram page, where he often shared his passion for rock climbing and acting, is now filled with messages of condolences. The theft of catalytic converters, which can fetch over $1,000 on the black market, has seen a significant increase across the country in recent years. These devices, part of a vehicle’s exhaust system, convert harmful gases into safer emissions and contain valuable metals.