Tributes are pouring in for former General Hospital actor Johnny Wactor, who was killed over the weekend by thieves in downtown Los Angeles.
Wactor, 37, was fatally shot around 3 a.m. on Saturday, May 25, when he approached three men trying to strip parts from his vehicle, according to published reports.
The LAPD initially told the media an adult male was killed after he spotted three suspects removing the catalytic converter from his car, near the intersection of West Pico Boulevard and South Hope Street. One of the suspects opened fired on Wactor when he approached the group. The trio then fled.
The LAPD did not initially identify the victim. But a law enforcement source told the Los Angeles Times the person killed was Wactor, who played “Brando Corbin” on General Hospital from 2020 to 2022.
Also Read: Thieves Had Actor Johnny Wactor’s Car Raised on Jack Before Fatal Shooting, LAPD Says
Catalytic converter thefts soared across Southern California during the pandemic, as thieves desperate for cash stripped them from vehicles to be resold for the rare metals inside.
In February of this year, Insurance Journal reported the Los Angeles region was the top spot for catalytic converter theft claims in the U.S.
Wactor’s brother, Grant Wactor, told the Times the actor had been working as a bartender in downtown L.A. He was walking a female co-worker to her car after work, when he noticed a group of men around his vehicle. The actor approached the men and one of them opened fire, according to the Times report.
Paramedics responded to the scene and rushed Wactor to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The three suspects got away before police officers arrived.
As news of Wactor’s death spread, tributes poured in.
“The entire General Hospital family is heartbroken to hear of Johnny Wactor’s untimely passing. He was truly one of a kind and a pleasure to work with each and every day,” read a statement on the show’s official page on X/Twitter. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to his loved ones during this difficult time.”
“When the tears slow down, I am literally sick to my stomach at this news. Johnny was one of those rare young men in this business who was kind, unassuming, humble, and always thought about other people,” added General Hospital star Jon Lindstrom on X.
“Another talented, kind and generous @generalhospital colleague gone too soon,” General Hospital actress Kathleen Gati wrote on X. “Deepest condolences to the family, friends, colleagues and fans.”
Wactor was originally from in Charleston, South Carolina, according to this IMDb page. In addition to General Hospital, he had roles in the television series Siberia, The OA, Westworld, Criminal Minds and Station 19.
