General Hospital Actor Johnny Wactor Dead at 37: ‘A Spectacular Human Being’

“He would literally give you the shirt off his back,” said Wactor’s agent, David Shaul, who confirmed his death.

Actor Johnny Wactor has died at the age of 37.

Wactor’s agent, David Shaul, confirmed his death to PEOPLE and remembered his late client as being “a spectacular human being.”

“Not just a talented actor who was committed to his craft but a real moral example to everyone who knew him. Standing for hard work, tenacity, and a never give up attitude. In the highs and lows of a challenging profession, he always kept his chin up and kept striving for the best he could be,” Shaul said. “Our time with Johnny was a privilege we would wish on everyone. He would literally give you the shirt off his back. After over a decade together, he will leave a hole in our hearts forever.”

Wactor, best known for his General Hospital role as Brando Corbin, was shot and killed on Saturday, May 25, in Los Angeles, according to TMZ, which was first to report the news and confirmed Wactor’s death with the actor’s mother, Scarlett Wactor, on May 26.

His mother told TMZ that Johnny and a colleague saw three men trying to steal a catalytic converter from his vehicle, and although Johnny did not attempt to stop them, he was shot and subsequently rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead early Saturday morning.

PEOPLE has reached out to the Los Angeles Police Department for more information.

General Hospital paid tribute to Johnny via a post on its official Instagram account on May 26. “The entire General Hospital family is heartbroken to hear of Johnny Wactor’s untimely passing,” the post read. “He was truly one of a kind and a pleasure to work with each and every day. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his loved ones during this difficult time.”

Actress Sofia Mattsson, who has played Sasha Gilmore on the daytime series since 2018, commented on the post, writing: “We will miss you so much Johnny. One of the most incredible humans I’ve ever met .”

Wactor’s acting credits date back to 2007, when he appeared in three episodes of Army Wives. He went on to have roles in NCIS, The OA, Westworld, The Passenger, Station 19, Barbee Rehab, Siberia, Agent X, Vantastic, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Girl, Training Day, Criminal Minds and more.

Wactor hasn’t updated his social media accounts in months, but in a June 2023 post on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote a heartfelt message to his followers.

“Have a great day everybody,” he wrote. “Some helpful reminders shared with me today: Appreciate your health and take care of it. Offer help to your neighbor today. Be grateful for what you have instead of focusing on what you don’t.”

 

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