By Michaela Zee
Johnny Wactor, an actor best known for his role as Brando Corbin in “General Hospital,” was shot and killed during a suspected catalytic converter theft attempt in downtown L.A. on Saturday morning. He was 37.
Wactor’s talent agent David Shaul confirmed the actor’s death to Variety on Sunday.
“Johnny Wactor was 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 in a statement. “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.”
According to the L.A. Police Department, a man was fatally shot by one of three suspects attempting to extract the catalytic converter from his car at about 3 a.m. Saturday in the area of Pico Boulevard and Hope Street. The man was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Wactor portrayed Brando, son of Gladys Corbin (Bonnie Borroughs) who was married to drug addict Sasha Corbin (Sofia Mattsson), in the ABC soap opera from 2020 to 2022. He appeared in more than 160 episodes.
Wactor made his television debut in the Lifetime drama series “Army Wives,” in which he appeared as different guest roles between 2007 and 2009. He also guested on the series “Westworld,” “The OA,” “Station 19,” “Siberia,” “Agent X,” “Vantastic,” “Animal Kingdom,” “Hollywood Girl,” “Training Day,” “Criminal Minds,” “Struggling Servers,” “Age Appropriate,” “NCIS,” “The Passenger” and “Barbee Rehab.”
After his stint on “Army Wives,” Wactor worked on several short films beginning in 2010, including “The Grass Is Never Greener,” “GoldenBox,” “The Con-Artist,” “Flyover States,” “A Most Suitable Applicant,” “The Interrogation,” “Anything for You, Abby” “The Relic” and “We Won’t Forget,” among others. He wrote and starred in the 2022 short “Broken Riders.”
Wactor also appeared in multiple feature films, most notably 2016’s “USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage,” directed by Mario Van Peebles and starring Nicolas Cage, Tom Sizemore and Thomas Jane. Additional film credits include “Menthol,” “Ever,” “Trapper’s Edge,” “Supercell” and “Dead Talk Tales: Volume I.”