General Hospital actor Johnny Wactor saved his female colleague's life by putting his body in the way armed car thieves shot him dead on Saturday when he tried to steal his catalytic converter in Los Angeles.
Wactor, 37, who appeared in 164 episodes of the soap opera from 2020 to 2022, was leaving his part-time job at a rooftop bar with a female coworker near West Pico Boulevard and South Hope Street around 3:25 a.m. Saturday when he saw the three men near his vehicle.
Believing he was being dragged away, he approached the men to try to talk it out. One of the men then looked up and pointed a gun at Wactor, who laid his body in front of his female colleague when he was shot. The three men, who police said were all wearing masks, then fled in another car.
Wactor was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later. The suspects remain on the run.
Johnny's younger brother Grant confirmed his death to DailyMail.com and said he wasn't surprised to hear that his sibling put others first at the time.
Actor Johnny Wactor was a “Southern gentleman” who protected a female colleague from the armed thieves who fatally shot him on Saturday, his brother Grant told DailyMail.com
Wactor, 37, was leaving his job at a rooftop bar early Saturday morning with a co-worker when he saw three men trying to steal his catalytic converter.
Grant said they were raised as “southern gentlemen,” and that his brother's final act was one of bravery.
“We are Southern, born and raised, and we would never let a woman walk to their car alone,” he said.
“He ran into them and thought his truck was being towed. So he said something to the guys, like, “Hey, are you dragging along?
“And once he turned around, he saw what was happening and put his colleague behind him. And then they shot him.”
Grant confirmed that Johnny was shot in the chest when he encountered the suspects trying to steal the catalytic converter.
He added that police told him Johnny had not tried to fight the car thieves, but that the actor was retreating and trying to protect his friend when the shot was fired.
Johnny's grandmother Barbara said he often did gigs as a bartender. Neither she nor Grant knew which bar he was working at that night.
According to the LAPD, the shooting happened at 3 a.m. Saturday near West Pico Boulevard and South Hope Street
Johnny's younger brother Grant (pictured center right) and grandmother Barbara said Johnny (pictured left) worked in restaurants in downtown LA as he often took on gigs as a bartender. They didn't know which bar he was working at that night
Grant said Johnny and his coworker had to park about two blocks from the restaurant, so they walked to their car after finishing their shift.
That area is called Downtown LA South Parknear several trendy hotels and multi-million dollar residential high-rises.
He paid solemn tribute to his brother, noting that working in a part-time job was part of his nature.
“My brother was probably the hardest working person I ever met in my life. He was a great brother and son,” Grant said.
'Everyone he touched made a big impression. He was as charismatic in real life as he was on camera. And he was always sincere, through and through.'
Grant obviously hopes that the men who killed Johnny are brought to justice.
'I hope they can trace the people who did this. In a way I'm glad this is getting the publicity so it can shed some light on the things that need to change, or find ways so that no one else has to experience this – whether it's a murder or you're in the wrong place are. the wrong time.'
Johnny was the oldest of three boys, while Grant is the youngest.
According to Grant, Johnny (seen here with General Hospital co-star Sofia Mattsson) was raised as a “Southern gentlemen,” so he wasn't surprised when his older brother walked his female colleague to her car.
Catalytic converters are often targeted by thieves because they have a resale value of hundreds of dollars
“We are absolutely devastated,” his grandmother, Barbara, told DailyMail.com. “He was just walking to his car. It's pointless.'
The suspects have yet to be identified or described, but there is an incident matching the description of the murder involving the theft of a catalytic converter.
Catalytic converters are often targeted by thieves because they have a resale value of hundreds of dollars.
As of 5:30 PM on Sunday, LAPD officials said they had no further information, but the investigation is ongoing.
DailyMail.com has contacted the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office for comment.
Wactor appeared in more than 160 episodes of General Hospital from 2020 to 2022 as the character Brando Corbin.
The actor was also a series regular on the 2013 NBC drama series Siberia, which ran for eleven episodes.
He went on to have multi-episode arcs on TV shows like The OA, The Passenger, Westworld, and Hollywood Girl.
Some of Wactor's co-stars have started posting memories of the actor on social media
His first break on television came in a three-episode guest role on the Lifetime series Army Wives.
He had also started producing; his IMDb page lists three upcoming projects. Wactor also wrote a short film called Broken Riders.
Wactor's most recent work was in the horror anthology Dead Talk Tales: Volume which I released earlier this year.
Personally, his Instagram page often showed him engaging in extreme sports such as rock climbing.
He is survived by his mother Scarlett and brothers Lance and Grant.
Wactor's mother described him as a loving young man whose death leaves a hole in his family's hearts, according to TMZ.
General Hospital co-star Perry Shen posted a beautiful memory of Wactor on X.
“Johnny Wactor was a beautiful, beautiful soul. So talented. As you can see in the promotional video, you are always up for anything. Funny as can be. Fit as hell but also loved ice cream and ate all the crap I ate too,” Shen wrote.
“We've all been cheated on with him for years.”
“As the tears slow down, this news literally makes me sick,” co-star Jon Lindstrom wrote.
“Johnny was one of those rare young men in this industry who was kind, modest, unassuming and always thinking of other people. A talented young man who just wanted to share that talent with the world.”
“I wish I had enough love to fill the hole his loved ones must be feeling right now, but I know that's impossible. Johnny will be missed on this plane. For a long time. REST IN PEACE'