Johnny Wactor, a well-known actor known for his role in “General Hospital,” was shot and killed by two men stealing his car’s catalytic converter, in downtown Los Angeles, according to local reports.
According to the L.A. Police Department, officers responded around 3:25 a.m. on Saturday. When officers arrived, they found Wactor suffering from a gunshot wound.
Police said Wactor saw three men stealing the catalytic converter from his vehicle. The exhaust emission control device is typically found in the undercarriage of a vehicle and contains precious metals including rhodium, palladium, and platinum. However, when he confronted them, they turned around and shot him.
Wactor was taken to the hospital where he later died. His mother also confirmed the shooting to TMZ.
“My mother is tough as nails, but she’s broken down to the bone,” said Grant Wactor, Johnny’s younger brother.
“We have to get him back to Charleston [S.C.]. It’s just a shame. It seems like it was just the wrong place, wrong time.”
Wactor, 37, left “General Hospital” in 2022 when his popular character was written out of the show. At the time, he told Soap Opera Digest he enjoyed the show’s large and loyal fan base.
“It was all new to me, and it was a blessing,” he said. “It made it fun to go to work and then be excited about seeing people react to the storylines you were in. That they actually cared was really cool.”
Former colleagues took to social media to mourn Wactor’s death on Sunday.
“Johnny Wactor was a beautiful, beautiful soul,” former “General Hospital” actor Parry Shen said on X. “We all were cheated of many years with him.”
General Hospital” issued a statement saying the soap opera family was “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. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his loved ones during this difficult time.”
His co-star and love interest on the show, Sofia Mattsson, added: “So genuine. So caring. Incredibly hard-working and humble. With a huge heart that spread so much kindness and joy. He always made sure everyone around him felt seen, heard, and loved. I admire the man he was so much and I’m a better person for having known him.”
