# Johnny Wactor
**Johnny Wactor** (John William Wactor III; August 31, 1986 – May 25, 2024) was an American actor best known for playing Brando Corbin on the ABC soap opera *General Hospital* from 2020 to 2022 and for starring in the one-season NBC supernatural drama *Siberia* in 2013.[1](https://www.parksfuneralhome.com/obituary/JohnJohnny-WactorIII) • [2](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/johnny-wactor-dead-general-hospital-actor-shot-robbery-attempt-1235909482/) He was fatally shot in downtown Los Angeles on May 25, 2024, at the age of 37, during what police described as an attempted catalytic converter theft.[3](https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-05-26/general-hospital-johnny-wactor-killed-catalytic-converter-thief-police)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born / died | 1986, Charleston, South Carolina; May 25, 2024, Los Angeles, aged 37[1](https://www.parksfuneralhome.com/obituary/JohnJohnny-WactorIII) |
| Signature role | Brando Corbin on *General Hospital*, 2020–2022, in 164 episodes[2](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/johnny-wactor-dead-general-hospital-actor-shot-robbery-attempt-1235909482/) • [4](https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/johnny-wactor-dead-general-hospital-1236016889/) |
| Other lead role | Johnny on NBC's one-season supernatural drama *Siberia* (2013)[2](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/johnny-wactor-dead-general-hospital-actor-shot-robbery-attempt-1235909482/) |
| Television debut | Guest roles on Lifetime's *Army Wives*, 2007–2009[4](https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/johnny-wactor-dead-general-hospital-1236016889/) |
| Education | College of Charleston, 2009, double major in Business and Spanish[1](https://www.parksfuneralhome.com/obituary/JohnJohnny-WactorIII) |
| Death | Shot around 3:25 a.m. on May 25, 2024, near Pico Boulevard and Hope Street in downtown Los Angeles during an attempted catalytic converter theft[3](https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-05-26/general-hospital-johnny-wactor-killed-catalytic-converter-thief-police) |
| Memorial work | Johnny's Mile, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit created in his name to support families of murder victims[5](https://www.johnnysmile.org/about) |
## Early life and education
Wactor was born in 1986 in [Charleston, South Carolina](https://www.edgepedia.org/charleston-south-carolina), to John W. Wactor II and Scarlett S. Wactor, the oldest of three brothers, and grew up in Summerville.[1](https://www.parksfuneralhome.com/obituary/JohnJohnny-WactorIII) His family obituary records his first public performance at age 10, as [Julius Caesar](https://www.edgepedia.org/julius-caesar) at Givhans Elementary School, followed by acceptance into Rollings Middle School of the Arts the next year.[1](https://www.parksfuneralhome.com/obituary/JohnJohnny-WactorIII) The Charleston *Post & Courier* traces his start in performance earlier still, to a role as a shepherd boy in Summerville Baptist Church's Singing Christmas Tree production.[6](https://www.postandcourier.com/news/johnny-wactor-summerville-college-charleston-killed-shooting-general-hospital/article_d56b8b38-1c1b-11ef-9366-c3d491b08bdb.html)
He graduated from Summerville High School in 2004 and from the [College of Charleston](https://www.edgepedia.org/college-of-charleston) in 2009 with a double major in Business and Spanish, after which he moved to Los Angeles with his best friend Dusty Morrow.[6](https://www.postandcourier.com/news/johnny-wactor-summerville-college-charleston-killed-shooting-general-hospital/article_d56b8b38-1c1b-11ef-9366-c3d491b08bdb.html) • [1](https://www.parksfuneralhome.com/obituary/JohnJohnny-WactorIII)
**Training.** His casting resume lists scene study at Stuart Rogers Studio and the Elizabeth Mestnik Acting Studio, including Meisner Technique, along with acting courses at the College of Charleston.[7](http://resumes.actorsaccess.com/JohnnyWactor) TV Guide records that he trained at Elizabeth Mestnik's studio in Los Angeles and that he met the creator of *Siberia* while working as a bartender.[8](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/johnny-wactor/bio/3000745324/)
## Career
Wactor's television debut came in guest roles on Lifetime's *Army Wives* between 2007 and 2009; [TV Guide](https://www.edgepedia.org/tv-guide) notes that on that set he met actor [Paul Wesley](https://www.edgepedia.org/paul-wesley), who encouraged him to continue acting.[4](https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/johnny-wactor-dead-general-hospital-1236016889/) • [8](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/johnny-wactor/bio/3000745324/) In 2013 he was a series regular as Johnny on NBC's supernatural drama *Siberia*, which ran for one season.[2](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/johnny-wactor-dead-general-hospital-actor-shot-robbery-attempt-1235909482/)
**General Hospital.** From 2020 to 2022 he played Brando Corbin on *General Hospital*, appearing in 164 episodes as the husband of Sasha Corbin (Sofia Mattsson) and son of Gladys Corbin (Bonnie Burroughs).[2](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/johnny-wactor-dead-general-hospital-actor-shot-robbery-attempt-1235909482/) • [4](https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/johnny-wactor-dead-general-hospital-1236016889/) • [9](https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/tv/johnny-wactor-general-hospital-actor-fatally-shot-l-rcna154138) He left the show in 2022 when his character was written out.[3](https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-05-26/general-hospital-johnny-wactor-killed-catalytic-converter-thief-police)
**Other credits.** His television work included a recurring role on HBO's *Westworld* and guest or co-star appearances on *Station 19*, *[NCIS](https://www.edgepedia.org/ncis-tv-series)*, *Criminal Minds*, *Training Day*, *Animal Kingdom*, *The OA*, and *Agent X*, plus a series-regular role on *The Passenger* (UrbanflixTV).[7](http://resumes.actorsaccess.com/JohnnyWactor) • [4](https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/johnny-wactor-dead-general-hospital-1236016889/) [NBC News](https://www.edgepedia.org/nbc-news) also records a voice role in the video game *Call of Duty: Vanguard*.[9](https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/tv/johnny-wactor-general-hospital-actor-fatally-shot-l-rcna154138) His film credits include *USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage* (2016), directed by [Mario Van Peebles](https://www.edgepedia.org/mario-van-peebles), *Supercell*, *Menthol*, and *Ever*; he wrote and starred in the 2022 short film *Broken Riders*.[4](https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/johnny-wactor-dead-general-hospital-1236016889/) • [7](http://resumes.actorsaccess.com/JohnnyWactor)
## Death
According to the Los Angeles Times, citing LAPD Officer Jader Chaves, Wactor was shot at around 3:25 a.m. on May 25, 2024, near Pico Boulevard and Hope Street in downtown Los Angeles, after leaving a rooftop event where he had been working, when he encountered three people attempting to steal the catalytic converter from his vehicle.[3](https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-05-26/general-hospital-johnny-wactor-killed-catalytic-converter-thief-police) He was shot by one of the thieves and was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead; all three fled in a vehicle.[3](https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-05-26/general-hospital-johnny-wactor-killed-catalytic-converter-thief-police) His family obituary states that he was killed while shielding his co-worker.[1](https://www.parksfuneralhome.com/obituary/JohnJohnny-WactorIII) His brother told the *Post & Courier* that Wactor was shielding a coworker when fatally shot, and no arrests had been announced as of late May 27, 2024.[6](https://www.postandcourier.com/news/johnny-wactor-summerville-college-charleston-killed-shooting-general-hospital/article_d56b8b38-1c1b-11ef-9366-c3d491b08bdb.html) Initial reporting from NBC News and [The Hollywood Reporter](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-hollywood-reporter) likewise recorded that no arrests had been made.[9](https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/tv/johnny-wactor-general-hospital-actor-fatally-shot-l-rcna154138) • [2](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/johnny-wactor-dead-general-hospital-actor-shot-robbery-attempt-1235909482/)
## Tributes and industry response
Tributes followed from actors, fans, and friends. *General Hospital* said the "entire General Hospital family is heartbroken to hear of Johnny Wactor's untimely passing," and the College of Charleston offered "heartfelt sympathy."[6](https://www.postandcourier.com/news/johnny-wactor-summerville-college-charleston-killed-shooting-general-hospital/article_d56b8b38-1c1b-11ef-9366-c3d491b08bdb.html) His agent, David Shaul, called Wactor "a real moral example to everyone who knew him"; co-star Parry Shen called him "a beautiful, beautiful soul. So talented"; and Sofia Mattsson wrote that he made everyone feel "seen, heard and loved."[6](https://www.postandcourier.com/news/johnny-wactor-summerville-college-charleston-killed-shooting-general-hospital/article_d56b8b38-1c1b-11ef-9366-c3d491b08bdb.html) A GoFundMe for the family raised more than $10,000 to help bring his brother home so he could be buried in Summerville.[6](https://www.postandcourier.com/news/johnny-wactor-summerville-college-charleston-killed-shooting-general-hospital/article_d56b8b38-1c1b-11ef-9366-c3d491b08bdb.html) His funeral was held on June 15, 2024, at Summerville Baptist Church, with memorials directed to the church, the Edisto Island Open Land Trust, or Stuart Rogers Studios.[1](https://www.parksfuneralhome.com/obituary/JohnJohnny-WactorIII)
## Posthumous advocacy: #JusticeForJohnny and Johnny's Mile
His family created the #JusticeForJohnny movement, which organized a March to City Hall and a Mile for Johnny Walk; the family's Johnny's Mile website states that the movement pushed law enforcement to act and led to the apprehension of the individuals responsible for Wactor's murder.[5](https://www.johnnysmile.org/about)
Johnny's Mile is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit created in his name to support families of murder victims.[5](https://www.johnnysmile.org/about)
## By the numbers
Wactor's screen career began with his 2007 *Army Wives* debut.[4](https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/johnny-wactor-dead-general-hospital-1236016889/) His television record includes 164 episodes of *General Hospital* over the 2020–2022 seasons, a one-season series-regular lead on *Siberia* in 2013, and recurring and guest work on other series including *Westworld*, *Station 19*, *NCIS*, *Criminal Minds*, *[Training Day](https://www.edgepedia.org/training-day-tv-series)*, *[Animal Kingdom](https://www.edgepedia.org/animal-kingdom-tv-series)*, *The OA*, and *Agent X*.[2](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/johnny-wactor-dead-general-hospital-actor-shot-robbery-attempt-1235909482/) • [7](http://resumes.actorsaccess.com/JohnnyWactor) His film work spanned features such as *USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage* (2016) and *Supercell* and shorts including the self-written *Broken Riders* (2022).[4](https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/johnny-wactor-dead-general-hospital-1236016889/)
## References
1. [Obituary for John "Johnny" William Wactor, III, Parks Funeral Home](https://www.parksfuneralhome.com/obituary/JohnJohnny-WactorIII)
2. [Johnny Wactor Dead: 'General Hospital' Actor Shot During Attempted Theft, The Hollywood Reporter](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/johnny-wactor-dead-general-hospital-actor-shot-robbery-attempt-1235909482/)
3. [Johnny Wactor of 'General Hospital' fatally shot in catalytic converter heist, Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-05-26/general-hospital-johnny-wactor-killed-catalytic-converter-thief-police)
4. [Johnny Wactor Dead: 'General Hospital' Actor Was 37, Variety](https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/johnny-wactor-dead-general-hospital-1236016889/)
5. [Johnny Wactor — Johnny's Mile](https://www.johnnysmile.org/about)
6. [Summerville native, actor Johnny Wactor fatally shot in L.A., Charleston Post & Courier](https://www.postandcourier.com/news/johnny-wactor-summerville-college-charleston-killed-shooting-general-hospital/article_d56b8b38-1c1b-11ef-9366-c3d491b08bdb.html)
7. [JOHNNY WACTOR – Resume, Actors Access](http://resumes.actorsaccess.com/JohnnyWactor)
8. [Johnny Wactor Biography, Celebrity Facts and Awards, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/johnny-wactor/bio/3000745324/)
9. [Johnny Wactor, 'General Hospital' actor, fatally shot in L.A., NBC News](https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/tv/johnny-wactor-general-hospital-actor-fatally-shot-l-rcna154138)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 2000s onward › Surnames U to We*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license