How ‘General Hospital’ paid tribute to Johnny Wactor after his tragic death at 37
“General Hospital” said goodbye to late star Johnny Wactor.
More than two weeks after the 37-year-old actor was shot and killed by armed robbers in Los Angeles, the ABC soap opera series paid tribute to Wactor at the end of Tuesday’s episode.
A title card in memory of Wactor — who played Brando Corbin from 2020 to 2022 — popped up on the screen.
“In loving memory of Johnny Wactor,” the message read.
The hit TV show previously honored Wactor on X after he was murdered last month.
“The entire General Hospital family is 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,” the show posted.
Wactor was also recently honored at the 2024 Daytime Emmy Awards.
On May 25, Wactor died trying to stop a trio of masked car thieves from stealing his catalytic converter from his car in LA. He protected his female co-worker from the robbers when he was fatally shot in the chest.
Wactor often picked up extra shifts as a bartender between acting gigs and was working later than usual when he was killed, his mother, Scarlett Wactor, told TMZ at the time.
She described her son as a “loving young man” and said his death “leaves a huge hole in the family’s heart.”
After the news of Wactor’s passing, the cast of “General Hospital” reacted to the brutal killing on social media.
Kirsten Storms wrote, “I’m in a state of disbelief and complete sadness. I don’t typically do posts like this, but Johnny was such a special person and it feels important (for me) to put these words out there.”
“To [Johnny’s] mother and family, I am so sorry for your loss. I can’t imagine what you must be feeling right now. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Johnny was one of those rare ‘real individuals’ that you almost never come across,” she added.
Sofia Mattsson, who plays the widow of Wactor’s “General Hospital” character, also honored the late actor on social media.
“Johnny was the absolute best,” Mattsson wrote.
“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.”
Carolyn Hennesy, who has played Diane Miller on the show since 2006, told People that the cast is still “processing” Wactor’s death.
“I think people have processed a bit,” Hennesy said earlier this month. “We were dark last week, so people are processing in their own way.”
She added: “We have a lot of lovely actors on the show, and when we lose one, it’s a killer. It’s just a killer.”
According to TMZ, Wactor was cremated after his death and his remains are with his mother at her South Carolina home.
His funeral is set to take place in Summerville, South Carolina, on June 15, his mother confirmed.
