"General Hospital" Actor Johnny Wactor Killed Protecting Colleague During Catalytic Converter Theft in Los Angeles

Actor Johnny Wactor was a 'southern gentleman' who was protecting a female co-worker from the armed thieves who fatally shot him Saturday

Johnny Wactor, a 37-year-old actor known for his role on "General Hospital," was fatally shot while protecting his female colleague during a catalytic converter theft in Los Angeles early Saturday morning.

Wactor, who appeared in 164 episodes of the soap opera from 2020 to 2022, was leaving his side job at a rooftop bar with a female coworker around 3:25 a.m. near West Pico Boulevard and South Hope Street. When he saw three masked men near his vehicle, he believed it was being towed and approached to discuss the situation. One of the men pointed a gun at Wactor, who shielded his colleague with his body and was shot.

Johnny's younger brother Grant (pictured center right) and grandmother Barbara said that Johnny (pictured left) was working at a downtown LA restaurants, as he often picked up side gigs as a bartender. They didn't know which bar he was working that night

The suspects fled the scene in another vehicle, and Wactor was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The assailants remain at large.

Johnny's younger brother, Grant Wactor, confirmed his death and expressed that Johnny's final act of bravery was in line with how they were raised as "southern gentlemen." Grant explained, "We would never let a female walk to their car by herself. He thought his truck was being towed and said something to the guys. When he turned around and saw what was happening, he put his coworker behind him, and that's when they shot him."

According to Grant, Johnny (seen here with General Hospital co-star Sofia Mattsson) brought up as 'Southern gentlemen,' so he was not surprised his older brother was walking his female co-worker to her car

Wactor was shot in the chest while trying to protect his friend. His family emphasized his selfless nature and hardworking spirit. "My brother was probably the hardest working person I've ever met in my life. He was a great brother and son," Grant said.

The family is devastated by the loss and hopes the perpetrators will be brought to justice. "I hope they are able to track the people who did this. This publicity could shed some light on the need for change so that no one else has to experience this," Grant added.

Some of Wactor's co-stars have begun posting remembrances of the actor on social media

Wactor's grandmother, Barbara, also expressed the family's grief, calling the incident "senseless."

Wactor, the eldest of three brothers, was remembered by his "General Hospital" co-stars for his kindness and talent. Perry Shen described him as a "beautiful soul" who was "funny as all heck" and "fit as all hell but also loved ice cream." Jon Lindstrom mourned the loss of a young man who was "kind, unassuming, humble, and always thought about other people."

Catalytic converters are often targets of thieves, as they have a re-sale value of hundreds of dollars

Johnny Wactor's career included roles in "Siberia," "The OA," "The Passenger," "Westworld," "Hollywood Girl," and "Army Wives." He had also ventured into producing and writing, with several upcoming projects listed on his IMDb page.

Wactor is survived by his mother Scarlett and brothers Lance and Grant. His mother described him as a loving young man whose death leaves a significant void in their hearts.

The Los Angeles Police Department is continuing its investigation into the incident, and as of Sunday evening, no further information has been released.

Catalytic converter thefts have become increasingly common due to the high resale value of the valuable metals they contain.