‘General Hospital’ cast still ‘processing’ Johnny Wactor’s ‘ugly’ death at 37: co-star
The cast of “General Hospital” is still reeling over the loss of one of their own.
After Johnny Wactor, 37, was shot and killed by a trio of masked car thieves in Los Angeles late last month, his co-star Carolyn Hennesy revealed that the show’s set has been “somber” since his death.
“It was a homicide, so that lays a special ugly overlay to his particular death,” she told People at the Celebrating Aspiring Magazine Summer Edition event on Tuesday.
Hennesy, 61, has played Diane Miller on “General Hospital” since 2006.
The actress explained that the cast and crew of the soap series were in disbelief learning that Wactor — who portrayed Brando Corbin between 2020 through 2022 — was brutally murdered.
“I think people have processed a bit,” said Hennesy. “We were dark last week, so people are processing in their own way.”
“Also, I did not know him to the extent that I know a lot of other people,” she added. “But any death, period, any death on the show, any death in my industry, I take it to heart.”
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.”
Wactor died on Saturday, May 25, after encountering armed robbers who were trying to steal a catalytic converter from his car.
The actor shielded his female co-worker from the thieves when he was gunned down.
Wactor’s mother confirmed to “NBC News” that Anita Joy was the friend who was with her son when he was shot in the chest.
Joy opened up about the tragedy and paid tribute to Wactor in an emotional Instagram post.
“I was with Johnny in his last moments and I’m here to be his voice after such unimaginable events,” she wrote days after the shooting.
“My heart is shattered with his loss but I believe l have gained the best guardian Angel out there,” her post also said.
After Wactor’s death made the news, several of his “General Hospital” co-stars, such as Kirsten Storms, Sofia Mattsson, Ashton Arbab and Lydia Look, paid tribute to the late actor on social media.
“I’m in a state of disbelief and complete sadness,” said Storms, 40. “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.”
Arbab’s tribute read, “Absolutely heartbroken while typing this. Johnny Wactor was not only my TV dad for more than 25 episodes on General Hospital but he was a great human, a kind soul, an inspiration on and off set and a one of a kind actor.”
The ABC soap opera series also honored Wactor on X.
“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’s funeral is set to take place in Summerville, South Carolina, on June 15, his mother confirmed.
