Almost Two Years After His Murder, General Hospital’s Johnny Wactor Honored for His Heroism: He Had ‘Compassion for Everybody,’ Mom Says
No amount of justice could ever bring back General Hospital’s Johnny Wactor (ex-Brando), who was shot in the early hours of May 25, 2024, but the fact that he died while protecting a co-worker and friend… that has never gone unnoticed. And now, the former ABC soap fave has been honored for his heroism.
On March 25, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society named Wactor as the 2026 Single Act of Heroism Honoree for his “lifelong commitment to protecting others,” as reported by TMZ. The organization flew his mom Scarlett and brother Grant out to D.C., where they were able to take in some of the sights and later, she accepted the award during a ceremony in Virginia that was presented on her son’s behalf by Retired US Army Command Sergeant Major Gary Littrell. Wactor, who had been nominated by a fan, was among more than 300 applicants. Watch the emotional presentation.
And for those who were unaware… On that tragic night, Wactor had been walking his co-worker Anita Joy to her car after they wrapped up a shift at a bar in Los Angeles when they came upon a few thieves trying to steal the catalytic converter from his car. Trying to protect Joy, Wactor took a bullet that ended his life. Though two men pled guilty to robbery charges, two others have been charged with the soap actor’s murder. Both have pled not guilty.
During an interview with Live 5 WCSC, Wactor’s mom relayed how his selflessness defined his life and after hearing that her son once spent 20 minutes talking to a homeless person, she had asked, “Why did you do that?” to which Wactor replied, “Everybody deserves to be heard and seen.” She expressed how he “really believed that and lived it,” then added, “And that’s, I guess, what doesn’t surprise me is his compassion for everybody.”
We continue to pray for Wactor’s family and friends who have been left grieving the loss of their loved one as a result of such an utterly heinous crime.
