From tragedy to hope: blood drive for General Hospital alum Johnny Wactor helps save lives

Johnny Wactor will always be remembered by General Hospital fans as Brando Corbin, the guy who stood by Sasha (Sofia Mattsson), worked in Sonny’s (Maurice Benard) garage, and became part of the Corinthos family story. Off the screen, his life ended far too soon. In May 2024, he was shot and killed in downtown Los Angeles while trying to stop thieves from taking his truck’s catalytic converter — a senseless tragedy that left his friends, family, and fans heartbroken. Now, they’ve found a way to honor him that feels exactly right.

A day for Johnny

Los Angeles’ ABC7 reported that a community blood drive in North Hollywood turned grief into something life-saving. The event took place at Stuart Rogers Studios with help from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Friends said there was no better way to pay tribute because giving back was part of who General Hospital alum Johnny Wactor was, and the event was dedicated to him.

His friend Andrew Oliveri summed it up simply: “We lost him way too soon, and he would be here, plain and simple, and that’s why I’m here.” The turnout showed how much he meant to people. Fifty-eight donations were collected, and each one was treated as a gift in Johnny’s name. It wasn’t just about remembering him — it was about making sure something good came out of something awful.

Keeping his name alive

Aubree Bowen, one of the event’s organizers, explained that it wasn’t just limited to that one afternoon. “Keeping Johnny’s name alive is so important to us,” she said, pointing out that he was “an incredible person” who deserved to be recognized. She continued lamenting the demise of the General Hospital star. "He was an incredible person and deserves to be recognized, and no one deserves to die like that,” she explained, adding, “Catalytic converter thefts are a big problem. He never should have lost his life."

Looking ahead, the organizers plan to continue the tradition of the blood drive. They have another one scheduled for August 2026, which is also two days before Wactor’s birthday. The concept is to continue to have a yearly reason for friends, family, and fans to continue honoring the fallen General Hospital actor. Supporter Glenn Taranto explained it best: “We can’t save Johnny, but we can save other people.” He called Johnny “a selfless human being” who always thought of others first, and said that donating blood was exactly the kind of thing Johnny would have done himself.

Trending

Instead of letting tragedy be the final word, the people who loved General Hospital’s late Johnny Wactor are making sure his story pushes forward. Every pint of blood collected means another life touched, another chance given — and another way to keep Wactor’s generous spirit alive.

General Hospital can be seen weekdays on ABC and Hulu.

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