John William Wactor III
Johnny Wactor was murdered on Saturday, May 25, 2024, in Los Angeles, California while heroically shielding his co-worker. Johnny was born in Charleston, South Carolina. He grew up deeply appreciating nature and his family. Johnny was a decorated athlete. Wactor was a nationally ranked and state champion swimmer, winning countless medals and ribbons. To this day, Wactor holds the record for the 11-12 Boys 50 Meter Free for swimming in the tri-county area.
Johnny started performing at an early age. He made his first public performance at 10 as Julius Ceasar at Givhan's Elementary School. The following year Johnny was accepted into Rollings Middle School of the Arts. By 19, Johnny knew that he wanted to be an actor. Upon graduation from the College of Charleston, with a double major in Business and Spanish, Johnny moved to Los Angeles to pursue his acting career.
Johnny continued to hone his craft as a storyteller in several studios in Los Angeles, ultimately finding his creative community at Stuart Rogers Studios in North Hollywood. His loss has been felt by his family, closest friends, and the worldwide community of his fans. He leaves behind a remarkable body of work as an Actor; starring as a lead on Siberia— an NBC primetime TV show, and was Brando Corbin on long-time running soap opera, General Hospital.
A 501c3 nonprofit organization Johnny’s Mile was created in his name to help families of other murdered victims.
The #JusticeForJohnny movement showed the power of community and determination. Together, we organized impactful events like the March to City Hall and the Mile for Johnny Walk, which not only raised public awareness but also pushed law enforcement to take action. These efforts were crucial in driving the investigation forward and leading to the prompt apprehension of the individuals responsible for Johnny’s murder.
But our work doesn’t stop there. What began as a grassroots movement has now evolved into Johnny’s Mile, which has applied for formal 501c3 status and will continue the fight for justice and support for victims of crime. Through Johnny’s Mile, we will build on the momentum of #JusticeForJohnny, ensuring that Johnny’s legacy of courage and compassion lives on through our continued efforts to foster safer communities.
