Former General Hospital actor Johnny Wactor has been shot dead by thieves who were trying to steal the catalytic converter from his car.
The shooting happened at about 3am on Saturday in downtown Los Angeles (11am on Saturday UK time) when Wactor approached three men by his car, according to police.
One of the three opened fire, and Wactor, 37, died later in hospital.
The suspects drove away, and no arrests have been made.
The actor had just left a rooftop bar nearby, said his mother, Scarlett Wactor. When he saw the three by his car, he thought it was being towed because he had parked it on the street, in an unfamiliar place, she told Sky News’ US partner network NBC News.
Wactor’s agent, David Shaul, said the actor was “a real moral example to everyone who knew him”.
“In the highs and lows of a challenging profession he always kept his chin up and kept striving for the best he could be,” Mr Shaul said in a statement on Sunday.
“Our time with Johnny was a privilege we would wish on everyone. He would literally give you the shirt off his back. After over a decade together, he will leave a hole in our hearts forever.”
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Wactor played Brando Corbin on the long-running soap opera General Hospital – which first aired in 1963 – from 2020 to 2022.
He also appeared in a variety of films and TV series, including Station 19, NCIS, Westworld and the video game Call of Duty: Vanguard.
Scarlett Wactor said his son’s acting work might help her cope with her loss.
“I think that when I see Johnny on the videos and the recordings, I can only hope that he’s doing that in heaven and enjoying it,” she said.
NBC News reports thieves target catalytic converters for their valuable metals, including platinum, palladium and rhodium.