Late General Hospital actor Johnny Wactor’s family were given a standing ovation at the premiere of Ciao, Mama – the star’s final film which has premiered just over a year after his death.
Johnny Wactor’s mother received a standing ovation at the premiere of his final movie.
The late General Hospital actor was shot dead aged 37 in May 2024, and a year later his mother Scarlett and brother Lance were honoured at a screening of Ciao, Mama at Hollywood’s TCL Chinese Theatre.
As reported by PEOPLE magazine, the theatre applauded for Wactor’s family members and gave them a standing ovation at a question and answer portion of the event on Tuesday (24.06.25).
Actor and producer Micah Joe Parker said at the premiere: “It is such a surreal thing to — when we started this, it was five, and now there’s four people up here, but Johnny has, he’s been with us in so many ways over the past year.
“I know there are so many people out here that are here tonight that loved Johnny.
“I thank God that I had the chance to know him, that I had the chance to work with him, that we got to make this film together.
“And more than anything that us four had the distinct honor and the privilege of having his last film to be able to present to the world. And I think he absolutely killed it. And yeah, I hope we made him proud.”
Elsewhere during the Q+A, it was revealed that Lance helped re-record some of his late brother’s lines for the film in post-production.
The movie is now available to buy on its own official website, with 60 percent of proceeds going to a scholarship created in the star’s name.
Wactor had finished a bartending shift in Los Angeles on May 25 last year, and was walking to his car in the early morning when he interrupted three armed thieves trying to steal the catalytic converter from his car.
He confronted them and was fatally shot.
In August, Robert Barceleau and Sergio Estrada – who were both 18 at the time – pleaded not guilty after being charged with murder.
Both men are awaiting trial, with Barceleau facing a life sentence with no possibility of parole, while Estrada faces a maximum sentence of life behind bars, with a chance of parole.
Leonel Guierrez, who was also 18 at the time, and Frank Olano, who was 22, were charged with lesser counts.
It’s said Gutierrez was handed four years in prison after entering a no contest plea in September 2024, while Olano was sentenced to five years and eight months after the same plea the following month.
Johnny Wactor’s family get standing ovation at premiere of final film after fatal shooting
