Tribute. Family of late actor Johnny Wactor receives standing ovation

The film 'Ciao, Mama' had its premiere at the Dances With Films festival, at the TCL Chinese Theatre, in Hollywood, California, on Tuesday, June 24. This was the last film of actor Johnny Wactor, who died last year, and his family was present at the event.

His mother, Scarlett Wactor, and brother, Lance Wactor, traveled to the venue to see Johnny Wactor on the big screen and ended up receiving a standing ovation when the cast introduced them, as reported by People.

The magazine also reveals that the actor's brother, Lance, helped re-record some of Johnny Wactor's lines during the film's post-production.

In a question and answer session, actor and producer Micah Joe Parker spoke about his late colleague Johnny Wactor, highlighting that he remained in everyone's memory after his unexpected death.

"It's a very surreal thing - when we started, there were five of us, now there are four of us here, but Johnny has been with us in so many ways over the last year. I know there are so many people here tonight who loved Johnny. I thank God that I had the opportunity to know him, that I had the opportunity to work with him, that we were able to make this movie together," said Micah Joe Parker.

"More than that, the four of us had the distinct honor and privilege of being a part of what was his last film. And I think he nailed it. And yes, I hope we did him proud," he added.

Johnny Wactor's unexpected death in May 2024

Johnny Wactor © Getty Images

Actor Johnny Wactor, it is worth remembering, died after being shot during a robbery in Los Angeles, in the United States of America, on May 25th of last year. People recalls that the artist, who was 37 years old, realized that they were trying to steal the catalytic converter from his car and, for that reason, he ended up being shot by the robbers.

The international press reported at the time that emergency medical services were called to the scene, however, Johnny Wactor ended up dying in hospital.

The magazine also reports that in August, Robert Barceleau and Sergio Estrada, both 18 at the time, were charged with murder in the investigation that began after Johnny Wactor's death. Both have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial. Leonel Gutierrez, then 18, and Frank Olano, who was 22 at the time, have also been charged with lesser crimes.

In September 2024, Leonel Gutierrez pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and aggravated robbery and was released on bail. At the time, CBS News, local KTLA 5, and Fox 11 reported that the young man paid $120,000 (about 100,000 euros) after pleading guilty to both charges. It is now known that he was also sentenced to four years in prison.

Frank Olano - who was not at the crime scene - received a sentence of five years and eight months in prison after pleading guilty to being an accomplice in the attempted robbery.

The actor, remember, was part of the cast of the series 'General Hospital', having participated in around 200 episodes. He was also part of other successful projects such as 'Westworld', 'The OA', 'NCIS' and 'Criminal Minds'.

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