Who was Brando Corbin on General Hospital? A closer look at his character and storyline

General Hospital, a beloved American daytime soap opera, has had dramatic storylines and compelling characters since 1963. The character of Brando Corbin was portrayed by Johnny Wactor. Although he may not have been one of the long-lasting figures on the show, his role and storyline created a separate fanbase.

Brando Corbin first appeared in General Hospital in 2020, but his character was referenced before that, with early mentions in 2019. As the son of Gladys Corbin, Corbin's story was linked to family dynamics. Though initially it was a complete mystery, Corbin soon found himself involved in the Corinthos crime family.

Despite his character's brief run from 2020 to 2022, General Hospital fans loved Johnny Wactor as Brando. Soon, he turned up as the most-talked-about in ABC's soap history.

Brando Corbin’s on-screen role on General Hospital

Brando Corbin’s role came with secrecy and surprise. His initial reveal in January 2020 was disclosed that Brando had been alive all along and was a key player in the Corinthos organization. The character was first referenced by his father, Mike Corbin. Mike mistakenly thought that Brando had died. However, it was later revealed that Brando had been involved with some shady characters. There was a fallout with his mother, Gladys Corbin. Gladys had claimed Brando was dead to avoid the attention of these bad influences, a lie that would soon come to light.

Brando’s character quickly got fit into General Hospital’s action plots. He came in front as one of Sonny Corinthos’ men. And after an ambush, he ended up saving Carly Spencer, though he was shot in the process. Brando's character fought villains throughout his tenure. His personal life, including his relationship with Sasha Gilmore, made a difference. The couple's love story was filled with ups and downs, including a pregnancy and struggles with Cyrus Renault, who coerced Brando into working for him under duress. His tragic death in 2022, as a victim of the mysterious "hook killer," left the viewers in tears. 

Johnny Wactor: Know more about the actor behind Brando Corbin

Johnny Wactor was born on August 31, 1986, in Charleston, South Carolina. He grew up in Summerville and graduated from Summerville High School in 2004. Johnny then attended the College of Charleston, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish in 2009.

Johnny moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting. He debuted on television in 2007 with a role in Army Wives. He later appeared in Siberia and the film USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage. 

Johnny was engaged to actress and director Tessa Farrell in his personal life, but they broke up in 2013. On May 25, 2024, Wactor died tragically after running into three men trying to steal a catalytic converter from his Toyota Prius in downtown Los Angeles. He bravely protected his co-worker by standing in front of her car when he saw the thief. During the fight, he got wounded with gunshots and died later at the hospital. He was only 37, when he passed away. Four men were arrested in connection with his death, and two of them were charged with murder. 

General Hospital episodes are available to stream on ABC.