Is the 'General Hospital' cursed? Cast members who met tragic deaths amid Johnny Wactor's brutal murder
'General Hospital' cast beset with suicides, addictions, and mysterious deaths
'General Hospital' is currently America's longest-running TV soap opera. However, viewers of the soap opera are questioning whether the show is cursed in the wake of star Johnny Wactor's death. The midday ABC show has aired more than 15,000 episodes since it premiered more than 60 years ago in 1963. Actors on the show have experienced suicides, cancer fights, serious accidents, homelessness, and run-ins with the law. Wactor is the most recent cast member to die tragically, though his shooting death at the hands of a gunman was the most shocking and horrific.
1. Johnny Wactor
Following his departure from a rooftop bar with a female coworker, Johnny Wactor — who played Brando Corbin from 2020 to 2022 — was shot and killed early on Saturday, May 25, in Los Angeles, while he fought robbers attempting to take his car's catalytic converter. The 37-year-old actor, who starred in 164 episodes, was taken to a neighboring hospital but could not survive. The three suspects wearing masks are still at large, per Daily Mail.
2. Robyn Bernard
Robyn Bernard, who portrayed Terry Brock from 1984 to 1990, was discovered dead in a field outside a San Jacinto, California, company less than three months before Wactor's killing. Bernard went from being a diva on soap operas to being addicted to meth and alcohol before her death at the age of 64. The cause of Bernard's death, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Office coroner's bureau, is unknown. No indications of foul play were reported by the police.
3. Tyler Christopher
'General Hospital' star Tyler Christopher — who alternated between 1996 and 2016 as Nikolas Cassadine and Connor Bishop — was found dead in October 2023 in his downtown San Diego, California apartment, at the age of 50. Christopher's friend discovered him unconscious in his bedroom and dialed 911. According to the local medical examiner's findings, the actor battled substance abuse and bipolar disorder, but his death was caused by "acute alcohol intoxication," which put him in a position where he asphyxiated.
4. Billy Miller
Fans of 'General Hospital' were horrified in September 2023 to learn that Emmy-winning actor Billy Miller had killed himself at age 43, following a battle with depression and bipolar disorder. After a protracted battle with mental health concerns, Miller — who portrayed Jason Morgan and later his twin Drew Cain in 592 episodes between 2014 and 2019 — took his own life by shooting himself in the head, per the results of an autopsy. According to the Travis County Medical Examiner's report, "A revolver chambered for .410 shotgun shells was found in the right hand."
5. Sonya Eddy
Sonya Eddy — who played head nurse Epiphany Johnson in 543 episodes of 'General Hospital' starting in 2006 — died in December 2022 at the age of 55 due to complications following non-urgent surgery. The cherished actress underwent the planned surgery and spent two days in a hospital in Burbank, California. However, she began to feel sick and came back on December 15, when medical professionals determined she had an "uncontainable" infection. Eddy's final episode in her role as a nurse aired on October 20, 2022.
6. Lindsey Pearlman
Actress Lindsey Pearlman, 43, was discovered dead inside her car at Runyon Canyon Park on February 18, 2022, five days after going missing from her East Hollywood home. She allegedly overdosed to death, leaving suicide notes on her phone and at her house instructing whoever found her to dial 911. The Chicago-native frequently appeared in TV ads and had cameo appearances on 'General Hospital.' The cause of death was described as "sodium nitrite toxicity," and the case status was listed as "closed," per the coroner's office.
7. Bergen Williams
Bergen Williams — who gained fame for her role as the show's Quartermain family's housekeeper Alice Gunderson — also died from illness at the age of 62. She joined the show in 2002 and ended up filming her last episode in 2014. The actress died on July 20, 2021, per a tweet from Williams' sister. The statement said that Williams "succumbed to the ravages of Wilson's Disease surrounded by loving family." The Mayo Clinic describes Wilson's disease as an uncommon, hereditary condition that results in an accumulation of copper in the liver, brain, and other critical organs.
