Johnny Zacchara

**John Anthony "Johnny" Zacchara** is a fictional character on *General Hospital*. He is the son of the late notorious NYC crime lord Gino Soleito and the woman he thought was his sister the late Claudia Zacchara.

He is also a member of the Zacchara organization, previously run by his late grandfather Anthony Zacchara (although, Anthony was thought to be his father until early 2012).

He was portrayed by actor Brandon Barash from 2007-16 before being replaced by Tonja Walker as Olivia Jerome a year later in 2017 and Jeff Kober as Cyrus Renault three years later in 2020.

He will later be portrayed by Ryan Paevey who previously portrayed as Nathan West.

## Development

* Casting

Brandon Barash first appeared in the contract role of Johnny Zacchara on September 18, 2007.

Barash revealed that he auditioned for the role with costar Julie Marie Berman (Lulu Spencer). Brandon Barash ranked at #9 on Daytime Confidential's list of the "Top 10 Newcomers of 2007."

The post applauded Barash for being one of the most talented newcomers and sharing chemistry with all of his costars. In July 2008, Barash ranked at #25 on TV Guide's list of "Soap's Sexiest Men."

In the spring of 2012 rumors began circulating that Barash had been let go from the series. The speculation was so strong that some of Barash's own castmates began to express concern and support when fans started a petition to save the actor's job on Twitter. The show's newly installed executive producer, Frank Valentini later took to Twitter himself to dispel the rumors of Barash's firing.

After almost a year of denying rumors, Barash revealed at a fan event in late January 2013 that he had filmed his last scenes. Barash finally confirmed his departure via Twitter on March 5, 2013. His last appearance was May 13, 2013.

On November 10, 2014, representatives at ABC confirmed Barash's return to the series in an unknown capacity, though, believed to be a story-dictated arc return.. He returned to the show on December 5, 2014. He made his last appearance on February 10, 2015.

On October 29, 2015, Soap Opera Digest broke the news that Barash would reprise the of Johnny, set to appear sometime in early December 2015. He returned on December 8, 2015. He made his last appearance on January 26, 2016. He was later replaced by David S. Lee as Winston Rudge later in the year, then Tonja Walker as Olivia Jerome nearly a year later on January 17 to March 23, 2017. Another three years later, he was replaced by Jeff Kober as Cyrus Renault since February 5, 2020 as Brandon Barash is currently portraying as Stefan DiMera on *Days of our Lives* who also portrayed as Jake DiMera before David S. Lee's return as Winston Rudge later in 2020.

Ryan Paevey who previously portrayed as Nathan West will be returning as a Johnny Zacchara recast.

Later on, Jeff Kober who is currently portraying as Cyrus Renault will be portraying as Johnny Zacchara 25-30 years later on the spin-off *General Hospital Beyond*.
## Storylines

* 2007-08
* 2009-10
* 2011-13
* 2014-16
* Later

Johnny is first introduced as a troubled young man when he meets Lulu Spencer, the girlfriend of Logan Hayes after Stan Johnson left for Florida. For years, Johnny has been looked after by lawyer Trevor Lansing, because Johnny witnessed his insane father Anthony, shoot his mother Maria. Anthony now obsessed with keeping his son near him. Lulu continues to interact with the troubled young man, despite disapproval from her friends Jason Morgan and Damian Spinelli. Johnny sneaks into Nikolas Cassadine's Black and White Ball as his father is intent on killing Lulu to keep his son from her. Anthony terrorizes the guests while Diego Alcazar murders Nikolas' fiancée Emily Quartermaine.

After a confrontation with Jason Morgan, Anthony is paralyzed due to a fall and Johnny takes over as the head of the Zacchara family. Disapproving of the relationship; Trevor tries to have Lulu killed, but Johnny is able to save her. Tensions arise between Johnny, fellow mob boss Sonny Corinthos, and the mysterious Moreau who is revealed to be Jerry Jacks who was involved in the Metro Court Hotel Hostage crisis along with Franco Baldwin, Paul Hornsby, and Lorenzo Alcazar that made Sonny's children Michael, Morgan, and Kristina scared and traumatized along with Diane Miller as Mayor Garrett Floyd was interviewed by the press and security at Metro Court Hotel was tightened in the aftermath and Jason's son Jake Spencer was born. After "Moreau" briefly kidnaps Lulu, Johnny is hurt in an explosion. Though Logan objects, Lulu insists on tending to Johnny, leading to Johnny and Lulu admitting their feelings for each other.
Lulu breaks up with Johnny, leading Johnny to sleep with Olivia Falconeri who he began dating in May 2009. After Anthony is arrested, Johnny becomes a part of Sonny's organization, despite Sonny's hostility towards him. He tries to prove himself loyal to Sonny, despite all the setbacks. Johnny is constantly covering for his sister, including saving Jason from hitmen sent by Claudia to kill him. Johnny goes to Sonny's warehouse to cover Lulu's new boyfriend, Dominic's, shift during the carnival. Unknown to them, Anthony has sent his men to shoot down the warehouse. While trying to save Spinelli, Johnny ends up getting shot. Anthony is furious, as well as Claudia. He manages to recover when Spinelli calls the police and brings him to the hospital. Johnny tells Claudia to keep her distance from Michael after he wakes up from his coma in the middle of May. Claudia still tries to become friends with Michael and manipulates him to believe she had nothing to do with his shooting. He confesses to Olivia that his sister was responsible for putting Sonny's son, Michael, in a coma, and Olivia reveals that she already knows that when Jerry told his brother Jax.

On June 29, 2023; it is revealed that Paul Hornsby became Johnny's new cellmate after the guards at Pentonville told Johnny that he has a new cellmate after it was revealed that Cyrus Renault has known Drew Cain and is waiting to be Cyrus' cellmate.

Currently, Johnny Zacchara is not the one who is attending the library where Cyrus is preaching revealing that Johnny is minding his own business offscreen knowing the fact that fellow inmate Cyrus is looking like Johnny 25-30 years later.

When Johnny found out what fellow inmate Cyrus is doing, Johnny reaches out to fellow inmate Drew Cain to call it a truce to help get the evidence to stop Cyrus in his tracks and his men and women in their tracks.

On October 13 after Cyrus was released from prison by the parole board due to Warden Ellen Garten and Dr. Austin Gatlin-Holt testifying for him, and Scott Baldwin representing him; Johnny Zacchara became Drew Cain's new cellmate as Drew is now staying in prison in Cyrus' place because Johnny always likes to steer clear of Cyrus.

On November 14, Johnny gains Cyrus' henchman Mason Gatlin as fellow inmate at Pentonville Penitentiary after Drew is released.
## Crimes Committed

* 2007-08
* 2011-14
* 2015-16

* Engaged in daily criminal activity as mob boss for Zacchara organization
* Head of the Zacchara crime organization
* Accused of rape prior to arriving in Port Charles; the charges were dropped
* Troubled teen with a history of various criminal activities
* Breaking and entering and trespassing (along with Lulu) [Oct 17, 2007]
* Held a guy at gunpoint [Oct 18, 2007]
* Hit Trevor Lansing over the head with a vase and rendered him unconscious (also stole some of his belongings) [Oct 30, 2007]
* Hit Scott Baldwin with the butt of his gun and rendered him unconscious (also stole his invitation to the Black and White ball) [Oct 31, 2007]
* Punched Logan Hayes in the chest [Nov 5, 2007]
* Blew up a Zacchara shipment [Jan 21, 2008]
* Assaulted Sonny Corinthos several times and held him at gunpoint [Mar 18, 2008]
* Shot Sonny at point blank range [Apr 25, 2008; Sonny was shot but he was saved from any damage by his own gun]
* Punched Logan in the stomach and face and put him in a chokehold [Apr 29, 2008]
* Got into a fistfight with Logan [Arrested; Jun 24, 2008]
* Attacked Jerry Jacks in self-defense and held him at gunpoint [Jun 30-Jul 1, 2008]
* Fired a bullet near Jerry [Jul 1, 2008]
* Obstruction of justice; knew that Lulu Spencer murdered Logan Hayes and aided in the cover-up of his death [Jul-Sep 2008]

* Ordered his thugs to kill Julian Jerome after Luke Spencer commanded Johnny to kill Julian [Jan 9, 2015]
* Punched Det. Dante Falconeri in the stomach after he punched him [Jan 19, 2015]
* Along with Carlos, caused the accident that injured Sonny, Julian, Ava, and Franco under the orders of Luke Spencer [Jan 30, 2015; revealed Feb 2, 2015]
* Fired multiple shots at Sonny and Julian [Feb 2, 2015]
* Shot Julian in the leg [Feb 2, 2015]
* Held Sonny at gunpoint and almost killed him [Feb 2-3, 2015]
* Hid from Det. Nathan West [Feb 10, 2015]
* Stole Maxie's money and car keys [Feb 10, 2015]
* Fled town to avoid criminal charges with the help of Maxie Jones [Feb 10, 2015]
* Conspiracy; helped Franco Baldwin, Ava Jerome, Jerry Jacks, Paul Hornsby, and Faison's son Sonny hold Robin Scorpio-Drake against her will at Crichton-Clark (aka General Hospital's rival) to keep her away from Port Charles, Sonny, her friends and family [revealed Nov 2015-December 22, 2015]
* Returned to town knowing he was wanted fugitive and hid out on The Haunted Star [Dec 8, 2015-Jan 18, 2016]
* Plotted with Lulu to "get rid" of Valerie Spencer [Dec 10, 2015-Jan 18, 2016]
* Spied on Dante and Valerie and hired another spy to do it with him under the orders of Lulu Falconeri [Dec 23, 2015]
* Abducted and attacked Valerie [Jan 14, 2016]
* Held Valerie hostage [Jan 15-18, 2016]
* Took the fall for Lulu (he told the cops he made Lulu hide him by threatening her and that he went after Valerie on his own) [revealed Jan 22, 2016; went to back to prison and later replaced by Ava and Julian's sister Olivia Jerome a year later in 2017, then Cyrus Renault three years later in 2020]

## Health and Vitals

* Almost got shot by his grandfather Anthony Zacchara (his step-grandmother took the bullet instead and was killed) [Prior to coming to Port Charles; revealed on Nov 2, 2007]
* Held at gunpoint by Lulu Spencer [Oct 4, 2007]
* Hurt his hand [Nov 2007]
* Rendered temporarily unconscious by Logan Hayes [Nov 2007]
* Suffered a leg wound after falling on and being impaled by a rusty bayonet [Jan 2008]
* Suffered a high fever due to the leg wound [Jan 2008]
* Trapped in a cellar with Lulu Spencer [Jan 2008]
* Held at gunpoint and pistol whipped by Sonny Corinthos [Feb 5, 2008]
* Shoved up against the hospital wall and threatened by Sonny [Feb 19, 2008]
* Kidnapped and held hostage by Sonny [Feb 25-Mar 14, 2008]
* Punched in the stomach by Sonny [Mar 5, 2008]
* Suffered minor injuries in an explosion on the docks [Mar 17, 2008]
* Punched by Logan [Jun 24, 2008]
* Held at gunpoint and threatened by Jerry Jacks [Jun 27-30, 2008]
* Arrested for the murder of Logan Hayes; he was tried and was found not guilty [arrested Jul 15, 2008; tried Sep 2008; innocent]
* Beat up by police [Aug 18, 2008]
* Assaulted by Lucky Spencer at the PCPD [Aug 22, 2008]
* Slapped by Claudia [Sep 8, 2008]
* Knocked unconscious with a book by Claudia [Oct 7, 2008]
* Ran into General Hospital while it was on fire to save Maxie Jones [Feb 2009]

## Relationships

* Family
* Friends
* Enemies

* Gino Soleito - Johnny's father (deceased)
* Anthony Zacchara - Johnny's grandfather (deceased)
* Claudia Zacchara - Johnny's mother (deceased)

* Frank Anderson - Fellow inmate (imprisoned)
* Greg Barnes - Fellow inmate (imprisoned)
* Steve Book - Johnny's friend and fellow inmate (imprisoned)
* Ryan Chamberlain - Lulu's uncle by marriage of Kevin and Laura (deceased)
* Russ Delvin - Fellow inmate (imprisoned)
* Hilda Dorsey - Johnny's friend and fellow inmate (imprisoned)
* Cesar Faison - Nathan and Britt's father (deceased)
* Sonny Faison - Faison's son with an unknown woman and fellow inmate
* Hamilton Finn
* Russell Ford - Former General Hospital Chief of Staff (deceased)
* Chris Gentry - Fellow inmate (imprisoned)
* Paul Gentry - Fellow inmate (imprisoned)
* Paul Hornsby - Former District Attorney, fellow inmate, and Johnny's new cellmate (imprisoned)
* Olivia Jerome - Johnny's new friend and fellow inmate (imprisoned)
* Maggie Johns - Johnny's friend
* Manrico
* Shane McAvoy - Johnny's new lawyer
* Delores Padilla - Johnny's ex-girlfriend
* Cassandra Pierce - Cyrus' female counterpart (presumed deceased)
* Brook Lynn Quartermaine - Johnny's former stepsister
* Tracy Quartermaine - Johnny's former step-grandmother
* Tilda
* Waltz
* Britt Westbourne - Johnny's late friend, Nathan's sister, and former General Hospital Chief of Staff (deceased)
* Lainey Winters

* Haley Adams
* Leah Adams
* Randy Ashcroft - Sheriff of the Eerie County Sheriff's Department
* Curtis Ashford
* Jordan Ashford - Former Commissioner of the Port Charles Police Department and current Deputy Mayor of Port Charles
* Franco Baldwin - Former art therapist at General Hospital and Jerry's former accomplice (deceased)
* Drew Cain - Former Navy SEAL and Johnny's former cellmate after Cyrus' release from prison
* Stephen Clay - aka Caleb Morley and Faison's American counterpart (deceased)
* Sonny Corinthos
* Mark Crowley
* Ellen Garten - Former warden formerly in a league with fellow inmate Cyrus Renault now moved to Texas before Cyrus was released from prison
* Mason Gatlin - Cyrus' henchman and fellow inmate
* Jerry Jacks
* Julian Jerome - (deceased)
* Ric Lansing - Sonny's half-brother and former District Attorney
* Janice Lomax - Former Mayor of Port Charles
* Jason Morgan
* Ned Quartermaine - Johnny's former step uncle and former Mayor of Port Charles
* Cyrus Renault - Lucky and Lulu's uncle and former chairman of the Board at General Hospital who bore an uncanny resemblance to the late Cesar Faison before a shave and haircut to look like Johnny 25-30 years later and bore an uncanny resemblance to the late Victor Cassadine before his release from prison
* Joe Sands - Fellow inmate aka "Big Joey"
* Sabrina Santiago - Former nurse at General Hospital (deceased)
* James Scorpio - Detective of the Port Charles Police Department
* Robin Scorpio-Drake - Sonny's longtime best friend; Johnny helped Jerry Jacks, Paul Hornsby, and Ava Jerome hold Robin against her will; now Ric's out of state client and currently living in Berkeley
* Luke Spencer - Lulu's father (deceased)
* David Walters
* Heather Webber - Fellow inmate after becoming "The Hook" killer who is best known to conceal her face and identity for most of 2022 until New Year's Eve 2023 (imprisoned)
* Nathan West - Britt's brother and former detective of the Port Charles Police Department (deceased)