Johann Bauer is a fictional character in the ABC daytime drama General Hospital.
He was portrayed by Max Decker from January 21 to April 6, 2022 replacing Steve Burton as Jason Morgan before being replaced by Scott Hamm and an unknown actor as armed robbers Eric Watson and Harry DeFranco as well as another unknown actor as The Hook. He returned from September 22 to October 18, 2022 replacing Scott Hamm and an unknown actor as armed robbers Eric Watson and Harry DeFranco before being replaced by an unknown actor as The Hook, another unknown actor as Judge Harry Walsh, Mike Peebler as Mark Whitten, Avery Kristen Pohl as Esme Prince before the character's presumed death in 2024, Nathanyael Grey as Mason Gatlin before the character's imprisonment in 2023, William R. Moses as Jeff Webber, and Steve Burton as Jason Morgan when the character was revealed to be alive in 2024.
Storylines[]
In January 2022, Victor Cassadine crashes Luke Spencer's memorial service at The Haunted Star with a henchman named Johann after the death of Jason Morgan on Cassadine Island via tunnel collapse since their names start with the letter J and ends with the letter N. Laura Collins tells them to leave and Victor explains that Johann isn't just there for him, he is there for all of the people in the room. Luke may be dead but he has a long list of enemies who are very much alive.
Anna Devane tells Victor to leave and Felicia Scorpio threatens to call Mac Scorpio. Curtis Ashford and Spencer Cassadine try to reason with Victor. Spencer tells Victor that a gentleman shouldn't stay when he is asked to leave and Victor agrees and goes with Johann.
Dante Falconeri finds a giant TV and wonders who was trying to send a message. Anna mentions that she and Felicia heard a crash and found a flash drive with a message that says "Play me" (presumably left by Johann). The flash drive contains a video of Helena Cassadine gloating about Luke being dead. Laura turns off the video when she has heard enough.
Later Victor and Johann walk into Charlie's Pub and find Scott Baldwin, Sonny Corinthos, and Robert Scorpio. He insults Scott and Luke which makes Scott and Sonny mad enough to team up against Victor and Johann. During the fight, Johann grabs hold of Sonny in a bear hug but he frees himself and punches Johann in the face. Sonny taunts Johann to continue fighting but Phyllis Caulfield pulls Sonny away as she is furious that the men made a mess of her place.
Phyllis wants to know who will pay for the damages. Everyone argues until Robert says they have a memorial to attend and they leave. Victor praises Johann for the fight. He says the hours at the gym are paying off and Johann has a nice fat bonus coming.
Victor and Johann help Phyllis straighten up the tables that were knocked over. Victor asks for a bottle of top-shelf brandy and gives Phyllis a generous tip. Victor mentions to himself that the people of Port Charles are in for a big surprise.
On January 26, Johann interrupts Victor as he is talking to a nurse at GH. Johann asks for an extra blanket for his aunt as she has been asking for one for some time. He thinks the request got lost in the shift change. The nurse apologizes and goes with Johann while leaving Victor alone to check Maxie's records which the nurse just pulled up on the computer.
On March 24, Victor and Johann meet in the open as Victor believes they should act like they've done nothing wrong (referring to Victor showing Drew a tarot card to hypnotize him). Victor thinks Drew doesn’t remember Operation Demeter. Johann says that Victor had to kill Luke who was getting too close to the truth about what Victor was planning. He will do anything for the cause but he won't be Victor's fall guy after Jason's death since the True Believers became active again after Franco Baldwin's death to make Dawn of Day Cult rise from the ashes like a phoenix before their connection to it was revealed. Victor says not to worry as he has someone else in mind. Victor's great niece-in-law Ava Jerome interrupts them and Victor thanks Johann for the "business" talk and allows him to leave.
On April 6, Victor tells Johann he has to go overseas for business. He wants Johann to keep an eye on things in town while he is gone for a week or two. Johann says that Kurt was just exposed and it could look like he is fleeing the country. Victor jokes that he is and then Johann says that Laura, Anna, and Robert suspect them to be involved in the incident in Austria. Victor says that they didn't and the authorities will soon find a much more credible suspect. One week later, armed robbers Eric Watson and Harry DeFranco came to Charlie's Pub wanting revenge for Peter August.
Victor leaves town on April 7 and returns on May 26 over one month after the armed robbery at Charlie's Pub by armed robbers Eric Watson and Harry DeFranco who were in revenge for the late Peter August as Victor visits his great niece-in-law Ava. Johann is later replaced by his counterpart Oz Haggerty.
On July 27, Victor offers to give Nikolas a ride to the courthouse. Johann has a talent for shortcuts and speeding before Esme's fall nearly a week later on August 2 and Trina Robinson's exoneration via testimony from Johann's American counterpart Oz Haggerty two weeks later on August 16.
On September 22, Victor brings Lucy Coe onboard The Haunted Star. Valentin and Anna sneak onto the boat to save Lucy. Valentin throws one of his shoes to distract Johann who was on the deck drinking a beer. Valentin kicks Johann in the back from behind and knocks the henchman off the boat. A deckhand tells Victor that someone fell overboard. Johann is rescued and said to have a concussion. Lucy implies that he is an alcoholic when he isn't sure how he fell overboard.
On October 4, Johann's friend and female counterpart Esme is revealed to be alive and on the run as a wanted fugitive.
Crimes Committed[]
- Unknown involvement in Luke Spencer's death from a cable car that crashed after being sabotaged by Kurt Markovic; under Victor and Esme's orders [Dec 2021; involvement revealed Feb 22, 2022]
- Identity theft; assumed the name Jason Morgan two months after the death of the real Jason on Cassadine Island via tunnel collapse [Jan 21-Oct 18, 2022; the real Jason returned in 2024]
- Involved in a fight with Victor's great-great nephew Spencer's uncle Sonny Corinthos and Scott Baldwin [Jan 21, 2022; as Jason Morgan; not even Valentin nor Spencer could stop them after the death of Jason Morgan on Cassadine Island via tunnel collapse]
- Put Sonny in a bear hug during the fight [Jan 21, 2022; as Jason Morgan; not even Victor, Spencer, nor Esme could stop them]
- Involved with a package that was used to puncture the four tires of Peter August's prison transport van; under Victor's orders while being Esme Prince's bodyguard [revealed Feb 3, 2022; as Jason Morgan]
- Helped Peter escape from custody [Feb 4, 2022; as Jason Morgan]
- Complicity of armed robbery at Charlie's Pub; hired Eric Watson and Harry DeFranco in revenge for Peter August nearly two months after his death [Apr 13-14, 2022; offscreen as Jason Morgan; Esme's involvement revealed on Apr 20, then Ryan's involvement revealed on May 12, then Linc's involvement revealed on May 17; then Victor's involvement revealed on May 26, 2022; then Johann's involvement revealed on September 22, 2022; Eric and Harry released on bail a week later on Apr 20, 2022]
- Broke into Anna's house and stole her gun and clothes; broke into her car and planted them inside to frame her for Lucy Coe's shooting in revenge for Esme Prince and The Hook [Oct 20, 2022; as Jason Morgan; details revealed on Oct 21, 2022]
Health and Vitals[]
- Punched in the face by Victor's great-great nephew Spencer's uncle Sonny Corinthos during a fight [Jan 21, 2022; as Jason Morgan]
Relationships[]
- Jennifer Arden - (deceased)
- Eileen Ashby - Jordan Ashford's predecessor (deceased)
- Victor Cassadine - Johann's former late boss (deceased)
- Harry DeFranco - Armed robber
- Oz Haggerty - Johann's American counterpart (deceased)
- The Hook - Johann's friend/associate whose face and identity are concealed and is revealed to be his friend/female counterpart Esme's biological mother Heather Webber (captured)
- David North - Animal smuggler (deceased)
- Esme Prince - Johann's friend/female counterpart (presumed deceased)
- Stone - Ultimate villain whose face, identity, and physical appearance concealed just like "The Hook" killer before she was revealed to be Heather Webber
- James Straw
- Roz Venta - Johann's lawyer
- Harry Walsh - Court judge
- Eric Watson - Armed robber
- Mark Whitten - U.S. Marshal
- Curtis Ashford
- Jordan Ashford - Former Commissioner of the Port Charles Police Department, current Deputy Mayor of Port Charles, and the late Eileen Ashby's successor
- Shawn Butler - Former owner and publisher of The Invader now living in San Francisco
- Rory Cabrera - (deceased)
- Nikolas Cassadine - His former late boss Victor Cassadine's great nephew (imprisoned)
- Spencer Cassadine - His former late boss Victor Cassadine's great-great nephew (presumed deceased)
- Brando Corbin - (deceased)
- Sonny Corinthos - His former late boss Victor Cassadine's great-great nephew the late Spencer Cassadine's uncle
- Ava Jerome - His former late boss Victor Cassadine's ex-great niece-in-law
- Avery Jerome-Corinthos - His former late boss Victor Cassadine's ex-step great-great niece
- Kirsi Mikkonen - From Finland
- Jason Morgan
- Trina Robinson
- Damian Spinelli - Private investigator
- Marcus Taggert