diff --git a/source/common/objects/dobjgc.cpp b/source/common/objects/dobjgc.cpp
index 91cfafaef..59c5002d7 100644
--- a/source/common/objects/dobjgc.cpp
+++ b/source/common/objects/dobjgc.cpp
@@ -195,6 +195,7 @@ static DObject **SweepList(DObject **p, size_t count, size_t *finalize_count)
 
 				// However, this can happen during deletion of the thinker list while cleaning up
 				// from a savegame error so we can't assume that any thinker that gets here is an error.
+				assert(!curr->IsKindOf("CoreActor"));
 
 				curr->Destroy();
 			}
diff --git a/source/common/objects/dobjgc.h b/source/common/objects/dobjgc.h
index cbfe758f0..125070a54 100644
--- a/source/common/objects/dobjgc.h
+++ b/source/common/objects/dobjgc.h
@@ -186,6 +186,8 @@ class TObjPtr
 public:
 	TObjPtr() = default;
 
+	TObjPtr(const TObjPtr<T> &q) = delete;	
+
 	TObjPtr(T q) noexcept
 		: pp(q)
 	{
diff --git a/source/core/actorlist.cpp b/source/core/actorlist.cpp
index 75ff3b5a7..28c3fa66d 100644
--- a/source/core/actorlist.cpp
+++ b/source/core/actorlist.cpp
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@
 **
 */
 
-#include <deque>
 #include "build.h"
 #include "coreactor.h"
 #include "gamefuncs.h"
@@ -40,7 +39,6 @@
 // Doubly linked ring list of Actors
 
 
-std::deque<DCoreActor*> freeList; //  only needed until we can get rid of the sprite array.
 ActorStatList statList[MAXSTATUS];
 
 //==========================================================================
@@ -100,8 +98,8 @@ static void AddStatTail(DCoreActor* actor, int statnum)
 	assert(ValidateStatList(statnum));
 	actor->s().statnum = statnum;
 	actor->link_stat = statnum;
-	//GC::WriteBarrier(tail);
-	//GC::WriteBarrier(actor);
+	GC::WriteBarrier(actor);
+	GC::WriteBarrier(tail);
 }
 
 //==========================================================================
@@ -124,8 +122,8 @@ static void AddStatHead(DCoreActor* actor, int statnum)
 	statList[statnum].firstEntry = actor;
 	actor->s().statnum = statnum;
 	actor->link_stat = statnum;
-	//GC::WriteBarrier(head);
-	//GC::WriteBarrier(actor);
+	GC::WriteBarrier(actor);
+	GC::WriteBarrier(head);
 }
 
 
@@ -155,10 +153,8 @@ static void RemoveActorStat(DCoreActor* actor)
 	actor->nextStat = actor->prevStat = nullptr;
 	actor->s().statnum = MAXSTATUS;
 	actor->link_stat = MAXSTATUS;
-	/*
-	GC::WriteBarrier(prev, next);
-	GC::WriteBarrier(next, prev);
-	*/
+	GC::WriteBarrier(prev);
+	GC::WriteBarrier(next);
 }
 
 //==========================================================================
@@ -239,8 +235,8 @@ static void AddSectTail(DCoreActor *actor, sectortype* sect)
 	assert(ValidateSectList(sect));
 	actor->s().setsector(sect);
 	actor->link_sector = sect;
-	//GC::WriteBarrier(tail);
-	//GC::WriteBarrier(actor);
+	GC::WriteBarrier(actor);
+	GC::WriteBarrier(tail);
 }
 
 //==========================================================================
@@ -263,8 +259,8 @@ static void AddSectHead(DCoreActor *actor, sectortype* sect)
 	assert(ValidateSectList(sect));
 	actor->s().sectnum = sectnum(sect);
 	actor->link_sector = sect;
-	//GC::WriteBarrier(head);
-	//GC::WriteBarrier(actor);
+	GC::WriteBarrier(actor);
+	GC::WriteBarrier(head);
 }
 
 //==========================================================================
@@ -299,10 +295,8 @@ static void RemoveActorSect(DCoreActor* actor)
 	actor->nextSect = actor->prevSect = nullptr;
 	actor->s().setsector(nullptr);
 	actor->link_sector = nullptr;
-	/*
-	GC::WriteBarrier(prev, next);
-	GC::WriteBarrier(next, prev);
-	*/
+	GC::WriteBarrier(prev);
+	GC::WriteBarrier(next);
 }
 
 //==========================================================================
@@ -344,16 +338,12 @@ void ChangeActorSect(DCoreActor* actor, sectortype* sect, bool tail)
 //
 //==========================================================================
 
-DCoreActor* InsertActor(sectortype* sector, int stat, bool tail)
+DCoreActor* InsertActor(PClass* type, sectortype* sector, int stat, bool tail)
 {
-	if (freeList.empty())
-	{
-		I_Error("Out of sprites!"); // we cannot deal with this - and most of the calling code never checks...
-		return nullptr;
-	}
+	assert(type->IsDescendantOf(RUNTIME_CLASS(DCoreActor)));
 
-	auto actor = freeList.back();
-	freeList.pop_back();
+	auto actor = static_cast<DCoreActor*>(type->CreateNew());
+	GC::WriteBarrier(actor);
 
 	spritetype* pSprite = &actor->s();
 	pSprite->clear();
@@ -372,27 +362,23 @@ DCoreActor* InsertActor(sectortype* sector, int stat, bool tail)
 //
 //==========================================================================
 
-int DeleteActor(DCoreActor* actor)
+void DCoreActor::OnDestroy()
 {
-	auto sp = &actor->s();
-	assert(sp->statnum >= 0 && sp->statnum < MAXSTATUS);
+	assert(spr.statnum >= 0 && spr.statnum < MAXSTATUS);
 
-	int stat = actor->link_stat;
-	RemoveActorStat(actor);
+	int stat = link_stat;
+	RemoveActorStat(this);
 
-	auto sect = actor->link_sector;
+	auto sect = link_sector;
 	if (sect)
 	{
-		RemoveActorSect(actor);
+		RemoveActorSect(this);
 	}
 	else
 	{
-		assert(actor->prevSect == nullptr && actor->nextSect == nullptr);
+		assert(prevSect == nullptr && nextSect == nullptr);
 	}
 	Numsprites--;
-	actor->ClearContent();
-	freeList.push_front(actor);
-	return 0;
 }
 
 //==========================================================================
@@ -401,10 +387,19 @@ int DeleteActor(DCoreActor* actor)
 // we can use real DObject life cycle management.
 //
 //==========================================================================
-static DCoreActor* actorArray[16384];
 
 void InitSpriteLists()
 {
+	// Do not mass-destroy from the iterator. This may fail if destroying one actor results in further destructions.
+	TArray<DCoreActor*> allActors;
+	TSpriteIterator<DCoreActor> it;
+	while (auto actor = it.Next())
+		allActors.Push(actor);
+	for (auto& act : allActors)
+	{
+		if (!(act->ObjectFlags & OF_EuthanizeMe))
+			act->Destroy();
+	}
 	for (auto& stat : statList)
 	{
 		stat.firstEntry = stat.lastEntry = nullptr;
@@ -413,12 +408,6 @@ void InitSpriteLists()
 	{
 		sect.firstEntry = sect.lastEntry = nullptr;
 	}
-	freeList.clear();
-	for(auto& actor : actorArray)
-	{
-		actor->ClearContent();
-		freeList.push_front(actor);
-	}
 	Numsprites = 0;
 }
 
@@ -457,16 +446,6 @@ size_t DCoreActor::PropagateMark()
 	GC::Mark(nextStat);
 	GC::Mark(prevSect);
 	GC::Mark(nextSect);
-	return 4 + Super::PropagateMark();
+	return Super::PropagateMark();
 }
 
-void SetupActors(PClass* clstype)
-{
-	// this is temporary until we have added proper tracking to all pointers in the games.
-	// Until then we have to keep a static array of actors to avoid stale references to deallocated memory.
-	for (int i = 0; i < 16384; i++)
-	{
-		actorArray[i] = static_cast<DCoreActor*>(clstype->CreateNew());
-		actorArray[i]->Release();	// no GC for this static array.
-	}
-}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/source/core/coreactor.h b/source/core/coreactor.h
index f19ac91a8..0c0b4feca 100644
--- a/source/core/coreactor.h
+++ b/source/core/coreactor.h
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ public:
 		spr = {};
 	}
 
+	virtual void BeginPlay() {}
+	void OnDestroy() override;
 	size_t PropagateMark() override;
 
 	bool exists() const
@@ -338,12 +340,10 @@ public:
 
 using CoreSectIterator = TSectIterator<DCoreActor>;
 
-DCoreActor* InsertActor(sectortype* sector, int stat, bool forcetail = false);
-int DeleteActor(DCoreActor* actor);
+DCoreActor* InsertActor(PClass* type, sectortype* sector, int stat, bool forcetail = false);
 void ChangeActorSect(DCoreActor* actor, sectortype* sector, bool forcetail = false);
 int ChangeActorStat(DCoreActor* actor, int nStatus, bool forcetail = false);
 void InitSpriteLists();
-void SetupActors(PClass* clstype);
 
 
 void SetActorZ(DCoreActor* actor, const vec3_t* newpos);
diff --git a/source/core/mainloop.cpp b/source/core/mainloop.cpp
index 0e9f3a651..3234bff29 100644
--- a/source/core/mainloop.cpp
+++ b/source/core/mainloop.cpp
@@ -373,6 +373,19 @@ static void GameTicker()
 		break;
 
 	}
+
+	GC::CheckGC();
+	// Do some more aggressive GC maintenance when the game ticker is inactive. 
+	if ((gamestate != GS_LEVEL && gamestate != GS_TITLELEVEL) || paused)
+	{
+		size_t ac = max<size_t>(10, GC::AllocCount);
+		for (size_t i = 0; i < ac; i++)
+		{
+			if (!GC::CheckGC()) break;
+		}
+	}
+
+
 }
 
 
diff --git a/source/core/maploader.cpp b/source/core/maploader.cpp
index d5b7b2321..fcf59eb0c 100644
--- a/source/core/maploader.cpp
+++ b/source/core/maploader.cpp
@@ -529,6 +529,11 @@ void setWallSectors()
 
 void MarkMap()
 {
+	for (auto& stat : statList)
+	{
+		GC::Mark(stat.firstEntry);
+		GC::Mark(stat.lastEntry);
+	}
 	for (auto& sect : sectors())
 	{
 		GC::Mark(sect.firstEntry);
diff --git a/source/games/blood/src/blood.cpp b/source/games/blood/src/blood.cpp
index b207580ba..3dd821f24 100644
--- a/source/games/blood/src/blood.cpp
+++ b/source/games/blood/src/blood.cpp
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ size_t DBloodActor::PropagateMark()
 {
 	condition[0].Mark();
 	condition[1].Mark();
-	return 2 + Super::PropagateMark();
+	return Super::PropagateMark();
 }
 
 static void markgcroots()
@@ -535,7 +535,6 @@ void GameInterface::loadPalette(void)
 
 void GameInterface::app_init()
 {
-	SetupActors(RUNTIME_CLASS(DBloodActor));
 	GC::AddMarkerFunc(markgcroots);
 	InitCheats();
 	memcpy(&gGameOptions, &gSingleGameOptions, sizeof(GAMEOPTIONS));
diff --git a/source/games/blood/src/db.cpp b/source/games/blood/src/db.cpp
index 7a3e0179c..80e8594e1 100644
--- a/source/games/blood/src/db.cpp
+++ b/source/games/blood/src/db.cpp
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ BEGIN_BLD_NS
 
 DBloodActor* InsertSprite(sectortype* pSector, int nStat)
 {
-    auto act = static_cast<DBloodActor*>(::InsertActor(pSector, nStat));
+    auto act = static_cast<DBloodActor*>(::InsertActor(RUNTIME_CLASS(DBloodActor), pSector, nStat));
     auto pSprite = &act->s();
     pSprite->cstat = 128;
     pSprite->clipdist = 32;
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ int DeleteSprite(DBloodActor* actor)
     for (auto& ctrl : gPlayerCtrl) if (ctrl.qavScene.initiator == actor) ctrl.qavScene.initiator = nullptr;
 #endif
 
-    ::DeleteActor(actor);
+    actor->Destroy();
     return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/source/games/duke/src/actors.cpp b/source/games/duke/src/actors.cpp
index b09680995..786ad4949 100644
--- a/source/games/duke/src/actors.cpp
+++ b/source/games/duke/src/actors.cpp
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ void deletesprite(DDukeActor *const actor)
 		S_StopSound(actor->s->lotag, actor);
 	else
 		S_RelinkActorSound(actor, nullptr);
-	::DeleteActor(actor);
+	actor->Destroy();
 }
 
 //---------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/source/games/duke/src/game.cpp b/source/games/duke/src/game.cpp
index 7472281c4..a4cef69ee 100644
--- a/source/games/duke/src/game.cpp
+++ b/source/games/duke/src/game.cpp
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ size_t DDukeActor::PropagateMark()
 	{
 		var.Mark();
 	}
-	return uservars.Size() + Super::PropagateMark();
+	return Super::PropagateMark();
 }
 
 static void markgcroots()
@@ -334,7 +334,6 @@ int GameInterface::GetCurrentSkill()
 
 void GameInterface::app_init()
 {
-	SetupActors(RUNTIME_CLASS(DDukeActor));
 	GC::AddMarkerFunc(markgcroots);
 
 	if (isRR()) C_SetNotifyFontScale(0.5);
diff --git a/source/games/duke/src/premap.cpp b/source/games/duke/src/premap.cpp
index c7163f4dc..d9e58b955 100644
--- a/source/games/duke/src/premap.cpp
+++ b/source/games/duke/src/premap.cpp
@@ -947,7 +947,7 @@ static TArray<DDukeActor*> spawnactors(SpawnSpriteDef& sprites)
 			continue;
 		}
 		auto sprt = &sprites.sprites[i];
-		auto actor = static_cast<DDukeActor*>(InsertActor(sprt->sector(), sprt->statnum));
+		auto actor = static_cast<DDukeActor*>(InsertActor(RUNTIME_CLASS(DDukeActor), sprt->sector(), sprt->statnum));
 		spawns[j++] = actor;
 		actor->spr = sprites.sprites[i];
 		actor->s = &actor->spr;
diff --git a/source/games/duke/src/spawn.cpp b/source/games/duke/src/spawn.cpp
index dacd5cbc0..56772d3ea 100644
--- a/source/games/duke/src/spawn.cpp
+++ b/source/games/duke/src/spawn.cpp
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ DDukeActor* EGS(sectortype* whatsectp, int s_x, int s_y, int s_z, int s_pn, int8
 {
 	// sector pointer must be strictly validated here or the engine will crash.
 	if (whatsectp == nullptr || !validSectorIndex(sectnum(whatsectp))) return nullptr;
-	auto act = static_cast<DDukeActor*>(::InsertActor(whatsectp, s_ss));
+	auto act = static_cast<DDukeActor*>(::InsertActor(RUNTIME_CLASS(DDukeActor), whatsectp, s_ss));
 
 	if (act == nullptr) return nullptr;
 	act->s = &act->spr;
diff --git a/source/games/exhumed/src/exhumed.cpp b/source/games/exhumed/src/exhumed.cpp
index b88a93994..2c57b15b7 100644
--- a/source/games/exhumed/src/exhumed.cpp
+++ b/source/games/exhumed/src/exhumed.cpp
@@ -74,23 +74,19 @@ size_t MarkRunlist();
 
 static void markgcroots()
 {
-    size_t num = MarkMove();
-    num += MarkBullets();
-    num += MarkInput();
-    num += MarkItems();
-    num += MarkLighting();
-    num += MarkObjects();
-    num += MarkPlayers();
-    num += MarkQueen();
-    num += MarkRa();
-    num += MarkSnake();
-    num += MarkRunlist();
+    MarkBullets();
+    MarkInput();
+    MarkItems();
+    MarkLighting();
+    MarkObjects();
+    MarkPlayers();
+    MarkQueen();
+    MarkRa();
+    MarkSnake();
+    MarkRunlist();
 
     GC::Mark(bestTarget);
     GC::Mark(pSpiritSprite);
-    num += 2;
-
-    Printf("%d objects marked\n", num);
 }
 
 static MapRecord* NextMap;
@@ -502,7 +498,6 @@ static void SetTileNames()
 
 void GameInterface::app_init()
 {
-    SetupActors(RUNTIME_CLASS(DExhumedActor));
     GC::AddMarkerFunc(markgcroots);
 
 
@@ -544,7 +539,7 @@ void DeleteActor(DExhumedActor* actor)
         bestTarget = nullptr;
     }
 
-    ::DeleteActor(actor);
+    actor->Destroy();
 }
 
 
diff --git a/source/games/exhumed/src/move.cpp b/source/games/exhumed/src/move.cpp
index ec0d534dc..5989c934c 100644
--- a/source/games/exhumed/src/move.cpp
+++ b/source/games/exhumed/src/move.cpp
@@ -485,7 +485,7 @@ int GetActorHeight(DExhumedActor* actor)
 
 DExhumedActor* insertActor(sectortype* s, int st)
 {
-    return static_cast<DExhumedActor*>(::InsertActor(s, st));
+    return static_cast<DExhumedActor*>(::InsertActor(RUNTIME_CLASS(DExhumedActor), s, st));
 }
 
 
diff --git a/source/games/sw/src/draw.cpp b/source/games/sw/src/draw.cpp
index c97cffc96..dec5e3cd9 100644
--- a/source/games/sw/src/draw.cpp
+++ b/source/games/sw/src/draw.cpp
@@ -1279,7 +1279,7 @@ PostDraw(void)
     while (auto actor = it.Next())
     {
         actor->clearUser();
-        ::DeleteActor(actor);
+        actor->Destroy();
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/source/games/sw/src/game.cpp b/source/games/sw/src/game.cpp
index 4d151affe..1e0fd53e7 100644
--- a/source/games/sw/src/game.cpp
+++ b/source/games/sw/src/game.cpp
@@ -233,7 +233,6 @@ void GameInterface::LoadGameTextures()
 
 void GameInterface::app_init()
 {
-    SetupActors(RUNTIME_CLASS(DSWActor));
     GC::AddMarkerFunc(markgcroots);
 
     GameTicRate = TICS_PER_SEC / synctics;
diff --git a/source/games/sw/src/rooms.cpp b/source/games/sw/src/rooms.cpp
index 033a57605..38d9664c2 100644
--- a/source/games/sw/src/rooms.cpp
+++ b/source/games/sw/src/rooms.cpp
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ bool FAF_DebugView = false;
 
 DSWActor* insertActor(sectortype* sect, int statnum)
 {
-    auto pActor = static_cast<DSWActor*>(::InsertActor(sect, statnum));
+    auto pActor = static_cast<DSWActor*>(::InsertActor(RUNTIME_CLASS(DSWActor), sect, statnum));
     auto pSprite = &pActor->s();
 
     pSprite->x = pSprite->y = pSprite->z = 0;
diff --git a/source/games/sw/src/sprite.cpp b/source/games/sw/src/sprite.cpp
index 357e9e8f0..3d2e15db6 100644
--- a/source/games/sw/src/sprite.cpp
+++ b/source/games/sw/src/sprite.cpp
@@ -770,7 +770,7 @@ void KillActor(DSWActor* actor)
     FVector3 pos = GetSoundPos(&actor->s().pos);
     soundEngine->RelinkSound(SOURCE_Actor, &actor->s(), nullptr, &pos);
 
-    ::DeleteActor(actor);
+    actor->Destroy();
     // shred your garbage
     sp->clear();