Days of our Lives and Dynasty star Wayne Northrop dies at age 77

Wayne Northrop, who originated the role of Roman Brady on Days of our Lives in 1981, passed away on Friday, November 29. He was 77 years old.

"Wayne was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s six years ago," Northrop's wife, Lynn Herring (Lucy Coe, General Hospital), said in a statement. "He took his last breath in the arms of his family. We wish to thank the most caring and amazing place, The Motion Picture and Television Home, for taking such great care of him. Wayne touched so many people with his sense of humor and wit. A husband for 43 years, the best dad ever to his two boys, Hank and Grady, and a rancher who loved his cows and was a friend to many."

Northrop rose to soap fame on Days of our Lives

Northrop was born in Summer, WA, on April 12, 1947, to Robert and Donna Jean Northrop. He earned a degree in communications from the University of Washington and chose to travel Europe for several years after graduation. When he returned to the U.S., he took some acting classes at Seattle Community College and settled on a career.

He began his television career on a 1977 episode of Eight Is Enough and went on to appear in several primetime series before landing on daytime television.

In 1981, he landed the role of Salem's top cop, Roman Brady, and introduced the now-iconic Brady family to the canvas. That same year, Northrop took on a primetime soap gig as well, appearing on 35 episodes of Dynasty as Michael Culhane.

Through the years, Northop appeared in multiple television shows and movies, including Hotel, LA Law, The Young Riders, and Never Say Never: The Deidre Hall Story.

Northrop left the role of Roman in 1984 but returned several times over the years. In 1991, he reprised Roman and was once again paired with Deidre Hall as Marlena. That story introduced the tale of two Romans as the late Drake Hogestyn had been playing Roman since 1986 but was eventually revealed to be a man who had Roman's memories and took the name John Black.

The actor left DAYS again in 1994 but returned to DAYS again in 2005 as a different character named Alex North. Before playing Alex, Northrop brought Rex Stanton to life on the General Hospital spin-off, Port Charles.

A life outside acting for Northrop

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When he wasn't acting, Northrop and Herring ran a cattle ranch in Raymond, CA, for 35 years. In 2008, they bought the oldest house in Raymond, turning it into a museum that is now considered a historical landmark. Northrop was passionate about environmental causes and ran his ranch according to his eco-friendly beliefs.

Northrop is survived by his wife of 43 years, Lynn Herring, his two sons, Hank and Grady, and his stepmother, Janet Northrop.

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