Beloved ‘Days of Our Lives’ and ‘Dynasty’ Star Wayne Northrop Passes Away at 77—Fans Heartbroken

Actor Wayne Northrop, who starred in the serial operas “Days of Our Lives,” “Dynasty,” and “Port Charles,” passed away. He was seventy-seven. According to his publicist, Northrop passed away on Friday at the Motion Picture and Television Fund’s retirement community in Woodland Hills, California, Variety said. Six years ago, Wayne received a diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. According to a family statement sent by Northrop’s wife, actress Lynn Herring Northrop, “He passed away in the embrace of his loved ones.” We want to express our gratitude to The Motion Picture and Television Home, the most wonderful and compassionate facility, for providing him with such excellent care. Wayne’s wit and sense of humor impacted a lot of individuals. 43 years of marriage, the greatest father to his two boys, Hank and Grady, and a rancher who loved his cows and was a friend to many.”

From 1981 to 1984, Northrop played Detective Roman Brady on “Days of Our Lives,” then from 1991 to 1994, he reprised his role as the strong but compassionate detective. The character gained notoriety for his courtship and union with Dr. Marlena Evans, played by Deidre Hall. Northrop returned to the cast of the NBC soap opera in 2005, as Dr. Alex North, who was Dr. Marlena Evans’s classmate in medical school. Between 1997 and 1998, the actor portrayed Rex Stanton on ABC’s “Port Charles,” and in the first and seventh seasons of “Dynasty,” he played chauffeur Michael Culhane. Northrop grew up in the tiny hamlet of Sumner, Washington, after being born on April 12, 1947, parents Robert and Donna Jean Northrop.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Washington, he went on to Seattle Community College to study acting. He became a member of Ralph Waite’s newly established Los Angeles Actors’ Theatre in 1975. He ultimately secured his first TV appearance in a “Police Story” episode and made cameos on shows including “Cold Case,” “The Haunting of Lisa,” and “The Deidre Hall Story.” Additionally, Northrop contributed to the CBS TV film “Guts and Glory: The Bill Johnson Story” (1985) and the NBC special “You Are the Jury: The State of Arizona v. Dr. Evan Blake” (1986). Northrop is survived by his stepmother Janet Northrop, sons Hank (Laura) and Grady, and wife Lynn, whom he married on May 9, 1981.