SAD NEW! Days of Our Lives and Dynasty Star Wayne Northrop Dead at 77

The extended Days of Our Lives family lost yet another member as Wayne Northrop, the original Roman Brady, passed away on Friday, November 30, at the age of 77.

The actor’s publicist, Cynthia Snyder, confirmed that he had passed away surrounded by loved ones at the Motion Picture and Television Woodland Hills Home.

“Wayne was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s 6 years ago,” reported his wife, Lynn Herring Northrop (Lucy, General Hospital) in a statement. “Wayne was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s 6 years ago. 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.”

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Although best known for his stint as Marlena’s pre-John true love, Roman, Northrop won over primetime audiences during his run as Dynasty‘s Michael Culhane. Fans of that after-dark soap were quickly taken by his character’s sexy smirk as he romanced Pamela Sue Martin’s Fallon when not driving her family’s fleet of cars. Introduced in the soap’s first season, Northrop’s Michael would be brought back seven years later to once again woo Fallon, who by then was played by Emma Samms (ex-Holly, General Hospital).

Northrop would get the opportunity to work with wife Lynn when he appeared on the ABC sudser Port Charles — a spinoff of General Hospital — as baddie Rex Stanton. He would also take on a second role on Days when he played Dr. Alex North, a manipulative man who had his heart set on claiming Roman’s ex, Marlena, for himself.

Life imitated art when Northrop played himself opposite his on-screen wife in the 1995 TV-movie Never Say Never: The Deidre Hall Story. 

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Sadly, this news comes even as the residents of Salem are gathering to say a final farewell to Doug Williams, whose portrayer, Bill Hayes, passed away in January. Days is also dealing with the loss of Drake Hogestyn (John), who died this past September.

“Wayne touched so many people with his sense of humor and wit,” Herring said. “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.”