Wayne Northrop, circa 1985. Photo: Dianna Whitley/Getty


December 02, 2024 Tags:

Wayne Northrop, the actor beloved for his roles in Days of Our Lives and Dynasty, has passed away at the age of 77. He died on Friday, Nov. 29, at the Motion Picture and Television Woodland Hills Home in Los Angeles, six years after being diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s, according to a statement shared with PEOPLE.

His wife, actress Lynn Herring Northrop, 66, expressed her gratitude in the statement, saying, “He took his last breath in the arms of his family.” She also thanked the caregivers at the Motion Picture and Television Home for their exceptional care, adding, “Wayne touched so many people with his sense of humor and wit. He was a loving husband for 43 years, the best dad to his sons, Hank and Grady, and a rancher who loved his cows and had many friends.”

Northrop is most remembered for his role as detective Roman Brady on Days of Our Lives, which he played from 1981 to 1984, and again from 1991 to 1994. Over the years, he appeared in over 1,000 episodes, where his on-screen chemistry with actress Deidre Hall, who portrayed Dr. Marlena Evans, became a fan favorite.

In addition to his iconic soap opera role, Northrop portrayed Michael Culhane on Dynasty and Rex Stanton on Port Charles. He also made guest appearances on several other series, including L.A. Law, Hotel, and Cold Case.

Born on April 12, 1947, in Sumner, Washington, Northrop was the son of Robert and Donna Jean Northrop. After graduating with a degree in communications from the University of Washington, he traveled across Europe before enrolling in acting classes at Seattle Community College. He eventually moved to Hollywood to pursue acting, joining the Los Angeles Actors' Theatre in 1975. His big break came when he landed a small role on the crime drama Police Story.

In 1981, Northrop married Lynn Herring, whom he had met in acting class. The couple later bought a working cattle ranch in Raymond, California, where they spent over three decades. They also restored the town’s oldest building, a 19th-century home, and turned it into a museum.

Northrop was deeply passionate about wildlife conservation, and his cattle ranch reflected his commitment to environmental sustainability. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his two sons, Hank and Grady, and his stepmother, Janet Northrop.

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

You may also like

Ukrainian War Documentary ‘2000 Meters To Andriivka’ Gives Raw Glimpse Into Frontline Battle

In the powerful documentary 2000 Meters to Andriivka, filmmaker Mstyslav Chernov immerses us deep inside Ukraine’s ongoing nightmare. The film,....

Netflix Back Online After Global Outage Disrupts Millions

Netflix users worldwide were left frustrated on Thursday after a major outage disrupted streaming services across multiple countries. The glitch,....

Bryan Adams Announces 19 Canadian Concert Dates This Fall

Bryan Adams is hitting the road for a big tour across Canada. The Canadian rock star will perform 19 shows....

Elle Fanning Leads In Predator: Badlands, Out Nov. 2025

The first trailer for Predator: Badlands is finally here. This is the sixth film in the popular Predator series. The....

New Hunger Games Prequel Reveals Lead Cast Members

A new Hunger Games movie is coming soon. It’s called Sunrise on the Reaping. This film will show the younger....

Robert Irwin Announced As The First Celebrity For Dancing With The Stars Season 34

Dancing with the Stars is back with exciting news! The show has announced Robert Irwin as its first celebrity contestant....

"I Know What You Did Last Summer" Sequel Brings Back Horror

The first trailer for I Know What You Did Last Summer sequel has a thrilling twist. Sony released the trailer....

Child Actress Sophie Nyweide Dies At 24, Family Shares Heartbreak

Sophie Nyweide, a young actress known for her roles in the films Mammoth and An Invisible Sign, has tragically passed....

Oscar Voters Now Required to Watch All Nominated Films, New Rules in Action

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has introduced a major change in Oscar voting rules. Starting immediately, voters....

‘Sinners’ Slays the Box Office with $45.6M Opening Weekend, Surpassing Minecraft

Ryan Coogler’s supernatural thriller Sinners has shaken up Hollywood norms. With a strong $45.6 million debut, it outshined even franchise....

Shocking Turn in The Last of Us: Joel’s Death Rocks Season 2

The Last of Us wasted no time delivering a gut punch in Season 2. Just two episodes in, the beloved....

Katy Perry: A Star Unstoppable, On Tour and Beyond

Katy Perry has been on a whirlwind journey over the past year. From launching a new album to campaigning for....