Wayne Northrop, the actor known for his roles in soap operas like Days of Our Lives and Dynasty, has passed away at the age of 77. He died on Friday, surrounded by his family, six years after being diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease.
His wife, Lynn Herring Northrop, shared in a statement that Wayne was deeply loved for his humor and wit. She described him as a devoted husband for 43 years, a loving father to their two sons, Hank and Grady, and a rancher who had a strong bond with his cows and many friends.
Northrop is best known for his portrayal of detective Roman Brady on Days of Our Lives, a role he played from 1981 to 1984 and again from 1991 to 1994. He returned to the soap in 2005 to play Dr. Alex North. Over the years, Northrop appeared in more than 1,000 episodes of the show until his departure in 2006.
In addition to his roles on Days of Our Lives, Wayne Northrop also played Michael Culhane, a chauffeur, on Dynasty, and portrayed Rex Stanton on the General Hospital spin-off Port Charles.
Northrop’s acting career began with his first television role on Police Story. He went on to make appearances in several other popular shows, including The Waltons, Eight Is Enough, Cold Case, and L.A. Law over the course of his career.
Wayne Northrop was deeply passionate about conservation. He and his wife, who is also an actor, bought a working cattle ranch in Raymond, California, where they have been living and managing it for 35 years, as stated in a family-provided obituary.
The obituary highlighted Northrop’s strong dedication to wildlife and conservation efforts, noting that the ranch is operated in line with his environmental values.
Alzheimer’s disease, the most prevalent type of dementia, is referred to as early-onset Alzheimer’s when it occurs in individuals under 65, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Johns Hopkins explains that only a small percentage of people with Alzheimer’s experience the early-onset form, with many developing the disease in their 40s or 50s.
Wayne Northrop is survived by his wife, two sons, and his stepmother.