Wayne Northrop, the actor identified for his roles on Dynasty and Days of Our Lives, has died. He was 77.
The cleaning soap star’s publicist Cynthia Snyder tells Deadline he died Friday on the Motion Picture and Television Woodland Hills Home following a years-long battle with Alzheimer’s.
“Wayne was identified with early onset Alzheimer’s 6 years in the past. He took his final breath within the arms of his household,” stated Wayne’s spouse, actress Lynn Herring Northrop, in a press release. “We want to thank probably the most caring and wonderful place, The Motion Picture and Television Home for taking such nice care of him. Wayne touched so many individuals together with his humorousness and wit. A husband for 43 years, one of the best dad ever to his two boys, Hank and Grady, and a rancher who beloved his cows and was a good friend to many.”
Wayne famously performed powerful, but kind-hearted Detective Roman Brady on Days of Our Lives from 1981 to 1984, returning for a stint from 1991 to 1994. He returned as soon as once more as Dr. Alex North from 2005 to 2006, a medical faculty classmate of Roman’s spouse Dr. Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall).
The actor additionally performed chauffeur Michael Culhane on the primary season of Dynasty in 1981 earlier than reprising the position in Season 7. Additionally, he portrayed the horny and harmful Rex Stanton on Port Charles from 1997 to ’98.
Wayne Northrop and Deidre Hall in Days of Our Lives (1983). (Mario Casilli/TV Guide/NBC/Courtesy Everett Collection)
Born April 12, 1947 in Sumner, Washington, Wayne graduated with a BA in communications from University of Washington earlier than taking an performing class at Seattle Community College, after which he pursued an performing profession in Los Angeles.
After becoming a member of Ralph Waite’s newly fashioned Los Angeles Actors’ Theatre in 1975, Wayne landed an agent and booked his first onscreen position in an episode of Police Story. His different credit embody The Waltons, Hotel, L.A. Law and Cold Case.
Wayne, who was obsessed with wildlife and conservation causes, bought a working cattle ranch in Raymond, California, with spouse Lynn within the late ’80s. In 2008, they bought the oldest home in Raymond, inbuilt 1886, and transformed it right into a museum that’s now on the registry of historic locations.
Wayne is survived by Lynn, sons Hank (and spouse Laura) and Grady, and stepmother Janet Northrop.
