'Days of Our Lives’ Alum Wayne Northrop Dead at 77 After Alzheimer’s Battle

Days of Our Lives and Dynasty alum Wayne Northrop died on Friday, November 29. He was 77.

“Wayne was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s 6 years ago. He took his last breath in the arms of his family,” his wife, fellow soap star Lynn Herring Northrop, said in a statement to Deadline. “We wish to thank the most caring and amazing place, The Motion Picture and Television Home for taking such great care of him.”

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

Wayne, who battled Alzheimer’s disease ahead of his passing, is survived by Lynn, 66, and the couple’s two sons.

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Wayne notably played Detective Roman Brady on Days between 1981 and 1984, later returning for four years starting in 1991. He returned again in 2005 as Dr. Alex North, a medical school classmate of Roman’s wife, Marlena Evans (Deirdre Hall).

Wayne’s other notable roles include chauffeur Michael Culhane on the original Dynasty and Rex Stanton on the General Hospital spinoff, Port Charles.

His Days character of Roman was later replaced by Drake Hogestyn, who was ultimately revealed to be imposter John Black. Hogestyn died earlier this year at the age of 70 following a battle with pancreatic cancer.

“It’s with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Drake Hogestyn,” a statement read in September. “He was thrown the curve ball of his life when he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, but he faced the challenge with incredible strength and determination. After putting up an unbelievable fight, he passed peacefully surrounded by loved ones.”

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The message continued: “He was the most amazing husband, father, papa and actor. He loved performing for the Days audience and sharing the stage with the greatest cast, crew, and production team in the business. We love him and we will miss him all the Days of Our Lives.”

John died in a November episode of Days, a story line that Hogestyn himself approved.

“I wanted to make sure Drake signed off on this, and he was totally in favor of it,” executive producer Ken Corday told Soap Opera Digest last month. “He trusted me. Had Drake, God willing, beaten this, he would’ve come back, and it would’ve been something different. But [the story] had to be told.”

Corday added, “It was extremely difficult and painful for us to tell it — for the cast, for everybody. Drake was a big part of the show. The consummate actor. Always a team player and pretty good-looking, too.”