Wayne Northrop obit

Wayne Northrop Dies: ‘Dynasty’ & ‘Days of Our Lives’ Actor Was 77

 

He was not on the list.

Wayne Northrop, the actor known for his roles on Dynasty and Days of Our Lives, has died. He was 77.

The soap star’s publicist Cynthia Snyder tells Deadline he died Friday at the Motion Picture and Television Woodland Hills Home following a years-long struggle with Alzheimer’s.

“Wayne was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s 6 years ago. He took his last breath in the arms of his family,” said Wayne’s wife, actress Lynn Herring Northrop, in a statement. “We wish to thank the most caring and amazing place, The Motion Picture and Television Home for taking such great care of him. 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 famously played tough, yet kind-hearted Detective Roman Brady on Days of Our Lives from 1981 to 1984, returning for a stint from 1991 to 1994. He returned once again as Dr. Alex North from 2005 to 2006, a medical school classmate of Roman’s wife Dr. Marlena Evans (Deidre Hall).

The actor also played chauffeur Michael Culhane on the first season of Dynasty in 1981 before reprising the role in Season 7. Additionally, he portrayed the sexy and dangerous Rex Stanton on Port Charles from 1997 to ’98.

Born April 12, 1947 in Sumner, Washington, Wayne graduated with a BA in communications from University of Washington before taking an acting class at Seattle Community College, after which he pursued an acting career in Los Angeles.

After joining Ralph Waite’s newly formed Los Angeles Actors’ Theatre in 1975, Wayne landed an agent and booked his first onscreen role in an episode of Police Story. His other credits include The Waltons, Hotel, L.A. Law and Cold Case.

Wayne, who was passionate about wildlife and conservation causes, purchased a working cattle ranch in Raymond, California, with wife Lynn in the late ’80s. In 2008, they purchased the oldest house in Raymond, built in 1886, and converted it into a museum that is now on the registry of historical places.

Wayne is survived by Lynn, sons Hank (and wife Laura) and Grady, and stepmother Janet Northrop.

Actor

Days of Our Lives (1965)

Days of Our Lives

5.3

TV Series

Dr. Alex North

Roman Brady

1981–2006

1036 episodes

 

Cold Case (2003)

Cold Case

7.6

TV Series

Golf Playing Broker

2004

1 episode

 

Port Charles (1997)

Port Charles

6.8

TV Series

Rex Stanton

1997–1998

121 episodes

 

L.A. Firefighters (1996)

L.A. Firefighters

5.6

TV Series

Police Chief Brodie

1996

1 episode

 

The Haunting of Lisa (1996)

The Haunting of Lisa

5.2

TV Movie

Bob Marsden

1996

 

Never Say Never: The Deidre Hall Story (1995)

Never Say Never: The Deidre Hall Story

6.3

TV Movie

Wayne Northrop

1995

 

The Young Riders (1989)

The Young Riders

7.7

TV Series

Ludy Bryan

1989

1 episode

 

L.A. Law (1986)

L.A. Law

7.1

TV Series

Lieutenant Bill Ringstrom

1988–1989

5 episodes

 

Anne Baxter, James Brolin, and Connie Sellecca in Hotel (1983)

Hotel

6.4

TV Series

Ross Reynolds

Mike Passmore

1985–1987

2 episodes

 

Dynasty (1981)

Dynasty

6.4

TV Series

Michael Culhane

1981–1987

35 episodes

 

You Are the Jury (1984)

You Are the Jury

5.5

TV Series

Dr. Evan Blake

1986

1 episode

 

Going for the Gold: The Bill Johnson Story (1985)

Going for the Gold: The Bill Johnson Story

6.0

TV Movie

Coach Lider

1985

 

Beggarman, Thief (1979)

Beggarman, Thief

6.4

TV Movie

1979

 

Richard Thomas, Will Geer, Judy Norton, Ellen Corby, Kami Cotler, David W. Harper, Michael Learned, Mary Beth McDonough, Eric Scott, Ralph Waite, and Jon Walmsley in The Waltons (1972)

The Waltons

7.6

TV Series

Jeb

1979

1 episode

 

Robert Blake in Baretta (1975)

Baretta

6.7

TV Series

Dick (as Wayne Northrup)

1978

1 episode

 

Willie Aames, Betty Buckley, Grant Goodeve, Dianne Kay, Connie Needham, Lani O'Grady, Adam Rich, Susan Richardson, Dick Van Patten, and Laurie Walters in Eight Is Enough (1977)

Eight Is Enough

6.6

TV Series

Band Member

1977

1 episode