Wayne Northrop, known for his role as Roman Brady on Days of Our Lives, died on November 29 at 77 after a six-year battle with early-onset Alzheimer’s. Northrop’s wife, actress Lynn Herring Northrop, said, “Wayne was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s 6 years ago. He took his last breath in the arms of his family.”
In this gallery, we look back over Northrop’s career.
Lynn said, “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.”
Lynn described Wayne as “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.”
Northrop appeared in over 1,000 episodes of Days of Our Lives during two stints (1981–1984, 1991–1994) and returned in 2005 as Dr. Alex North.
He also starred in Port Charles and Dynasty and made guest appearances on shows like The Waltons, Baretta, and Eight is Enough early in his career.
Born in Sumner, Washington, in 1947, Northrop earned a BA in communications, became fluent in German, and began acting after studying at Seattle Community College.
Northrop married actress Lynn Herring in 1981. The two raised two sons together.
For 35 years, Northrop and his wife ran a cattle ranch in California, dedicated to conservation and environmental causes.