Sumner-born ‘Days of our Lives’ and ‘Dynasty’ star dies in California
If you watched day time or prime time soap operas in the last 40 years you probably saw Wayne Northrop on your TV.
The Sumner native died Friday at age 77 from Alzheimer’s disease at the Motion Picture and Television Woodland Hills Home in Southern California, according to his publicist.
According to his wife, Lynn Herring Northrop, the actor was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s about six years ago.
“He took his last breath in the arms of his family,” she said in a statement. “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.”
From ‘Dynasty’ to ‘Days’
Northrop was a prolific actor but is probably best known for his role as the tough but kind-hearted detective Roman Brady on the NBC soap opera “Days of our Lives.” He played that character from 1981 to 1984 and again from 1991 to 1994. Brady’s romance and marriage to Dr. Marlena Evans’ (played by Deidra Hall) is, “still one of the most talked about relationships in all of daytime television and led to Wayne being labeled one of the hottest stars in daytime television,” according to his publicist.
He played in more than 1,000 episodes of “Days of our Lives.”
In the early 1980s, Northrop played Michael Culhane, the mysterious chauffeur for ruthless patriarch Blake Carrington in the ABC prime time soap opera “Dynasty.” The series revived the career of Yelm resident Linda Evans.
In 2005, Northrop rejoined “Days of our Lives,” but this time as Dr. Alex North. He also played Rex Stanton on the ABC soap “Port Charles” from 1997 to 2003.
Sumner origins
Northrop was born on April 12, 1947, to Robert and Donna Jean Northrop in Sumner.
According to a Nov. 29, 1964 story in The News Tribune, Northrop was on Sumner High School’s winning debate team that came in second place at the state tournament. He graduated from the school in 1965.
It was in high school where he got his first acting experience in his senior class revue. It was a skit called “Al and The Jolsons” and the appreciative laughter and applause he and his friends received for it stuck in his mind.
“I don’t remember being especially terrific,” he told The News Tribune in a 1981 interview.
He went on to the University of Washington, where he graduated with a communications degree.
After traveling through Europe, he enrolled in Acting 101 at Seattle Community College. Hollywood soon followed.
“I guess I got into acting for lack of something better to do,” he told The News Tribune.
In 1975, Northrop joined the Los Angeles Actors’ Theatre headed by Ralph Waite. His work there led to his first television role, a small part in an episode of “Police Story.”
Other roles
Northrop’s other roles included CBS’s “The Waltons” (1989), ABC’s “Baretta” (1978), ABC’s “Eight is Enough” (1977), NBC’s “Beggerman, Thief” (1979), ABC’s “The Young Riders” (1989) and “Testimony of Two Men” (1977), CBS’s “Cold Case” (2004), “The Haunting of Lisa” (1996) and “The Deidre Hall Story” (1995).
He also played the title role of an accused wife murderer in NBC’s dramatic special, “You are the Jury: The State of Arizona v. Dr. Evan Blake” (1986) and the starring role of U.S. Olympic Ski Team coach Johnny Lider in the CBS TV movie, “Guts and Glory: The Bill Johnson Story” (1985).
Ranch life
Northrop and his wife have owned a working cattle ranch in Raymond, California, for the past 35 years.
“The cattle ranch is run true to environmental beliefs,” according to a family statement. “He was staunchly committed to wildlife and conservation causes.”
They also own a circa 1886 house in Raymond, which has become a local museum and gathering place.
In addition to his wife, Northrop is survived by his sons, Hank and Grady, and his stepmother, Janet Northrop.
The Northwest Room at the Tacoma Public Library provided some of the information for this story.
This story was originally published December 2, 2024 at 6:18 PM.
