Wayne Northrop, actor, avid conservationist, and prankster per excellence, passed away on Friday, November 29 at the age of 77.
Wayne Northrop, Rest In Peace
In a statement, Lynn Herring Northrop (Lucy Coe, General Hospital), Northrop’s wife, said: Wayne was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s 6 years ago. He took his last breath in the arms of his family. 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.”
Plucked from the stage after suitably impressing talent and casting agents alike in the Los Angeles Actors Theatre’s production of The Kitchen, Northrop began making his mark in TV Land, first in an episode of Police Story, and then in other popular primetime fare like Eight Is Enough, Baretta, and The Waltons.
1980 and 1981 proved banner years for Northrop. First, he was tapped to play Michael Culhane in Dynasty, a blackmail-minded yet irresistibly charming chauffeur in the employee of oilman Blake Carrington. (And though his tenure initially ended following the first season finale, he would return for a guest stint during the sudser’s seventh season, just as suave and smarmy as Michael ever was.)
Next, he landed the role of ‘Aw shucks’ Dudley-Do-Right Roman Brady in Days of our Lives. Soon, Northrop’s alter-ego was coupled up with Deidre Hall’s prim and proper head shrinker Marlena Evans, much to the delight of the shows millions of viewers.
‘Jarlena’ thrilled the audience with their daring dos, thwarting megalomanic despots and psychotic ne’er-do-wells in equal measure — as if staying just one step ahead of the various assassins who would seem them dead weren’t job enough!
Northrop departed for pastures new in ’84 and another seemingly filled his shoes — but when an invitation to return was accepted, “Roman” (as played by the late, great Drake Hogestyn) was revealed to be a placeholder, alias, John Black. Whoopsie daisy!
This second run lasted from 1991 to 1994, but DAYS was not yet done with Northrop. Over a decade later, he was back on set, this time playing Dr. Alex North, Marlena’s theretofore never mentioned first husband.
Northrop’s other credits include a brief stint as Port Charles’ resident baddie, Rex Stanton, a recurring role on LA Law, and guest stints on series such as Hotel, You Are The Jury, and Cold Case.
His legacy includes a museum that he and Herring Northrop curated inside the historical home (the oldest in the city) that they purchased in Raymond California.
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