Which role did Wayne Northop play on Days of Our Lives? Details explored as actor passes away at 77

Days of Our Lives veteran Wayne Northop passed away on November 29, 2024, at the age of 77. He underwent complications from Alzheimer's disease and passed away at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Los Angeles.

The actor originated the iconic role of Roman Brady on the NBC soap in 1981. While Northop portrayed the character from 1981 to 1984 and in another stint from 1991 to 1994, Roman is currently portrayed by actor Josh Taylor since 1997.

Wayne Northop is also known for his portrayal of Michael Culhane on Dynasty, which he originated in 1981 and went on to play till 1987 as an original cast member. He also held the role of Andre DiMera later on Days in 1983 and briefly essayed Alex North on the soap in 2005.

Northop also played Rex Stanton from 1997 to 1998 in the General Hospital spinoff, Port Charles.

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Who is Roman Brady on Days of Our Lives? Character journey explored

Actor Wayne Northop, who played the role of Roman Brady, in a still from Days of Our Lives (via Peacock)

Roman Brady is one of the members of the Brady family on Days of Our Lives. The character is still on the soap and has been involved in the plot since his introduction in 1981. Roman Brady was debuted by actor Wayne Northop and has since become the centre of romances, family drama, and mysteries in the storyline.

In 1981, Northop exited the role briefly, and Roman was killed off on-screen during a fight with his nemesis Stefano DiMera. In 1985, a character named The Pawn was introduced, revealed later to be John Black (played by actor Drake Hogestyn).

John was an amnesiac who did not remember his past, so he had no knowledge of his true identity. In 1986, it was revealed that John was actually Roman Brady who was not dead but had been subjected to brainwashing and plastic surgery by Stefano.

However, Northop returned as Roman on the soap in 1991. The writers wanted to keep both Drake Hogestyn and Wayne Northop on screen, so John Black's story was retconned.

He went back to being John Black who simply believed that he was Roman, due to the brainwashing he had been subjected to.

Actor Wayne Northop, who played the role of Roman Brady, in a still from Days of Our Lives (via Peacock)

Roman then became the police commissioner in Salem, who was at the top of his field. He often took on deeply dangerous undercover assignments and even donned many disguises during his investigations. After he retired from the force, Roman started managing his family business The Brady Pub.

He now tends to the bar and also occasionally works as a part-time private investigator for the firm Black Patch, run by John Black and Steve Johnson.

Roman was also a former agent in the International Security Alliance (ISA) in the storyline. In 1994, Northop left Days of Our Lives and was later briefly recast as another new character Dr Alex North.

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Audiences can watch Days of Our Lives streaming online via Peacock. New episodes of the soap are released on all weekdays.