Actor Wayne Northrop, best known for his role on the soap opera “Days of Our Lives,” died on Friday. He was 77.

The longtime actor died at the Motion Picture and Television Woodland Hills Home, a retirement community in California for people who had had skilled employment in the entertainment industry for at least 20 years, said his publicist Cynthia Snyder.

Northrop’s wife, actress Lynn Herring Northrop, said in a statement that her husband was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease six years ago.

“Six years ago, Wayne was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. He took his last breath in the arms of his family,” Herring Northrop said in the statement. “We would like 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. Husband of 43 years, the best father ever to his two sons, Hank and Grady, and a rancher who loved his cows and was a friend to many.”

Northrop’s most notable role was portraying Roman Brady, a detective who had a relationship with Marlena Evans (played by Diedre Hall) in Days of Our Lives. The character appeared from 1981 to 1984 and again from 1991 to 1994. From 2005 to 2006 he returned again as Dr. Alex North returns, a classmate of Roman’s wife Dr. Marlena Evans at medical school.

The Washington-born actor has also appeared in series such as “Dynasty,” “LA Law,” “Port Charles,” “Cold Case,” and more.

He married actress and beauty pageant winner Lynn Herring in 1981. The couple had two sons, Hank and Grady.

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