Wayne Northrop, beloved for his roles on Days of Our Lives and Dynasty, has passed away at the age of 77. The actor died on Friday, November 29, at the Motion Picture and Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles. According to a statement obtained by PEOPLE, Northrop had been battling early-onset Alzheimer’s disease since his diagnosis six years ago.

“He took his last breath in the arms of his family,” Northrop’s wife, actress Lynn Herring Northrop, 66, revealed in a statement obtained by PEOPLE.

“We wish to thank the most caring and amazing place, the Motion Picture and Television Home for taking such great care of him,” she continued. “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.”

Northrop was an American actor best known for his roles in daytime television dramas, particularly on NBC’s Days of Our Lives. Born on April 12, 1947, in Sumner, Washington, he pursued his passion for acting at the University of Washington and later refined his skills at the prestigious American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco.

Northrop gained widespread fame for his portrayal of Roman Brady on Days of Our Lives, a role he originated in 1981. His intense and dynamic performance made Roman one of the show’s most beloved characters. He left the series in 1984 but returned briefly in 1991, and again in 1997, this time as a different character, Dr. Alex North.

Beyond his tenure on Days of Our Lives, Northrop also appeared on ABC’s General Hospital as Michael “Mikkos” Cassadine and starred in the short-lived primetime soap The Yellow Rose. He has guest-starred on numerous television series, including The A-Team, Dynasty, and Magnum, P.I.. His versatility allowed him to excel in both heroic and villainous roles.

In his personal life, Northrop has been married to actress Lynn Herring since 1981. The couple has two sons, Hank and Grady, and resides on a ranch in California, where they breed and care for horses.

While Northrop stepped back from acting in the early 2000s to focus on family and other ventures, his contributions to soap opera history remain significant.

Northrop is survived by his wife, Lynn Herring, his two adult sons, Hank and Grady, and his stepmother, Janet Northrop.