Days Of Our Lives
(EXCLUSIVE) Peter Reckell Pays Tribute to His ‘Days of our Lives’ Original TV Brother, Wayne Northrop
Peter Reckell first aired on Days of our Lives back on May 3, 1983. When he came to Salem, Bo Brady was the rebellious younger brother to the more steadfast police detective, Roman Brady, played by Wayne Northrop, who had debuted in the role two years earlier in 1981.
On Sunday, Days of our Lives and soap fans learned that Wayne had passed away back on November 27th from complications due to Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 77. Northrop had been battling Alzheimer’s over the last six years. As tributes have poured in from Northrop’s former co-stars, Peter Reckell (Bo) shared exclusively with Michael Fairman TV, his remembrances of his on-screen brother and dear friend.
“Wayne was my big brother from the moment I met him,” recalled Peter. “Teasing and joking with me. Putting his arm around me physically and emotionally to guide me on my introduction to DAYS. No ego, just love and support. I am extremely lucky to have had him as family. Forever in my heart.”
Photo: PReckell
The relationship between the two brothers was magic in a bottle for Peter and Wayne, as Reckell recalled his start on DAYS and coming in at the time when Roman and Marlena (Deidre Hall) were the show’s supercouple. “The relationship with Roman was the most important relationship for the longest time for me as Bo. Wayne and Deidre Hall were rock stars of daytime when I came on the show,” expressed Peter. “So, to jump right into the middle of that whole thing was intimidating. Wayne and Deidre were always just so good and there for me.”
Who can ever forget the classic scenes from 1984 when Roman caught up with the evil Stefano DiMera (Joe Mascolo) on a cliff during the original prism storyline, only to have Stefano pull out a gun and shoot him, presumably to his death. It was Bo who cradled Roman in his arms at the ocean. And as DAYS fans know, when Bo left the scene for a few moments, and then returned, it was believed Roman had washed out to sea, only he was kidnapped by Stefano. Reckell remembered the on-screen chemistry he had shared with the late Northrop as brothers, “The audience could see when we looked at each other, we loved each other.”
Photo: ABC
Peter also spent a lot of time in his early years on DAYS with Wayne and his wife of 43-years, Lynn Herring (ex-Days and Lucy Coe, General Hospital). He shared, “We did personal appearances and stuff like that together. I recall that we did this athletic competition show between soap operas; where there was swimming and running. Wayne’s competitive side came out. He was just so like the athlete. He did well. He’d be jumping around like a 5-year-old. He was so funny. We spent a lot of time with Lynn, who is just the best person. The two of them were just incredible together.”
Sadly, Peter recently lost his other TV brother, Drake Hogestyn, who just two months earlier passed away from pancreatic cancer at age 70. Drake had debuted in 1986 and was believed to be Roman Brady for several years, until all the twist and turns confirmed he was the man now going by the name, “John Black.”
Photo: NBC
Reckell recalled Drake’s beginnings at DAYS, “By the time Drake came on the show, I had been pretty established by then. When he came along he was just the best guy ever. He was nervous, and I was sort of helping him along. He’s a guy’s guy. Drake tried to hide his nervousness, and he had experience doing other things, but obviously daytime is a whole different animal. Drake was just a great person.”
Today on the December 2nd episode of Days of our Lives, marked its 15,000 episode while honoring the late Bill Hayes at the memorial service for his character of Doug Williams. For decades, Reckell would play his son-in-law who was married to Doug’s ‘princess,’ Hope (Kristian Alfonso).
Photo: JPI
Peter shared his most treasured memories for Bill Hayes, “First of all, it’s just him as a person. When I’d go run lines with him in his dressing room, we’d just start talking … and his stories! The audience sees our relationship, and it was great because the whole arc of having Hope’s father just hating Bo and wanting Bo out of his life, to slowly building up this beautiful, loving relationship. The stuff that I love with Bill was sitting and talking from hearing about: his time being a pilot, to this family reunion were there were hundreds of people in Traverse City, Michigan, which is one of my favorite places on Earth. Then, there is his music. I started off as a song and dance man, and so we shared all sorts of stories of what different shows we were doing. Bill obviously kept doing musicals all the time. He was just so talented in so many different ways.”
Knots Landing fans know that Peter appeared on the former CBS primetime soap opera in the role of Johnny Rourke from 1988-1989 when he took a break from Days of our Lives to pursue other acting opportunities. Now, viewers can catch all of Peter’s episodes on ‘Knots’ via Amazon Prime, which launched all 14 seasons of the show available to stream as of December 1st.
Photo: CBS
Peter recalled his time on the show, “That was a fun experience. So different from daytime, but yet so similar. I was, once again, working with awesome people. I got to work outside (shoot on location), and it was so fun. I, obviously had hopes that it would last longer. However, for a couple of years it was really, really good.”
If you catch Knots Landing, you will notice that Reckell’s Johnny came into the show with an Irish accent and by the time he left the show, there was no accent. Peter weighed-in on what caused the switch-up, “I guess, maybe the producers didn’t think it was so good (laughs). My audience was built-in when I went to the show, and they like seeing Bo Brady, and they wanted me to be more like him. The producers recognized that. They said, ‘You know what? Maybe let’s go back to you not having an Irish accent.'”
As previously announced, Days of our Lives viewers should be on the lookout for the return of Bo Brady in May of 2025 as his story continues.
Share your thoughts on Peter’s touching remembrances of his beloved original TV brother, Wayne Northrop, the losses of Drake Hogestyn and Bill Hayes, and his time on ‘Knots Landing’ via the comment section below.
My heart aches for these actors it’s a tough journey !! God speed
I’m watching Knots Landing right now. Season 1. Thank goodness it picks up LOL
Losing all these actors from Days is upsetting.
These recent years, with the deaths of many popular and longtime daytime stars, remind us the genre really is about family. These actors are part of our lives, our chosen family, and they will be missed. With the heyday of serials in the 1960s, 1970s, 80s and 90s, the next few years likely will be filled with goodbyes too. Let’s hope these actors’ legacies are not forgotten and good daytime drama, at least strong serialized storytelling, will remain a staple of our entertainment and creative culture.
and John Anniston
So sorry to hear of Waynes passing.I was a huge fan of him and he sent me a picture of himself.He will be missed
Days Of Our Lives
Sydney Malekeh Joins the Cast of ‘Days of Our Lives’ in Mystery Role: Who Do You Think She’s Playing?
There’s a new gal coming to Salem, or is she new and a recast? That’s what inquiring minds from Days of Our Lives fans have been trying to figure out since the Peacock soap opera dropped an Instagram video heralding actress‘ Sydney Malekeh’s arrival in Salem.
The soap did confirm that viewers will first see Malekeh on the September 9 episode. In the video, Malekeh is seen going set to set from her dressing room and in to the halls of Days of Our Lives studios.
What we do know id that Sydney has been acting professionally for 6 years and had appeared on Grey’s Anatomy, Apple TV’s Shrinking and the HBO Max’s The Sex Lives of College Girls.
Plenty of Malekeh’s DAYS castmates jumped into the comment thread with positive emojis symbols or written excitement including: Paul Telfer (Xander), Linsey Godfrey (Sarah), Sal Stowers (Lani), Conner Floyd (Chad), Eric Martsolf (Brady) and Christie Clark (Carrie) and more now that fans will finally see her on-air. Since Days of Our Lives tapes 10-11 months in advance, Sydney would have started taping the show sometime back in 2025.
DAYS fans think perhaps because the actress’ name is Sydney that she might be playing the grown-up daughter of Sami and EJ. That character hasn’t bee on the canvas since 2021.
So, who do you think Sydney Malekeh might be playing on Days of Our Lives? Drop your casting director thoughts via the comment section below.
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Days Of Our Lives
Peacock Hikes Subscription Rates for Fourth Time in Four Years; ‘Days of Our Lives’ Fans Sound Off
While recently the streaming service Peacock reported turning a profit for its first time since its infancy, now comes word that the company is raising their prices for all customers, and in some cases it stared today on August 18.
The news of the subscription rate increases marks the fourth time the NBCUniversal streaming platform has done so in four years. So, on August 18, Peacock is increasing the prices for new or returning subscribers and customers, while current subscribers will see the rate increase on or after September 17 depending on their billing cycle when they initially signed up.
Here is the new pricing to follow along: Peacock Premium (which includes ads) will be $12.99/month, up two dollars from $10.99; Peacock Premium Plus will be $19.99/month, up three dollars increase from $16.99; and the Peacock Select tier (which includes current and past seasons of NBC and Bravo shows but excludes movies, live sports and Peacock originals) will increase a dollar from $7.99 to $8.99/month.
Photo: JPI
SUBSCRIBERS CONTINUE TO PAY MORE ACROSS THE STREAMER LANDSCAPE
It was back in June that the streamer reported that aid subscribers were up to 48 million adding a 2 million net gain during Q2 in of 2026. The subscription price hikes are rampant now in the entertainment streaming industry where over the last two years for example, Netflix, HBO Max, Apple TV, Paramount+ have all raised their fees to consumers.
Peacock’s tier-levels feature not only Days of Our Lives, but reality hits such as The Traitors and Love Island USA, Bravo series, and a vault of Saturday Night Live, Law & Order, The Real Housewives franchise, and Below Deck episodes as well. Pecock Premium and Premium Plus subscribers have access to sports and live events, as well.
DAYS OF OUR LIVES SUBSCRIBERS HAD A FEW CHOICE WORDS FOR PEACOCK
As Days of Our Lives fans know, the soap opera moved from NBC to the streamer back in September of 2022 after 57 years on broadcast television. When the news hit X on the price increase, DAYS fans had a lot to say about it. Here are just a few of the comments below:
“I can’t believe Peacock and can’t come to a deal with Cordya to air old episodes of #Days. That alone would bring a ton of subscribers,” to If Peacock actually cared about #Days of Our Lives, gave the show the budget it needs for better sets, cameras, background actors and enough time to tell proper stories, I wouldn’t mind paying more. If the money actually showed on screen, the higher price would be worth it,” to “I will continue to pay for a Peacock subscription as long as #Days is on it, but did we know there was another price increase coming?” and more.
So, what do you think of the new price hike increase to watch Days of Our Lives and your other favorite shows and events on Peacock? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
Days Of Our Lives
‘Veronica & Julian’ Feature Starring ‘Days of Our Lives’ Alums Nadia Bjorlin and Kyler Pettis Releases Key Art and More (Exclusive)
In the upcoming indie feature Veronica & Julian from director Otoja Abit, two former Days of Our Lives stars, Nadia Bjorlin (ex-Chloe Lane) and Kyler Pettis (ex-Theo Carver), headline the drama feature in this story of a May-December romance that faces challenges along the way.
Veronica & Julian centers on a confident and successful marketing executive (Bjorlin) who winds up falling for a younger aspiring architect (Pettis). From there, a journey of desire and self-discovery is set against the backdrop of present-day New York City.
The cast also includes: Blake Jenner (ex-Glee), Erin Cummings, Chrystee Pharris (ex-Simone Russell, Passions and Queens of Drama), Robert Lee Leng, Mark Famiglietti and Jennafer Newberry.
Photo:
LIVE CHAT WITH NADIA AND KYLER PLANNED
Now, Michael Fairman TV can share exclusively: the key poster art below, and that current plans that call for Veronica & Julian to be released and made available late this holiday season.
In addition, Nadia and Kyler will join us for a very special livestream conversation on the Michael Fairman Channel (Monday, Aug 24 – 3PM ET/Noon PT) to chat about their roles in the film, their time on Days of Our Lives, life post-soap opera, and much more. Fans can join the live chat and pose their questions to the actors as well.
Courtesy/Bright Leicht Content LLC
THE THEMES BEHIND VERONICA & JULIAN
Director Otoja Abit shared this statement on the feature film, “Veronica & Julian is about the right people who have a chance meeting at the wrong time. It’s a look at two people who don’t grow apart—they just grow up. This film is an authentic exploration of an imminent ending and how two people deeply in love got there. It aims to be quiet while telling a relatable story about modern-day relationships.”
Abit continued, “As a society, mainstream romantic films are often delivered through fantastical aspirations. I created this film believing that viewers who have experienced a breakup can relate to Veronica and Julian, depending on their perspective. They’re a couple navigating some of the most familiar obstacles in love: miscommunication, timing and pride.”
He concluded, “It’s a story about endings told through the small moments we often don’t recognize until they’re gone. With the support of the Panavision New Filmmaker Program, I approached the story with a deeper sense of visual control while maintaining the naturalism that defines each character.”
Photo: Bright Leicht Content LLC
NADIA AND KYLER GOT THEIR FIRST BIG BREAK IN SOAPS
As Days of Our Lives fans know, Bjorlin is best known for her long-running role as Chloe Lane. Nadia played the part from 1999-2023 with various runs in Salem. She is also known for her role as Lara in the Venice the Series since 2009. Nadia’s other TV and film credits include: A Murder Between Friends, NCIS, Two Broke Girls and more.
Pettis played Theo Carver on Days of Our Lives from 2015-2018 and earned himself a Daytime Emmy for his work in the now defunct Outstanding Younger Actor in a Daytime Drama Series back in 2019. His other TV credits include roles on: The Rookie, All American: Homecoming and Ray Donovan.
Veronica and Julian is written, produced and directed by Abit and produced through his Willful Productions alongside Kory Apton and Ian Phillips. Executive producers include: Nick Leicht, Gregory Sinche, Shelly Sinche, Torsten Sippel, Tim Freydberg, Ryan Schulke and Matthew Conlin.
So, intrigued to see Nadia and Kyler as a romantic couple in the film Veronica & Julian? Miss them on Days of Our Lives? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
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Sydney Malekeh Joins the Cast of ‘Days of Our Lives’ in Mystery Role: Who Do You Think She’s Playing?
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‘Veronica & Julian’ Feature Starring ‘Days of Our Lives’ Alums Nadia Bjorlin and Kyler Pettis Releases Key Art and More (Exclusive)
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