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
DAYS OF OUR LIVES: Sophia Seemingly Plans to End Her Life, But Not Before Setting Fire to Johnny’s Apartment With Him Trapped Inside
The final few moments of the Thursday, April 30 episode of Days of our Lives, will pave the way, to what just may be the end of Sophia Choi’s (Rachel Boyd) life, but not as you may think!
After an unhinged Sophia paid a visit to Johnny DiMera (Carson Boatman), maced him in the eyes, knocked him out and then tied up to a chair, now conscious, she lets him know that she holds him responsible for all the trouble and trauma she has gone through from adopting her child, and her being sent to a mental institution.
So instead of the unregistered gun Kristen (Stacy Haiduk) gave her to finish off Johnny, Sophia sets up a plan to light candle, use nail polish remover and turn on the gas on the stove to ultimately create a mass explosion, which although Johnny pleaded to her not to that to all the innocent people inside his apartment building, she doesn’t seem to care.

Photo: JPI
FIERY FACE OFF
The plan was supposed to be, after she takes care of Johnny she will toss the gun in the Salem River, then focus on payback to Holly Jonas before leaving town to start a new life.
Now, Sophia makes her exit, leaving Johnny to be a few moments away from an explosion or gas inhalation, when Chanel (Raven Bowens) comes home after awaiting the results of her mammogram. She sees Johnny tied up, as he panics and tells her to put out the flame on the candle, things go awry, and a fire has begun and everything may go up in flames with Johnny and Chanel inside.

Photo: JPI
A BROKEN SOPHIA
Back in her room, Sophia breaks down after reading the social media comments about her, she planted, and then starts writing a suicide or farewell note which says. “I’m tired of begging for forgiveness for my mistakes. All I wanted was to move forward, to be loved and understood. But it’s clear that I was never going to get that. Holly Jonas said that I was dead to her. So, as her former BFF, I’m going to make her dream a reality.”

Photo: JPI
A DEADLY TRAP
Now, the fate of Johnny, Chanel and Sophia will be revealed on tomorrow’s May 1st cliffhanger, which may be the end of Sophia when she crosses paths with Kirsten at the bridge near the river. We do know Rachel Boyd is no longer appearing in the show credits section and is now off contract with the soap.
So, what did you think of the climatic final moments of DAYS? What did you think of the performance of Rachel Boyd as Sophia Choi? Let us know via the comment section.
Breaking News
Jacob Martinez is ‘Days of Our Lives’ New Javi Hernandez Replacing Al Calderon in the Role
Finally! The casting has been revealed as to just who would be Al Calderon’s successor in the role of Days of our Lives, Javi Hernandez. On Friday, April 30, the long-running soap opera revealed Jacob Martinez is taking on the part and he will first be seen this coming June 30th and then on all-new episodes streaming on Peacock.
As previously reported, the popular Calderon exited the soap opera last year to join the cast of the NBC primetime medical drama, Brilliant Minds as nurse Nico Silva, who in May will air the remainder of their second season. The series has been on the bubble for renewal by the network. His last episodes as Javi will also air this May on DAYS.
Since DAYS tapes ten months ahead of streaming, Martinez has been secretly ensconced in all the drama in Salem for quite some time. When viewers see the new Javi in story, we should learn what will happen in Javi’s relationship with Leo Stark played by Emmy winner, Greg Rikaart, plus his continued relationship with his relatives in the Hernandez clan. Currently, when Javi returned to Salem after taking care of his ailing father, and after the bust-up of his marriage to Leo thanks to Dimitri (Peter Porte), he claimed he had moved on with someone else while he was away from Salem.

Photo: JPI
Like Calderon before him, Martinez is a multi-talented actor and singer. Jacob’s resume is impressive having appeared in the musical In Pieces: The Musical at Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater and he was hand-picked by Joey Contreras to play the role of Grey. Other credits include: the short film, Memory Swim and the play Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage.
Martinez hails from Norfolk, Nebraska and appeared when he was very young at the Johnny Carson Theatre, and as DAYS fans know, Jacob is now working at the Days of our Lives studios, right where the “Tonight Show” is filled. In addition, Jacob Martinez is a graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA).
Taking to his Instagram on Thursday, April 30 once the news of his casting was revealed, Martinez, expressed, “Way too many people to thank in one post, so I’ll just say THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART to each and every person who continues to pour into me and encourage me to chase my dreams. I cannot even begin to express how grateful I am. I already feel beyond blessed, supported, and loved. See you all in Salem ⏳”
Jacob Martinez appeared on Friday on the Days of our Lives Instagram account announcing his casting. You can check it out below. Deadline was the first to report the casting switch.
So, excited to learn who is the new Javi Hernandez? Please welcome Jacob Martinez to the role and be on the lookout for his debut on June 30. Comment below.
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Days Of Our Lives
‘Days of Our Lives’ Conner Floyd on Chad’s Quest For Abigail’s Resurrection; But Who Should Be Cast as NuAbby?
Former Y&R favorite, Conner Floyd made his debut as the recast Chad DiMera on Days of our Lives last week on the April 21 episode of the Peacock streaming soap opera
Floyd replaced Billy Flynn in the role who is firmly cemented in his old stomping grounds of Genoa City and The Young and the Restless as Chad DiMera. For the last year or two of Chad’s story, he believed his wife, Abigail Devereaux DiMera could be alive, he even thought Cat Greene (AnnaLynne McCord) was Abigail until the story turned.
Now with Floyd taking over the role and Lexie coming back to life after years of being dead, and Chad noting how Dr. Rolf (Richard Wharton) and his brother, EJ (Dan Feuerriegel), could resurrect somehow they all love, he thinks, how about Abigail? The part of Abigail was played by Kate Mansi and then Marci Miller.

Photo: JPI
Speaking with Stephanie Sloane for her new Daytime Dish Newsletter on the matter, Conner shared, “Any kind of idea that she could possibly be coming back, as farfetched as that may seem, he’s stuck on it. The idea gets in his head, and he’s locked in on it.”
CHAD WRESTLES WITH THE FATE OF ABIGAIL
Floyd added that Chad, “He’s asking Theo (Joseph Tyler Andrews) about it. He’s asking EJ about it. It’s one of those things where he loves her so much that the peace in his mind that he’s made with this kind of comes unbroken. So the fact that that she might be able to come back, he’s so bent on it, he thinks it’s going to happen and he kind of spirals away.”
A NEW ABIGAIL ON THE HORIZON?

Photo: ABC
That begs the question, with Days of Our Lives taping ten months in advance, which is already taking them into the beginning of 2027, is it possible that the soap has already recast Abigail and its being kept top secret?
Recently, it was revealed that former General Hospital favorite, Sofia Mattsson (ex-Sasha) has joined Days of our Lives. Back on March 30 it was reported that Mattsson is now taping all-new episodes that will be seen in 2027, but her role was being hush-hush! Could she the new Abby?
If not, the question is, since it seems that Kate Mansi is not coming back as she is firmly entrenched in her role as Kristina Corinthos-Davis on General Hospital and other outside projects, and Marci Miller has also been away from soaps for awhile working on other TV and film roles and indie motion pictures, who should play nuAbby?
Now below, let us know, who do you think would make the perfect leading lady opposite Conner Floyd as a recast Abigail Deveraux DiMera? Be our armchair quarterback casting director and drop your pick in the comment section.
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