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(EXCLUSIVE) Peter Reckell Pays Tribute to His ‘Days of our Lives’ Original TV Brother, Wayne Northrop

By Michael Fairman

Published

2 years ago

on

Photos: NBC

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.

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My heart aches for these actors it’s a tough journey !! God speed

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I’m watching Knots Landing right now. Season 1. Thank goodness it picks up LOL
Losing all these actors from Days is upsetting.

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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.

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and John Anniston

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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

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Days Of Our Lives

DAYS OF OUR LIVES Preview: Kristen Locates an Alive Sophia, How Much Does Rita Know About the Birth of Dominic Marino?

Published

7 hours ago

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October 2, 2026

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Days of our Lives Preview

Next week, expected surprises and schemes on Days of our Lives. In official spoilers for episodes streaming on Peacock from October 5-9, it looks like Kristen (Stacy Haiduk) has hunted down a very much alive Sophia Choi (Rachel Boyd), while Marlena (Deidre Hall) admits a deeply concerning confession to her daughter Belle (Martha Madison), and more.

As previously reported, Tajh Bellow (ex-TJ Ashford, General Hospital) is stepping in for one day for Tyler Joseph Andrews in the role of Theo Carver and will share scenes with Gabi (Cherie Jimenez), where Theo finally agrees to go along with Gabi’s plan, after she offered him a job.

Meanwhile, Gabi may have her hands full with Philip (John-Paul Lavoisier) whose big win in Monte Carlo may have sparked his gambling addiction … all over again, but Philip reveals her has a plan.

Kristen and Sophia Diner

Photo: Corday Productions

Sydney (Sydney Malekeh) is in for a shock when Dante (Franco LoPresti) arrives in Salem. Why is he in Salem? Is he part of the unraveling of the Dominic Marino mystery, since we know he seemed like he was talking to the man in Monte Carlo?

Will Marlena ever figure out what Rita (Maggie Carney) is hiding about the mystery of Dominic, and if Marlena is truly his birth mother or did something more suspicious go on and how deeply involved is Rita in this whole story?

EJ (Dan Feuerriegel) finally demands answers of his own from Rita after overhearing on today’s Cliffhanger Friday her conversation with Marlena. Will Rita cop to anything?

Then as noted, while everyone thinks Sophia took her own life, after Kristen “murdered” her, Kristen is infuriated to find she is somehow alive working as waitress in a diner in Kentucky. Will Kristen try to kill Sophia yet again?

Take a look at some of the additional spoilers for next week’s action on DAYS below.

Monday, October 5

Joy worries about her future.
Alex surprises Stephanie.
Chanel supports Johnny through a difficult decision.

Tuesday, October 6

Rachel gives Brady cause for concern.
Roman surprises Kate.

Wednesday, October 7

Leo’s good day takes an unexpected turn.
Brady is forced to make a difficult call.

Thursday, October 8

Paulina refuses to give up on Lani.
Chanel asks Johnny for a promise.

Friday, October 9

Stephanie and Alex steal a private moment.
Steve gets troubling news from Johnny.

So, what do you think will happen when Kristen finds that the woman she thought she murdered and framed (making it looking like a suicide) is alive and well and working in a diner far away from Salem? Was Rita more involved with Stefano DiMera than we even know? Who is the birth mother of Dominic? Is it really Marlena or did someone else carrying her child? And what of Dante? Why is he back in Salem? To get at Philip, or something else? Weigh-in via the comment section below.

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Days Of Our Lives

‘General Hospital’ Alum Tajh Bellow Fills In for ‘Days of our Lives’ Tyler Joseph Andrews in the Role of Theo Carver

Published

1 day ago

on

October 1, 2026

By

Tajh Bellow

After an earlier post on Thursday, October 1 about General Hospital alumni Tajh Bellow’s (ex-TJ Ashford) upcoming project from Issa Rae’s HOOPAE Digital, comes word that Bellow is temporarily stepping into the role of Days of our Lives Theo Carver to fill in for Tyler Joseph Andrews on the Peacock streaming soap opera.

According to TV Insider, Bellow will be making a one-day appearance next week on the October 6 episode of DAYS as Andrews was unable to make the tape date that was shot 10 months ago on a day last December. Andrews (pictured below) took over the role of Theo in September of 2025.

In Bellow’s upcoming episode as Theo, he will share scenes with Cherie Jimenez (Gabi Hernandez).  A DAYS spokesperson tells the outlet that Bellow “stepped seamlessly into the role, and the cast and crew were grateful for his professionalism and commitment, albeit for only one episode.”

Tyler Joseph Andrews and Cherie Jimenez

Photo: JPI

TAJH WILL BE SEEN IN MULTIPLE PROJECTS IN OCTOBER

As General Hospital fans know, Tajh played the role of TJ Ashford from 2018 to his last appearance in December of 2024. Along the way, he received two Daytime Emmy nominations for his performances as TJ, the last being in 2025 in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Daytime Drama Series category.

In addition, bellow along with Y&R alum Loren Lott will be seen starting on October 14 in the new Love Island spoof series, The Compatibility Experiment. The show will drop exclusively on TikTok and the PineDrama platform.

The Compatibility Experiment gives a satirical look at reality dating shows, think Love Island! The story centers around Kelvin (Bellow) and Camila (Lott), whose relationship is put to the test when they join a reality show to try to win a the million dollar prize.

So, what do you think of Tajh stepping in for Tyler Joseph Andrews as Theo on DAYS? Perhaps, the soap opera liked his work that he might be considered for another role in the future bringing Bellow back to the soaps? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section below.

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Days Of Our Lives

REPORT: ‘Days of our Lives’ Puts Four Actors On Contract

Published

3 days ago

on

September 30, 2026

By

Days of our Lives cast

Four cast members are officially on contract at Days of our Lives, according to the soap opera’s closing credits on Peacock and longtime Days expert and historian Jason 47.

Lauren Koslow (Kate), Sydney Malakeh (Sydney), Sal Stowers (Lani) and Jacob Martinez (Javi) are the names that appear in the closing credits in the contracted cast members section. Days of our Lives fans also note that the series tapes ten months in advance of streaming episodes.

As Days of our Lives fans know, Lauren Koslow has played Kate Roberts since 1996, and recently filled-in for Jess Walton in the role of Jill Abbott on The Young and the Restless when Walton was unable to travel from Oregon to Los Angeles during the specific tape dates. But now, Koslow has been re-upped to contract status as of the September 8 episode.

Photo: JPI

SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED

Sydney Malakeh is the newest member of the contract players when she debuted on contract status on the September 10th episode. Days fans first met Sami (Alison Sweeney) and EJ’s (Dan Feuerriegel) daughter in scenes in Monte Carlo around a gambling table.

As for Sal Stowers, the actress had been on contract from 2015-2022, then on recurring status with the soap, and would make appearances and limited runs since 2023. Soap fans first saw Sal as Cassandra Foster on Prospect Park’s revival of All My Children in 2013. Sal’s first new contracted episode was noted to be September 16.

Jacob Martinez, debuted on June 30 of this year as the successor to Al Calderon in the role of Javi Hernandez, and has now been bumped up to series regular as of the September 10 episode.

Photo: JPI

CREDITS

According to the referenced posting from Days of our Lives expert and historian Jason 47, he shared, “It took me four weeks to realize, but the same week that Sydney Malakeh (Sydney) debuted (9/7-9/11), “Days” also put Lauren Koslow (Kate), Jacob Richard Martinez (Javi) and Sal Stowers (Lani) on contract.”

Jason47 added, “This confirms the “errors” of Lani being listed in the credits the week of 9/7 but not appearing, and Kate and Javi appearing in the credits the week of 9/14 but not appearing. It also now makes sense why Javi and Sydney are being listed before Rafe and Philip in the credits.”

He also shared, “For the record, Lauren Koslow’s first date back on contract was 9/8, Jacob Richard Martinez was upped to contract on 9/10, Sydney Malakeh debuted on contract 9/10 and Sal Stowers’ first date back on contract was 9/16. The records will be fixed on the website in the coming days.”

So, glad to hear Lauren, Sydney, Sal and Jacob appear to be on contract with Days of our Lives (as of these episode airings)? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

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