HANK NORTHROP DEBUTS ON DAYS OF OUR LIVES AS LIAM SELEJKO—HONORING FATHER WAYNE NORTHROP’S LEGACY WITH JAMES REYNOLDS!
TL;DR: On Wednesday, October 29, Hank Northrop—son of late Days of Our Lives legend Wayne Northrop and General Hospital’s Lynn Herring—made his DAYS debut as Liam Selejko, a troubled young man with a criminal past who becomes Abe Carver’s literacy mentee. The poignancy? Hank got the casting call on his FIRST birthday after his father’s death, and his first scene partner is James Reynolds, who worked with Wayne for years as Roman’s police partner. It’s full-circle storytelling that will make you cry!
A Birthday Gift From Heaven
Hank Northrop received the most magical birthday present imaginable on January 9, 2025—his first birthday after losing his father Wayne Northrop to Alzheimer’s disease on November 29, 2024. That’s when he got the casting call to join Days of Our Lives, the same show where his dad originated the iconic role of Roman Brady from 1981-1991.
“It was so cosmic. It was almost like my dad had given me a birthday present, the first birthday after his passing, to help me through the trauma of dealing with his passing,” Hank shared in interviews. “You can’t script it. It gave me the ability to cope with it a little more. It was just such a beautiful full-circle moment.”
Hank’s mother, Lynn Herring (who plays Lucy Coe on General Hospital and once played Lisanne Gardner on DAYS), has been his biggest supporter through this journey. She gave him advice, tips, and encouragement before his first day on set. “She has been so supportive,” Hank said. “She gave me so much great advice before my first day and gave me so many tips heading into it. She’s been the best support system I could possibly ask for.”
Working With His Dad’s Best Friend
The emotional resonance of Hank’s debut goes even deeper: his first scene partner is James Reynolds, who plays Abe Carver—Roman Brady’s police partner and close friend for decades. When Hank showed up on set, James didn’t know Wayne’s son would be playing his character’s mentee.
“What a legend,” Hank said about working with Reynolds. “First of all, it was so cool because he and my dad had such a great working relationship, and they didn’t tell him that I was coming on to work with him. So when I came on set, he just lit up, and we couldn’t stop hugging.”
Reynolds told Hank, “Oh my gosh, you’re Wayne’s son. This is the best thing. I loved your dad so much.” That kind of welcome, one that was filled with genuine love and respect for Wayne’s legacy, had to make Hank’s debut even more meaningful for the entire cast.
Meet Liam Selejko: Troubled Past, Hopeful Future?
Hank plays Liam Selejko, a young man with a complicated backstory. Liam has a criminal record, parents who were in prison for most of his childhood, and was recently arrested for stealing a car. He can’t read, which is why Abe Carver (James Reynolds)—who just passed his test to become a literacy coach at Julie Williams’ (Susan Seaforth Hayes) bookstore—agrees to mentor him.
But here’s where it gets MESSY: Liam is Theo Carver’s (Tyler Joseph Andrews) high school bully. Theo revealed that “Liam Selejko bullied me mercilessly from 7th grade on, him and those guys he ran with. They’d wait for me by my locker, call me names, push me around.” Since Theo is on the autism spectrum, the bullying was particularly cruel.
When Theo overheard Abe setting up tutoring sessions with Liam, he was deeply hurt. During Halloween week, Theo challenges JJ Deveraux (Casey Moss) and warns Paulina Price (Jackée Harry) about Abe’s decision to mentor his former tormentor.
Are YOU excited to see Hank Northrop honor his father Wayne Northrop’s legacy on DAYS? Email your thoughts on this emotional debut to [email protected]!
Can People Change? That’s The Question
Hank himself addressed this tension in interviews, asking viewers to give Liam a chance. “Give my character, who may or may not be named Liam, give him a little bit of time,” he said on the red carpet at the Daytime Emmys. “Give him a little bit of patience. He comes on strong, but there is beautifulness in the journey and there’s a lot of transformation I will say. So, I would say just expect fun but also don’t judge him too hard at first would be my only thing.”
This storyline tackles one of soap opera’s most compelling questions: Can people who’ve done terrible things truly change and earn redemption? Should Abe’s compassion and belief in second chances override Theo’s trauma from years of bullying?
Abe believes Liam deserves a chance because he had a troubled upbringing. But Theo’s pain is real and valid. The tension between forgiveness and protecting yourself from people who’ve hurt you will be explored throughout this arc.
Following In Famous Footsteps
Hank truly comes from soap opera royalty. His father Wayne Northrop was beloved for playing Roman Brady, and he also returned to DAYS in 2005-2006 as Dr. Alex North. His mother Lynn Herring has played Lucy Coe on General Hospital for nearly 40 years and is a daytime legend in her own right.
But Hank isn’t just riding on his parents’ coattails. He’s already appeared on The Morning Show with Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston, had multiple episodes on The Bold and the Beautiful, and will appear in the upcoming Paramount Network series The Madison, a Yellowstone spinoff starring Michelle Pfeiffer.
His parents tried to keep him and his younger brother Grady away from the entertainment business, but Hank was drawn to acting. Now he’s honoring his father’s memory by stepping into the Salem world Wayne helped build.
The Emotional Weight of This Debut
There’s something profoundly moving about watching Hank debut on his father’s show and working with his father’s closest scene partner, just months after losing Wayne to Alzheimer’s. The casting call coming on his birthday felt like a message from beyond—a way for Wayne to tell his son that he’s watching and he’s proud.
In April 2025, Lynn Herring and Hank had the same call time at their respective soaps, with Lynn taping General Hospital’s episodes. “To have your son doing what you love and what has given you such a wonderful life…I had to wipe my makeup a little bit that morning, because it just broke my heart that he now gets to do what he’s so in love with—and he just really believes his dad’s watching him do all this,” Lynn told Woman’s World.
The Bottom Line
Hank Northrop’s debut as Liam Selejko is about more than just introducing a new character to Salem. It’s about honoring legacy, finding healing through art, and creating full-circle moments that remind us why soap operas matter. When Hank stands across from James Reynolds in those scenes, three generations of daytime drama history come together.
Fans should expect Liam to be a complex, layered character—not just a villain or a victim, but someone on a journey toward transformation. And as we watch Hank bring Liam to life, we’ll be watching a son honor his father’s legacy in the most beautiful way possible. Welcome to Salem, Hank. Your dad would be proud!
Do YOU think Liam Selejko deserves a second chance despite bullying Theo Carver? Comment your thoughts on Hank Northrop’s debut!
