Who was Robert Kelker-Kelly? Exploring all about Days of Our Lives actor after he passes away at 62

The 42nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards - Backstage And Audience - Source: Getty
The cast and crew of 'Days of Our Lives' accept the award for Outstanding Drama Series onstage during The 42nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards at Warner Bros. Studios on April 26, 2015, in Burbank, California. (Source: Getty)

Robert Kelker-Kelly, the actor best known as Bo Brady on Days of Our Lives, has died at 62. PEOPLE reported on October 5, 2026, that he died on Saturday, October 3, 2026. The Missouri medical examiner confirmed the date to TMZ, which was first to report the news

Deadline, also publishing on October 5, reported that he died at his home in St. Peters, Missouri. Police responded at around 8:16 p.m. to a report of an unconscious man who was not breathing, Deadline said, citing a police statement.

Robert Kelker-Kelly had reportedly complained of chest pain shortly before becoming unresponsive. Officers and paramedics tried life-saving measures without success. Police said the circumstances appeared consistent with a medical event.

PEOPLE noted that a cause of death has not been disclosed.


More about Robert Kelker-Kelly's career: from Another World to Days of Our Lives

Robert Kelker-Kelly was born on April 18, 1964, in Wichita, Kansas, Deadline reported. His acting career started in 1987 with the part of Sam Fowler on the NBC soap Another World. He stayed for three years, leaving in 1990.

The big break came in 1992. He took over the role of Bo Brady on Days of Our Lives after Peter Reckell exited, Deadline said. Kelker-Kelly played opposite Kristian Alfonso as Hope Williams Brady and Lisa Rinna as Billie Reed. His run lasted three years.

The 1994 Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Lead Actor went to him for playing Bo, PEOPLE reported. A year later, he and Rinna, now 63, were named Hottest Couple at the 1995 ceremony. Both actors left the show that year, and Reckell returned to the part.

Robert Kelker-Kelly went back to Another World in 1996. Deadline reported that he played professional race car driver Bobby Reno, who was later revealed to be Dr. Shane Roberts. He kept the role until 1998.


More about Robert Kelker-Kelly's later career

Deadline said Robert Kelker-Kelly first appeared as Stavros Cassadine on General Hospital in 2001, with guest spots running through 2014. He also worked as a professional pilot from 2003 to 2015, Deadline reported.

His name returned to the headlines because of Lisa Rinna's 2026 memoir, You Better Believe I'm Gonna Talk About It, Deadline noted. She wrote,

"Behind the scenes, we hated each other."

Rinna alleged that he was verbally abusive and manipulative during their time on Days of Our Lives. She also alleged that NBC provided security for her and Alfonso for several weeks after he left, PEOPLE reported. Kelker-Kelly did not publicly respond to the allegations, both outlets said.

Kelly wed actress Linda Rattner in 1988, and the couple divorced in 1992. In 1997, he married Miriam Parrish, a costar on Days of Our Lives. That marriage ended in 2013.

At the time of press, there are no further updates regarding his death.

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Edited by Rajarsi Chakraborty