Tribute illustration honoring late Days of Our Lives actor Robert Kelker-Kelly, 1964–2026

Days of Our Lives Star Robert Kelker-Kelly Dead at 62

October 5, 2026

Robert Kelker-Kelly, the soap opera actor best known for playing Bo Brady on Days of Our Lives in the early 1990s, has died at the age of 62. Police in St. Peters, Missouri, said officers found him unresponsive at his home on Saturday, October 3, after he complained of chest pain — and despite CPR and emergency life-saving efforts, he could not be saved.

Key facts: Kelker-Kelly played Bo Brady across nearly 600 episodes of Days of Our Lives from 1992 to 1995, won the Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in 1995, and later appeared on Another World and General Hospital. He had spent his recent years largely out of the spotlight, working as a professional pilot in Missouri.

Who was Robert Kelker-Kelly?

Born on April 18, 1964, in Wichita, Kansas, Kelker-Kelly began his screen career in 1987 when he was cast as Sam Fowler on NBC’s daytime soap Another World. Five years later, he landed the role that would define his career: the tough, brooding Bo Brady on Days of Our Lives, taking over the part from Peter Reckell.

His stint on the long-running soap coincided with one of its most-watched eras. Kelker-Kelly’s Bo was paired with Lisa Rinna’s Billie Reed, and their on-screen romance — including a made-for-TV wedding in 1994 — made him a fan favorite. When he left the show in 1995 after winning the Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Lead Actor, Reckell returned to the role.

Kelker-Kelly went back to Another World in 1996, this time in a different role as Dr. Shane Roberts, and played the character for two years. In 2001, he crossed over to ABC’s General Hospital as the villainous Stavros Cassadine, a role he reprised for a second stint from 2013 to 2014.

How did Robert Kelker-Kelly die?

The St. Peters Police Department confirmed to TMZ that officers responded to Kelker-Kelly’s home on October 3 at around 8:16 p.m. local time for a report of an unconscious man who was not breathing. CPR was already in progress when officers arrived, and police and paramedics attempted additional life-saving measures — but they were unsuccessful.

Law enforcement said Kelker-Kelly had complained of chest pain shortly before becoming unresponsive. Police noted there was nothing suspicious at the scene and that the circumstances appeared consistent with a medical event.

A spokesperson for the local medical examiner’s office told The U.S. Sun that Kelker-Kelly is believed to have died from natural causes and that no toxicology testing was ordered because there was no suspicion that drugs or alcohol were involved. USA Today reported that an official cause of death has not yet been publicly released. His body was released to a local funeral home.

Why was Kelker-Kelly in the news earlier this year?

Kelker-Kelly had largely stayed out of the public eye in recent years, focusing on his work as a professional pilot and flight instructor in Missouri. But earlier in 2026, his name resurfaced when former Days of Our Lives co-star Lisa Rinna discussed their contentious working relationship in her memoir, describing a difficult dynamic on set during their time together.

Kelker-Kelly did not publicly respond to Rinna’s claims. The two had played on-screen lovers Bo and Billie during his 1992–1995 run on the soap.

What was Robert Kelker-Kelly’s legacy on daytime TV?

For soap fans, Kelker-Kelly represented a specific golden era of Days of Our Lives. His 90-hour-a-week filming schedule — something he described in a 2013 interview as grueling, with shoots running from 6 a.m. to 8 or 9 p.m. while he hit the gym at 4 a.m. to keep Bo Brady’s shirtless scenes camera-ready — became part of daytime TV lore.

After leaving the soaps, he traded red carpets for the cockpit, building a second career in aviation in Missouri. He is remembered by daytime television fans as one of the actors who kept Bo Brady alive during Peter Reckell’s absence — and as a reminder of how punishing the soap-opera schedule could be.

FAQ

What was Robert Kelker-Kelly’s cause of death?

An official cause of death has not been publicly released. The medical examiner’s office told The U.S. Sun he is believed to have died of natural causes at his Missouri home on October 3, after complaining of chest pain.

Who played Bo Brady on Days of Our Lives?

Peter Reckell originated the role of Bo Brady. Robert Kelker-Kelly played the character from 1992 to 1995, appearing in nearly 600 episodes, after which Reckell returned to the part.

Where did Robert Kelker-Kelly live?

He lived in St. Peters, Missouri, where he worked as a professional pilot and flight instructor after stepping away from acting.

What other shows did Robert Kelker-Kelly appear in?

He played Sam Fowler and later Dr. Shane Roberts on Another World, and Stavros Cassadine on General Hospital in 2001 and again from 2013 to 2014.