Robert Kelker-Kelly Dies at 62, Lisa Rinna’s Days of Our Lives Co-Star

Robert Kelker-Kelly, the actor best known for playing Bo Brady on NBC’s long-running soap opera Days of Our Lives, has died at 62.

The cause of death remains unknown, according to the Missouri medical examiner, TMZ reported Monday. Kelker-Kelly was also widely recognized for his on-screen romance with Lisa Rinna.

According to the publication, Kelker-Kelly died at home after complaining of chest pain and later becoming unresponsive.

The St. Peters Police Department told TMZ that officers were called to the actor’s home on October 3 at approximately 8:16 p.m. following a report of “an unconscious man who was not breathing.”

CPR was already underway when police and emergency medical personnel were dispatched, but attempts to save his life were unsuccessful. Law enforcement said the circumstances appeared to be consistent with a medical event.

Kelker-Kelly rose to prominence as Bo Brady on Days of Our Lives, temporarily taking over the role originated by Peter Reckell. He played the character from 1992 until 1995.

During that time, Bo was romantically involved with Billie Reed, played by Rinna in one of her breakthrough daytime television roles.

Despite their characters’ romance, Rinna said their relationship off camera was far more difficult. Earlier this year, she accused Kelker-Kelly of making her life “a living hell” while they worked together on the iconic soap opera.

“Behind the scenes we hated each other,” Rinna wrote in her memoir, You Better Believe I’m Gonna Talk About It, which was released in February.

“Remember when Kathy Hilton said I was the biggest bully in Hollywood? Not true. Not even close! I have legit stories about the real bullies in this town. Robert Kelker-Kelly is one of those bullies,” she continued.

“He made my life a living hell on the set of Days. He was horrible to me. I’d go so far as to say verbally abusive. He was passive aggressive, manipulative, and played weird mind games.”

Rinna added: “I had to work with him every day, often half naked to do love scenes. If I didn’t do what he wanted, he’d give me the silent treatment.

“He was a ticking time bomb. I never knew when I arrived on set each morning if I’d get nice Robert Kelker-Kelly or dark Robert Kelker-Kelly. He was unpredictable and it was exhausting.”

Rinna said she was relieved when Kelker-Kelly abruptly departed the show and was replaced by Reckell, who had originally portrayed Bo Brady from 1983 to 1992.

She also claimed that, following his exit, NBC provided her and Kristian Alfonso—who played Kelker-Kelly’s other love interest, Hope Brady—with a security team. Rinna said she did not believe he posed a threat and suggested the security measures were unnecessary.

“Suddenly, one day, he disappeared from the Days set. Next thing I knew Kristian and I had our own full-time security detail,” she alleged.

“I wasn’t worried about physical harm, but NBC had to cover their ass. We had rent-a-cops parked outside our houses and trailers for three weeks and were driven to and from work.”

Kelker-Kelly continued his soap opera starring as Stavros Cassidine in General Hospital spin-off series Port Charles in 1997.

Years later he joined the flagship soap opera cast as the same character over 42 episodes of General Hospital from 2001 to 2014. 

He also starred in NBC soap opera Another World over 431 episodes from 1987 to 1998.

Kelker-Kelly had multiple roles on the show including as Sam Fowler, Bobby Reno, and Dr. Shane Roberts. 

Other television roles he is known for included Jack’s Place (1992), Touched by an Angel (1995), and Rescue 77 (1999). 

Kelker-Kelly did not just have acting skills but was also a professional aircraft pilot.

He worked in that field from 2003 to 2015 and type rated in the GIV, LR60, LR45, CE560 and CE500.

The actor married Linda Rattner in 1988 as they divorced in 1992 then he married actress Miriam Parrish in 1997 before ultimately divorcing in 2011.