Robert Kelker-Kelly, known for Days of Our Lives, dies at 62

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

The actor’s death was confirmed by a Missouri medical examiner on Saturday, October 3. No cause of death has been publicly revealed at this time.

Kelker-Kelly became a familiar face to daytime television audiences during a career that included appearances on three major soap operas. He built a strong reputation through his work on popular daytime dramas and became particularly well known for his time on Days of Our Lives.

The actor began his television career in the world of soap operas in 1987 when he joined Another World. He played the role of Sam Fowler, marking his first major step into daytime television. His performance helped establish him as a rising name in the genre.

Five years later, Kelker-Kelly took on one of the biggest roles of his career. In 1992, he joined Days of Our Lives as Bo Brady, replacing Peter Reckell, who had originally played the character after Bo was introduced in 1983.

Kelker-Kelly remained on the series for around three years and quickly became an important part of the show. During his time as Bo, he worked alongside several well-known actors, including Kristian Alfonso, who played Hope Williams Brady, and Lisa Rinna, who portrayed Billie Reed.

His performance as Bo Brady earned him major recognition. In 1994, Kelker-Kelly won the Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Lead Actor, highlighting his popularity among daytime television viewers.

His on-screen pairing with Rinna also received significant attention. In 1995, Kelker-Kelly and Rinna were honored as Hottest Couple at the Soap Opera Digest Awards for their work as Bo and Billie. Their storyline had become one of the notable parts of the soap opera during their time on the series.

Both Kelker-Kelly and Rinna left Days of Our Lives in 1995. After Kelker-Kelly’s departure, Peter Reckell eventually returned to the role of Bo Brady.

Years later, Rinna spoke about her experience working with Kelker-Kelly in her 2026 memoir. She alleged that the actor had been verbally abusive and manipulative toward her during their time working together. Rinna also claimed that NBC arranged security for both her and Alfonso for several weeks after Kelker-Kelly left the show.

Kelker-Kelly did not publicly respond to those allegations.

The actor continued his career in daytime television after leaving Days of Our Lives. In 2001, he joined General Hospital, another major American soap opera, where he played the character Stavros Cassadine.

Kelker-Kelly portrayed Stavros from 2001 to 2002. He later returned to General Hospital for additional appearances in 2013 and 2014, giving him another opportunity to revisit the popular soap opera world.

Throughout his career, Kelker-Kelly remained closely associated with daytime television. His portrayal of Bo Brady became his most recognizable role and helped make him a familiar name among soap opera fans during the 1990s.

His death at 62 marks the loss of an actor whose career was closely connected to some of American television’s most established daytime dramas. While details surrounding his death remain limited, his work on Days of Our Lives, Another World and General Hospital remains an important part of his television legacy.