Robert Kelker-Kelly, best known to generations of daytime television viewers as Bo Brady on Days of Our Lives, has died at the age of 62.
Kelker-Kelly died on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at his home in St Peters, Missouri. His death was confirmed by the Missouri medical examiner, although an official cause of death has not been released.
The actor’s death comes months after his name resurfaced in the headlines following allegations made by former Days of Our Lives co-star Lisa Rinna in her memoir.
Police respond to medical emergency
According to the St Peters Police Department, officers were called to Kelker-Kelly’s home at about 8.16pm after receiving a report of an unconscious man who was not breathing.
Authorities said CPR was already being performed when officers arrived. Police and emergency responders continued attempts to save him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police reportedly said Kelker-Kelly had complained of chest pain before becoming unresponsive. There were no indications of foul play, with authorities describing the circumstances as consistent with a medical event.
His exact cause of death remains undisclosed.
He became Bo Brady
Kelker-Kelly made his television debut in 1987 on Another World, playing Sam Fowler. He later returned to the soap in different roles, including Shane Roberts and Bobby Reno.
His biggest breakthrough came in 1992 when he took over the role of Bo Brady on Days of Our Lives from Peter Reckell.
For nearly three years, Kelker-Kelly played the popular character, appearing in close to 600 episodes and sharing major storylines with Kristian Alfonso’s Hope Brady and Rinna’s Billie Reed.
His pairing with Rinna became particularly memorable among viewers, with Bo and Billie becoming a popular on-screen couple. The pair won the Soap Opera Digest Award for Hottest Soap Couple in 1995. Kelker-Kelly also won the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in 1994.
Reckell eventually returned to the role of Bo in 1995.
A demanding life in daytime television
Kelker-Kelly later spoke about the punishing schedule that came with working on a daily soap.
In an interview with We Love Soaps, he recalled working an average of 90 hours a week while the production could shoot one or two episodes a day.
“I was working, on average, 90 hours a week,” he said, describing the volume of dialogue and the relentless production schedule.
He also spoke about the physical preparation required for the role, recalling early mornings at the gym before spending most of the day at the studio.
His journey into television had also come during a difficult period. Kelker-Kelly previously revealed that he was homeless when he landed his first role on Another World, at one point sleeping in his Jeep or on friends’ floors while working as a secretary in Los Angeles.
From Days of Our Lives to General Hospital
After leaving Days of Our Lives, Kelker-Kelly continued working in television.
He joined another major daytime soap, General Hospital, where he portrayed Stavros Cassadine. He first played the character from 2001 to 2003 and returned to the role in 2013 and 2014.
His other television credits included Touched by an Angel, Maybe This Time, Rescue 77 and Jack’s Place.
Away from acting, he developed a second career in aviation. Kelker-Kelly became a professional pilot and later worked as a charter pilot in Missouri, where he also taught flying.
