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Soap Star Robert Kelker-Kelly Dies at 62

He was a fan favorite on ‘Days of Our Lives’ and also appeared on ‘Another World’ and ‘General Hospital’

AARP

Published October 06, 2026

robert kelker-kelly with a beard looking handsome

Robert Kelker-Kelly, who gained fame playing Bo Brady on "Days of Our Lives," has died. He was 62.

Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Robert Kelker-Kelly, who starred on a series of soap operas starting in the 1980s, has died. He was 62.

Kelker-Kelly’s death was confirmed by TMZ. The cause is not yet known, though TMZ reports that he passed away at his home in St. Peters, Missouri, on October 3 after complaining of chest pains.

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Kelker-Kelly made his acting debut in 1987, portraying Sam Fowler on Another World. In 1992, he took on his most famous role, Bo Brady on Days of Our Lives. He won the Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in 1994. In 1995, he and costar Lisa Rinna were named Hottest Couple at the Soap Opera Digest Awards.

Earlier this year, Rinna wrote in her memoir You Better Believe I’m Gonna Talk About It that her relationship with Kelker-Kelly was troubled from the start.

“Behind the scenes, we hated each other,” Rinna wrote in her book, which was excerpted by People magazine. “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."

Rinna’s book also claimed that NBC had to provide security for her and another Days of Our Lives Star, Kristian Alfonso, for several weeks after Kelker-Kelly’s departure.

Kelker-Kelly kept working in soaps after leaving Days of Our Lives. He had stints as Stavros Cassadine on General Hospital from 2001 to 2002, and again in 2013 and 2014. He was also a professional airplane pilot.

Kelker-Kelly was born on April 18, 1964, in Wichita, Kansas. He starred in several stage productions in high school before briefly attending the University of Kansas. He left college early to pursue his acting career.

According to People, Kelker-Kelly married Linda Rattner in 1988. They divorced in 1992. In 1997, he married Days of Our Lives costar Miriam Parrish. They divorced in 2013.