Robert Kelker-Kelly, Star of 'Days of Our Lives' and 'General Hospital,' Dies at 62

Daytime television fans are mourning the passing of Robert Kelker-Kelly, the actor who played the iconic character Bo Brady on the long-running soap opera, Days of Our Lives. Kelly died at the age of 62. His death has prompted a wave of searches online, as he was a familiar and beloved face to generations of viewers who grew up watching classic American soaps.

The medical examiner in Missouri confirmed that Kelker-Kelly’s passing occurred on Saturday, October 3rd. While his death is confirmed, the cause has not been disclosed at this time. Throughout his career, Kelly established himself as a staple of daytime television, appearing in three major soap operas and leaving an indelible mark on the genre.

Kelker-Kelly began his journey in daytime acting back in 1987 when he joined the cast of Another World, where he portrayed Sam Fowler. Five years later, he took on one of his most recognizable roles when he joined Days of Our Lives in 1992. His role as Bo Brady saw him succeed Peter Reckell, who had originally played the character starting in 1983. During his initial three-year run on the soap opera, Kelker-Kelly starred opposite Kristian Alfonso as Hope Williams Brady and Lisa Rinna as Billie Reed.

His performance was highly acclaimed; in fact, his portrayal of Bo earned him a Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in 1994. The following year cemented his status among fans when he and Rinna were named Hottest Couple at the 1995 Soap Opera Digest Awards for their characters, Bo and Billie. Although both actors departed from Days that year—with Reckell ultimately returning to the role of Bo—Kelker-Kelly continued to build a notable career.

Decades later, his personal life and professional relationships resurfaced in public discussion. Specifically, Lisa Rinna opened up about her relationship with Kelker-Kelly in her 2026 memoir. In that book, she alleged that their former costar was verbally abusive and manipulative toward her during the time they worked together. Rinna also recounted that following his departure from Days of Our Lives, NBC provided security for both her and Alfonso for several weeks. Kelly did not publicly respond to these allegations.

Beyond his initial run on *Days*, Kelker-Kelly continued working in daytime television, notably joining General Hospital as Stavros Cassadine. He played the role during a period from 2001–2002, and returned for appearances later in 2013 and 2014. Outside of his acting career, Kelly also maintained another profession: he was a professional pilot.

On the personal front, Kelker-Kelly married actress Linda Rattner in 1988, though the couple divorced in 1992. Later, he wed fellow Days of Our Lives costar Miriam Parrish in 1997; they divorced in 2013. Robert Kelker-Kelly’s life and career spanned decades of television history, making him a significant figure whose passing is being widely noted by fans who remember his memorable performances on the biggest soap operas.