Robert Kelker-Kelly’s Life and Sudden Passing

Robert Kelker-Kelly, well-known for his role as Bo Brady on “Days of Our Lives,” passed away due to arteriosclerotic heart disease. The St. Charles County medical examiner confirmed the cause of death as natural. The actor, who was also a professional pilot, experienced chest and left arm pain shortly before he died at age 62, according to a report from the St. Peters Police Department.

The police report highlights that his wife, Allison Kelly, picked him up from Spirit of St. Louis Airport around 7:30 p.m. on October 3. During their drive home, Kelker-Kelly complained of pain in his chest and left arm, even asking to pull over so he could vomit. Despite these symptoms, he declined his wife’s offer to visit a hospital, preferring to go home and rest instead.

Once home in Missouri, Kelker-Kelly changed clothes and went to bed. He continued to feel pain and requested aspirin. When his wife returned from the kitchen, she found him unresponsive. Kelly immediately called 911 and began CPR.

Emergency services, including St. Peters police and the St. Charles County Ambulance District, arrived shortly after 8 p.m. Paramedics tried to revive him, but Kelker-Kelly was pronounced dead at 9:09 p.m. Allison Kelly informed investigators that her husband had no known health issues or medication prescriptions. He had not suffered serious injuries or undergone surgery in the previous year.

Initial police assessments revealed no suspicious circumstances, indicating Kelker-Kelly suffered a medical event. Following his passing, the St. Charles County Medical Examiner’s Office did not pursue further investigation, consistent with the conclusion that the death was natural.

Born on April 18, 1964, in Wichita, Kansas, Robert Kelker-Kelly made his mark in soap operas, starting with “Another World” as Sam Fowler in 1987. He joined “Days of Our Lives” in 1992, taking over the role of Bo Brady. This part, originally played by Peter Reckell, was a significant addition to Kelker-Kelly’s career until he left the show in 1995. In 1994, he received the Soap Opera Digest Award for outstanding lead actor.

After “Days of Our Lives,” Kelker-Kelly appeared on ABC’s “General Hospital” as Stavros Cassadine, a villain in the powerful Cassadine family, from 2001 to 2003, and reprised the role in 2013 and 2014.