{
  "id": 12311452,
  "title": "‘Days of Our Lives’ star Robert Kelker-Kelly dies at 62",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/days-of-our-lives-star-robert-kelker-kelly-dies-at-62",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-06T05:48:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IOL",
    "slug": "iol",
    "url": "https://iol.co.za/entertainment/celebrity-news/2026-10-06-days-of-our-lives-star-robert-kelker-kelly-dies-at-62/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Robert Kelker-Kelly, a prominent actor known for his role as Bo Brady on the long-running U.S. daytime soap opera \"Days of Our Lives,\" has passed away at the age of 62. The medical examiner confirmed his death on October 3, 2026, after he was found unresponsive at his home in Missouri due to chest pain. Despite CPR attempts, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Law enforcement found no suspicious circumstances, suggesting a medical event as the cause of death.\n\nKelker-Kelly took over the role of Bo Brady from Peter Reckell in 1992, portraying the character until 1995. His time on the soap opera was demanding, with an average workweek of 90 hours and extensive physical exertion due to the character's on-screen romances and intense dialogue requirements. Kelker-Kelly previously stated that this schedule took a heavy toll on his health.\n\nOff-screen, Kelker-Kelly's relationship with co-star Lisa Rinna was reportedly tumultuous. Rinna, in her memoir, described Kelker-Kelly as verbally abusive and manipulative, alleging that he made her life a living hell on set. Despite this strained relationship, Kelker-Kelly had previously worked with Rinna on another soap opera, \"Another World,\" where he played Sam Fowler in 1987.\n\nKelker-Kelly began his acting career in 1987 with a role on \"Another World.\" His career included appearances on \"General Hospital\" as Stavros Cassadine from 2001 to 2003, with a return to the role in 2013 and 2014. Following his departure from the soap opera world, he pursued a career as a charter pilot for a company based at Spirit of St. Louis airport in St. Louis, Missouri. He also continued to teach acting intermittently through private coaching and monologue work.",
  "summary": "Soap opera fans are mourning the death of “Days of Our Lives” star Robert Kelker-Kelly, who played Bo Brady from 1992 to 1995.",
  "key_points": [
    "Robert Kelker-Kelly, 62, died on October 3, 2026",
    "Found unresponsive at Missouri home due to chest pain",
    "No suspicious circumstances, medical event likely"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The passing of Robert Kelker-Kelly marks the end of a decades-long career that was marked by both notable roles on popular soap operas and personal struggles that took a toll on his health.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}