Robert Kelker-Kelly, known for his role in the soap opera "Days of Our Lives," has died at the age of 62. He passed away on October 3 at his home in Missouri, according to a medical examiner's report. The St. Peters Police Department stated that officers found him unconscious at approximately 8:16 p.m. local time, and despite life-saving measures, he was not breathing and could not be revived. The cause of death has not yet been determined.
Kelker-Kelly was born on April 18, 1964, in Cleveland, Ohio, to nurse Jonetta Kelker and forensic pathologist Robert Kelker. He later moved to Wichita, Kansas, where he spent his childhood until the age of 18. He began his acting career in high school, inspired by William Shakespeare, and after graduating, he relocated to Florida to pursue theater.
His acting career took off when he debuted in 1987 as Sam Fowler in the soap opera "Another World," a role he held for three years. He described a challenging period during this time, stating he was homeless and working as a secretary while trying to establish himself in acting. In 1992, he was cast as Bo Brady on "Days of Our Lives," a role previously played by Peter Reckell. He worked on the show until 1995, often putting in 90-hour weeks and performing extensive dialogue.
Kelker-Kelly expressed dissatisfaction with his time on "Days of Our Lives," stating that the material had declined and he was considering leaving the acting profession altogether. After departing from the show, he moved to New York City and later took on the role of Stavros Cassadine on "General Hospital" in 2001, which he described as a positive experience.
Throughout his career, he received two Soap Opera Digest Awards, including Outstanding Lead Actor for his performance on "Days of Our Lives" in 1994. Earlier this year, he was mentioned in the memoir of his former co-star Lisa Rinna, who accused him of being verbally abusive during their time on the show. Kelker-Kelly did not publicly respond to these allegations.
After stepping back from acting, he became a certified commercial pilot in St. Louis, Missouri, and also taught acting privately. He was previously married to actress Miriam Parrish from 1997 to 2013 and is survived by his daughter, Amelia Rose Kelly.