Robert Kelker-Kelly, 'Days of Our Lives' Star, Died of Arteriosclerotic Heart Disease
The actor, also known for his work on 'Another World' and 'General Hospital,' died at 62 after experiencing chest and arm pain.
Robert Kelker-Kelly, the actor recognized for his role as Bo Brady on the soap opera "Days of Our Lives," died from arteriosclerotic heart disease, the St. Charles County medical examiner confirmed. His death has been ruled natural.
Kelker-Kelly, 62, also a professional pilot, reported chest and left arm pain shortly before his death, according to a police report. His wife, Allison Kelly, stated that she picked him up from the Spirit of St. Louis Airport on Oct. 3. During the drive home, he experienced pain and asked her to pull over so he could vomit.
Despite his wife asking if he needed to go to the hospital, Kelker-Kelly declined, requesting instead to be taken home to rest. Upon arrival at their Missouri residence, he changed his clothes and went to bed. He continued to experience discomfort and asked his wife for an aspirin.
When Allison Kelly returned from the kitchen, she found her husband unresponsive and not breathing. She immediately called 911 and began CPR. First responders from the St. Peters Police Department and the St. Charles County Ambulance District arrived shortly after 8 p.m. Paramedics attempted life-saving measures, but Kelker-Kelly was pronounced dead at 9:09 p.m.
Investigators found no suspicious circumstances at the scene, with police noting that the circumstances appeared consistent with a medical event. Kelker-Kelly reportedly had no known medical conditions and was not taking prescription medications, nor had he undergone any recent surgeries or serious injuries, according to his wife.
Born April 18, 1964, in Wichita, Kansas, Kelker-Kelly began his acting career in daytime television in 1987 as Sam Fowler on "Another World." He joined "Days of Our Lives" in 1992, taking over the role of Bo Brady. He remained with the show until 1995 and received a Soap Opera Digest Award for outstanding lead actor in 1994.
Following his departure from "Days of Our Lives," Kelker-Kelly appeared on ABC's "General Hospital" from 2001 to 2003, portraying the villainous Stavros Cassadine. He reprised the role in 2013 and 2014.