Robert Kelker-Kelly's Final Moments Detailed After Death at 62
Wife reported actor complained of chest and arm pain before becoming unresponsive; cause of death remains unknown.
The final moments of actor Robert Kelker-Kelly, known for his role on "Days of Our Lives," have been revealed following his death at the age of 62. His wife, Allison Kelly, retrieved him from Spirit Airport in Missouri around 7:30 p.m. on October 3. While driving home, Robert reported experiencing pain in his left arm and chest and asked his wife to stop the car so he could vomit.
According to a St. Peters Police incident report, Robert declined his wife's offer to go to a hospital, requesting instead to be taken home to lie down. After changing his clothes, he lay down in their bed. He continued to express pain and asked for an aspirin. Allison Kelly went to the kitchen to retrieve it, and upon her return to the bedroom, she found Robert unresponsive and not breathing. She then called 911.
Emergency dispatch audio captured efforts to save the actor's life. Responders noted a "62-year-old male" who was "not breathing" and "not conscious." An automated voice reported a "cardiac arrest" at the address. Division Chief and Public Information Officer Kyle Gaines of the St. Charles County Ambulance District confirmed that first responders were dispatched to a call for an "adult male patient in cardiac arrest" and that Kelker-Kelly was "pronounced deceased on scene by paramedics." Police indicated there was nothing suspicious at the scene, and the cause of death is currently unknown according to the Missouri medical examiner.
Kelker-Kelly was most recognized for his portrayal of Bo Brady on the NBC soap opera "Days of Our Lives" from 1992 to 1995. During this period, his character was involved in a storyline with Billie Reed, played by Lisa Rinna. Rinna, in her memoir released earlier this year, described a contentious relationship with Kelker-Kelly on set, stating he made her life "a living hell" and was "verbally abusive."
Kelker-Kelly also held roles on "General Hospital" and its spin-off "Port Charles," as well as on "Another World" for over 431 episodes between 1987 and 1998, where he played multiple characters including Sam Fowler, Bobby Reno, and Dr. Shane Roberts. His other television credits include "Jack's Place," "Touched by an Angel," and "Rescue 77."
Beyond his acting career, Kelker-Kelly was a professional aircraft pilot, working in that field from 2003 to 2015. He held type ratings for the GIV, LR60, LR45, CE560, and CE500 aircraft.