Robert Kelker-Kelly died of coronary artery disease at 62
Soap opera star Robert Kelker-Kelly died of arteriosclerotic heart disease at his home in St. Peters, Missouri, on October 3, at the age of 62, according to official records confirmed by St. Charles County’s Office of the Regional Medical Examiner. The manner of death was ruled natural after emergency responders attempted unsuccessful lifesaving measures.
Coronary Artery Disease Caused Death of Actor
The official cause of death was coronary artery disease, according to the regional medical examiner’s report obtained by USA TODAY. St. Peters Police Department officers responded to a report of an unconscious man who was not breathing at approximately 8:16 p.m. local time on October 3. First responders found CPR already in progress, but additional lifesaving measures failed, and Kelker-Kelly was pronounced dead at 9:09 p.m.
A police report detailed that the actor experienced pain in his left arm and chest at around 7:30 p.m. that evening while his wife, Allison Kelly, was driving him to the airport. He asked her to pull over so he could vomit, but declined an offer to go to the hospital. Upon returning home, Kelker-Kelly went to bed and asked for an aspirin. When his wife returned to the bedroom moments later, he was unresponsive and not breathing. Investigators found nothing suspicious at the scene, and the case was closed as a sudden death after officials determined no further investigation was necessary. Allison Kelly reported to investigators that her husband had no known medical conditions, major injuries, or recent surgeries.
Daytime Television Career Across Three Long-Running Soaps
Kelker-Kelly built a career across multiple daytime dramas, beginning in 1987 as Sam Fowler on Another World, where he appeared in 434 episodes through 1998, later returning as Bobby Reno. In 1992, he stepped into the role of Bo Brady on Days of Our Lives following Peter Reckell’s departure, starring in 586 episodes until 1995. He later joined General Hospital as Stavros Cassadine, appearing in 42 episodes between 2001 and 2014 before stepping away from the spotlight to work as a professional pilot in Missouri.
Following his passing, former costars shared reflections on his television work. Sandra Dee Robinson, who starred alongside him on Another World, posted a tribute on Instagram on October 5, noting that they shared a whirlwind experience during their early years in television and remained in touch over the years. In February, former Days of Our Lives costar Lisa Rinna mentioned their behind-the-scenes working relationship in her memoir, You Better Believe I’m Gonna Talk About It.
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