What To Know
- Actor Robert Kelker-Kelly, 62, died of arteriosclerotic heart disease on October 3.
- He experienced chest and arm pain before becoming unresponsive at his Missouri home.
- Kelker-Kelly was best known for playing Bo Brady on Days of Our Lives from 1992 to 1995.
Days of Our Lives star Robert Kelker-Kelly was found dead at his home in Missouri on Saturday, October 3, at 62 years old, and now the cause of his death has officially been revealed.
According to People, the Office of the Regional Medical Examiner in St. Charles, Missouri, confirmed the actor died of arteriosclerotic heart disease. His manner of death was ruled natural.
“Arteriosclerosis happens when the blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients from the heart to the rest of the body become thick and stiff,” the Mayo Clinic says. Penn Medicine notes that if left untreated, arteriosclerosis can trigger a heart attack or stroke.
Kelker-Kelly, best known for portraying Bo Brady on Days of Our Lives, experienced chest and arm pain, according to a police report People obtained. His wife, Allison Kelly, told authorities that her husband first mentioned the pain in his left arm and chest after she picked him up from Spirit Airport; since 2003, Kelker-Kelly had worked as a professional pilot.
The former soap star asked his wife to pull over so he could vomit. Allison asked if he needed to go to the hospital, but he said he wanted to go home and rest. However, the pain persisted at home, and he asked his wife to bring him an aspirin.
Allison retrieved the medication from their kitchen, but when she returned to the bedroom, she found her husband “unresponsive and not breathing.” She called 911 and attempted CPR. The St. Charles County Ambulance District “attempted life-saving measures” after arriving at the home, but Kelker-Kelly was pronounced dead at 9:09 pm.
According to his wife, Kelker-Kelly had no known medical conditions and wasn’t on any prescription medications. She also said he hadn’t suffered any serious injuries or undergone surgery in the past year. St. Charles County Medical Examiner released Kelker-Kelly “with no further need for investigation,” and police closed the case.
Kelker-Kelly began his career on the soap Another World, where he played Sam Fowler from 1987 to 1998. However, he was better known for playing Bo Brady on Days of Our Lives, appearing in nearly 600 episodes. He stepped into the role in 1992 and continued with the character through 1995, taking over the part for Peter Reckell.