Lisa Rinna Accused Robert Kelker-Kelly of Bullying Months Before His Death: 'He Made My Life Hell'

Robert Kelker-Kelly, best known for playing Bo Brady on 'Days of Our Lives', died on 3 October 2026 aged 62, according to TMZ. The publication said a medical examiner in Missouri confirmed the date; no cause of death was disclosed in the report.

His death comes months after former co-star Lisa Rinna described their difficult working relationship in her memoir, 'You Better Believe I'm Gonna Talk About It'. In passages reported in February, she accused him of verbal abuse and manipulation and wrote that he 'made my life a living hell' on the programme's set.

Rinna Described Contentious Working Relationship

In extracts published by People on 27 February, Rinna identified Kelker-Kelly as 'one of those bullies' she had encountered in Hollywood. The pair worked together as romantic leads on 'Days of Our Lives', with Rinna playing Billie Reed opposite his Bo Brady.

'He was horrible to me. I'd go so far as to say verbally abusive,' she wrote. Rinna also described him as passive-aggressive and manipulative, alleging that he played 'weird mind games' and gave her the silent treatment when she did not do what he wanted.

Rinna wrote that she never knew which version of her co-star she would encounter when she arrived on set. She described him as a 'ticking time bomb', reflecting her account of the tension between them.

The allegations concern Rinna's recollection of their working relationship. The reporting cited does not independently establish the conduct she described.

Rinna Recalled Security Arrangements

Rinna also wrote about what she said happened following Kelker-Kelly's departure from 'Days of Our Lives'.

According to her account, he suddenly disappeared from the set, after which she and co-star Kristian Alfonso received full-time security. Rinna said guards were stationed outside their homes and trailers for about three weeks and that the actresses were driven to and from work.

She said she had not feared physical harm but believed NBC wanted to protect itself. That explanation was her interpretation of the arrangements, not a confirmed statement of the network's reasons.

Page Six reported on 26 February that NBC had not immediately responded to its requests for comment. People reported the following day that Kelker-Kelly had not immediately responded to its request.

Those reports do not establish why security was provided or identify a specific threat from Kelker-Kelly.

On-Screen Partnership Earned Recognition

The relationship Rinna described differed sharply from the romance viewers saw between Billie and Bo.

Their pairing earned Rinna and Kelker-Kelly the 1995 Soap Opera Digest Award for Hottest Soap Couple. Kelker-Kelly had also won Outstanding Lead Actor at the awards in 1994.

Their characters' romantic storylines required the actors to work closely together, including filming intimate scenes. Rinna's memoir describes that experience as difficult despite the recognition their on-screen partnership received.

The shared award documents the success of their television pairing. It does not resolve the allegations about their relationship away from the cameras.

Kelker-Kelly's Daytime Television Career

Kelker-Kelly began his television career on 'Another World' in 1987, playing Sam Fowler. He joined 'Days of Our Lives' in 1992, taking over the role of Bo Brady from Peter Reckell.

He played Bo until 1995, when Reckell returned. During Kelker-Kelly's tenure, the character featured in storylines involving Rinna's Billie Reed and Alfonso's Hope Brady.

He later portrayed Stavros Cassadine on 'General Hospital', appearing during several periods between 2001 and 2014. Reports following his death also noted his work as a professional pilot.

His portrayal of Bo remained one of his most recognisable roles, alongside his appearances on two other long-running daytime dramas.