Robert Kelker-Kelly
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Robert Kelker-Kelly (born April 18, 1964) is an American soap opera actor.
He attended Wichita Collegiate School in Wichita, Kansas from 1977-1980, where he was active in the theatre and had major roles in several plays, including Rusty in Guys and Dolls; Bill Sikes in Oliver! and Sir Lionel in Camelot. He briefly attended the University of Kansas but decided to forego college in favor of pursuing his acting career. His initial daytime role was as Sam Fowler on the soap opera Another World, a role he originally played from 1987 to 1990. The character of Sam was involved in a front-burner story with rich socialite Amanda Cory.
In 1992, Kelker-Kelly was chosen to portray Bo Brady, an established role on Days of Our Lives that was being vacated by the creator of the role, actor Peter Reckell. Although Kelker-Kelly was a recast, fans accepted his portrayal of Bo. The character's pairing with reformed bad girl Billie Reed (Lisa Rinna) was a popular storyline and garnered Kelker-Kelly his widest audience. Despite this popularity, he was replaced at Days of Our Lives in 1995 when Reckell was persuaded to return.
In 1996 he returned to Another World as Bobby Reno. In a convoluted storyline, Bobby was later found to be Shane Roberts. He played the dual roles until 1998. Later, he portrayed Stavros Cassadine on General Hospital in 2001, with guest spots in 2002 and 2003.
[edit] Controversies
Kelker-Kelly was embroiled in scandal when he abruptly left the role of AW's Sam in 1990. Rumors flew, ranging from drug use to fisticuffs to sexually harassing his co-star, Sandra Ferguson, who portrayed Amanda. (In 1992 he vehemently denied all the rumors in an interview with Soap Opera Digest.)
In 1995 he was at the center of another controversy. While at Days of Our Lives, he started dating a much younger co-star, Miriam Parrish. He started to court Parrish as soon as she turned 18, and garnered media attention due to the thirteen-year age difference. They married in 1997. The couple has settled in New England. Aside from sporadic acting appearances, Kelker-Kelly has retired from the Hollywood circuit, and is pursuing a pilot certificate. He works as an airframe mechanic.
