# Peter Reckell
**Peter Reckell** is an American actor and musician, best known for originating the role of [Bo Brady](https://www.edgepedia.org/bo-brady) on the daytime soap opera *Days of Our Lives* in 1983, a role he has carried across roughly four decades of intermittent runs. His pairing with [Kristian Alfonso](https://www.edgepedia.org/kristian-alfonso)'s Hope Brady became one of daytime television's best-known supercouples, and the part earned him six [Soap Opera Digest Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/soap-opera-digest-awards) and a first Daytime Emmy nomination in 2009.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1955, in Elkhart, Indiana[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005340/) |
| Signature role | Bo Brady, *Days of Our Lives*, originated 1983; IMDb credits him with 3,528 episodes across runs from 1983 through 2025[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005340/) |
| Other series roles | Eric Hollister on *As the World Turns* (1980–82), Johnny Rourke on *Knots Landing* (1988–89), Richard on *Venice the Series* (2010–12)[2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/reckell-peter-1955) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005340/) |
| Awards | Soap Opera Digest Awards, including Outstanding Actor (1984–86) and Hottest Male Star (1996); Special Fan Award, America's Favorite Couple, Daytime Emmys 2002 (with Kristian Alfonso)[2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/reckell-peter-1955) • [3](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/actors/peter-reckell/) |
| Emmy nomination | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, 2009, twenty-six years after his *Days* debut[4](https://michaelfairmantv.com/the-peter-reckell-interview-days-of-our-lives/2009/06/25/) |
| Marriages | Dale Kristien, 1987 (divorced 1991); singer Kelly Moneymaker, April 18, 1998; one daughter, Loden[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005340/) • [2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/reckell-peter-1955) |
| Music | Debut album *Peter Reckell*, released 2003 on Midnite Sun Records, produced by his wife Kelly Moneymaker[2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/reckell-peter-1955) • [5](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/peter-reckell) |
| Later life | Resides in Alaska; self-described environmentalist who has lived in a solar-powered home and drives an electric car[4](https://michaelfairmantv.com/the-peter-reckell-interview-days-of-our-lives/2009/06/25/) • [5](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/peter-reckell) |
## Early life and training
Reckell was born in 1955 in [Elkhart, Indiana](https://www.edgepedia.org/elkhart-indiana), and grew up in a family of six children[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005340/) • [6](https://www.tvinsider.com/1193735/days-of-our-lives-peter-reckell-return-bo-brady-drake-hogestyn-john-aniston-death-reaction-interview/). He trained at the Boston Conservatory, where he received a bachelor of fine arts in theater with a minor in music and dance, and then moved to New York City, where he appeared in productions including *The Pirates of Penzance* and *Guys and Dolls*[3](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/actors/peter-reckell/).
## Early television work
His first soap role was Eric Hollister on CBS's *As the World Turns*, which he played from 1980 to 1982[2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/reckell-peter-1955). His characters there married and left the fictional town of Oakdale for Seattle; Soap Opera Digest's career summary notes he was paired on the show with [Dana Delany](https://www.edgepedia.org/dana-delany), then a future star of *China Beach* and *Desperate Housewives*[7](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/days-of-our-lives-icon-peter-reckell-chats-live-with-michael-fairman/). He also played a single episode of *The Facts of Life* in 1982 as Alan Cooke[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005340/).
## Bo Brady and the Bo and Hope phenomenon
**The defining role.** In 1983, Reckell joined *Days of Our Lives* as Bo Brady, the rebellious younger brother of Roman Brady, arriving in the fictional town of Salem on a motorcycle[3](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/actors/peter-reckell/) • [8](https://tvsourcemagazine.com/2023/03/daytime-legend-peter-reckell-talks-days-of-our-lives-move-to-peacock-the-loves-of-bo-bradys-life-and-how-this-return-to-salem-will-be-different-exclusive/). His romance with [Hope Williams Brady](https://www.edgepedia.org/hope-williams-brady), played by Kristian Alfonso, quickly became a flagship pairing; the two married on screen for the first time on May 23, 1985, a date the show marked on air forty years later[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/1193735/days-of-our-lives-peter-reckell-return-bo-brady-drake-hogestyn-john-aniston-death-reaction-interview/). A 1990 student newspaper commentary at the time of his first return described [Bo and Hope](https://www.edgepedia.org/bo-brady-and-hope-williams) as "the couple that made 'Days' what it is today"[9](https://archives.nd.edu/observer/1990-04-24_v23_130.pdf).
The runs have been long but interrupted. Reckell played Bo from 1983 to 1987, when he and Alfonso left the show and their characters, with infant son Shawn-Douglas, sailed the world on their boat, the *Fancy Face*[10](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/peter-reckell-on-returning-to-days-i-would-love-to-come-back/). During the gap he moved to primetime, playing Johnny Rourke on *Knots Landing* from 1988 to 1989 across 31 episodes[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005340/).
**The 1990s.** Reckell returned in 1990 and stayed through 1992[10](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/peter-reckell-on-returning-to-days-i-would-love-to-come-back/). The role was then recast with [Robert Kelker-Kelly](https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-kelker-kelly), who played Bo from 1992 to 1995, a transition one television magazine noted viewers could manage because Kelker-Kelly greatly resembled Reckell[11](https://archive.cantonpl.org/observer/1992/04_Apr%201992/04-13-1992.pdf). When producer Ken Corday offered Reckell his old job back in 1995, the actor later recalled being "shocked" before accepting; Kelker-Kelly was out, and Reckell set about regrowing the beard that had become part of the character's look[12](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-09-03-tv-41684-story.html). He stayed from 1995 until 2012, when Bo left town with his mother Caroline[10](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/peter-reckell-on-returning-to-days-i-would-love-to-come-back/).
**Death and resurrection.** The character has followed the genre's habit of improbable returns. In 2015 Reckell came back for a short arc in which Bo was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor and died in Hope's arms[10](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/peter-reckell-on-returning-to-days-i-would-love-to-come-back/). In 2022 the Peacock spinoff *[Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem](https://www.edgepedia.org/days-of-our-lives-beyond-salem)* revealed that Bo had been alive in cryogenic confinement, and Reckell reprised the role across five episodes[10](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/peter-reckell-on-returning-to-days-i-would-love-to-come-back/) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005340/). On the main show in 2023, Bo reunited with Hope, was shot by his son Shawn, and slipped into a coma that lasted two years of story time[10](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/peter-reckell-on-returning-to-days-i-would-love-to-come-back/).
**The 2025 return.** Bo awoke in the spring 2025 storyline, and Reckell returned to the show in episodes airing from May 23, 2025, saying the experience felt like a family reunion, comparing returning to the cast to coming home for the holidays[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/1193735/days-of-our-lives-peter-reckell-return-bo-brady-drake-hogestyn-john-aniston-death-reaction-interview/). The material carried real grief: while Bo had been off canvas, his on-screen father [Victor Kiriakis](https://www.edgepedia.org/victor-kiriakis) ([John Aniston](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-aniston)) and father-in-law Doug Williams (Bill Hayes) had died, and in real life Aniston died in November 2022, Hayes in January 2024, [Drake Hogestyn](https://www.edgepedia.org/drake-hogestyn), who played John Black, in September 2024, and Wayne Northrop, who played Roman Brady, in November 2024[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/1193735/days-of-our-lives-peter-reckell-return-bo-brady-drake-hogestyn-john-aniston-death-reaction-interview/). Reckell said of the memorial scenes for Hogestyn's character that "there was no acting required," because the character's words paralleled his feelings for his friend[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/1193735/days-of-our-lives-peter-reckell-return-bo-brady-drake-hogestyn-john-aniston-death-reaction-interview/). In May 2025 he publicly stated on X that he would like to return for a longer run, writing, "I would love to go back, the show just has to find room for me"[10](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/peter-reckell-on-returning-to-days-i-would-love-to-come-back/).
## Awards and recognition
Soap Opera Digest named him Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Serial in 1984, 1985, and 1986, and Hottest Male Star in 1996, the year readers of the magazine voted him the category winner in a national ballot[2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/reckell-peter-1955) • [13](https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/02/15/Soap-Opera-Digest-winners/5640824360400/). He and Alfonso won Favorite Couple in 2001[14](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/2001-0/) and, voted on by fans, the Special Fan Award for America's Favorite Couple at the 2002 [Daytime Emmy Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/daytime-emmy-awards)[2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/reckell-peter-1955). His first acting nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series came in 2009, twenty-six years after his debut[4](https://michaelfairmantv.com/the-peter-reckell-interview-days-of-our-lives/2009/06/25/). In 1998 he hosted the 25th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards on NBC[15](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/1998/05/10/daytime-emmys/013b3282-3e0d-48c1-9607-f0b98b0c08da/).
## Work beyond Salem
Between soap runs Reckell took on television movies and guest roles, including *Shades of Love: Moonlight Flight* (1988), *Locked Up: A Mother's Rage* (1991), a part on *Baywatch* in 1993, *Women of the House* (1995), and *Sheena* (2001)[2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/reckell-peter-1955) • [5](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/peter-reckell). He appeared as Bo and Hope in a 2009 episode of *30 Rock*[5](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/peter-reckell), and played Richard in the web series *Venice the Series* from 2010 to 2012 across 24 episodes[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005340/). Stage work includes *The Fantasticks*, *Love Letters*, and *Brigadoon*, which he was performing shortly before his 1995 return to *Days*[2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/reckell-peter-1955) • [12](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-09-03-tv-41684-story.html).
He has also recorded music. His debut album *Peter Reckell* was released in 2003 on the independent label Midnite Sun Records, produced by Kelly Moneymaker[2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/reckell-peter-1955) • [5](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/peter-reckell).
## Personal life
Reckell married the actress Dale Kristien in December 1987; they divorced in 1991[2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/reckell-peter-1955) • [5](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/peter-reckell). He married singer, songwriter, and producer Kelly Moneymaker, formerly of the group Exposé, on April 18, 1998, and their daughter Loden was born in 2007[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005340/) • [5](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/peter-reckell).
An environmentalist, he has lived in a solar-powered home, driven an electric car, and biked for transportation; he won the 2003 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Grand Prix of Long Beach[5](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/peter-reckell) • [4](https://michaelfairmantv.com/the-peter-reckell-interview-days-of-our-lives/2009/06/25/). In interviews around his 2023 return he described his home in Alaska, where getting back into shape for the role consisted mostly of shoveling snow[16](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/icymi-peter-reckell-interview/). Around 2012 he and his wife had left Hollywood so their daughter could grow up outside the industry; by 2025 she was 17, and the couple has kept a low public profile between his return arcs[17](https://www.womansworld.com/entertainment/celebrities/peter-reckell-talks-days-of-our-lives-bo-hope-where-hes-been).
## References
1. [Peter Reckell, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005340/)
2. [Reckell, Peter 1955–, Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television via Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/reckell-peter-1955)
3. [Peter Reckell, Soap Opera Digest actor profile](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/actors/peter-reckell/)
4. [The Peter Reckell Interview, Michael Fairman TV (June 25, 2009)](https://michaelfairmantv.com/the-peter-reckell-interview-days-of-our-lives/2009/06/25/)
5. [Peter Reckell, VALÉORINE Encyclopedia](https://www.valeorine.com/reference/peter-reckell)
6. [Peter Reckell Talks Emotional Return to 'Days of Our Lives' After Recent Cast Losses, TV Insider (May 23, 2025)](https://www.tvinsider.com/1193735/days-of-our-lives-peter-reckell-return-bo-brady-drake-hogestyn-john-aniston-death-reaction-interview/)
7. [Days of our Lives Icon Peter Reckell Chats Live With Michael Fairman, Soap Opera Digest (March 5, 2025)](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/days-of-our-lives-icon-peter-reckell-chats-live-with-michael-fairman/)
8. [Daytime Legend Peter Reckell Talks 'Days of Our Lives' Move to Peacock, TV Source Magazine (March 16, 2023)](https://tvsourcemagazine.com/2023/03/daytime-legend-peter-reckell-talks-days-of-our-lives-move-to-peacock-the-loves-of-bo-bradys-life-and-how-this-return-to-salem-will-be-different-exclusive/)
9. [The Observer, University of Notre Dame (April 24, 1990)](https://archives.nd.edu/observer/1990-04-24_v23_130.pdf)
10. [Peter Reckell On Returning To DAYS: 'I Would Love To Come Back', Soap Opera Digest (May 7, 2025)](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/peter-reckell-on-returning-to-days-i-would-love-to-come-back/)
11. [Cable-TV Weekly, Canton Public Library archive (April 13–19, 1992)](https://archive.cantonpl.org/observer/1992/04_Apr%201992/04-13-1992.pdf)
12. [Peter Reckell Knows Bo, Los Angeles Times (September 3, 1995)](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-09-03-tv-41684-story.html)
13. [Soap Opera Digest winners, UPI Archives (February 15, 1996)](https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/02/15/Soap-Opera-Digest-winners/5640824360400/)
14. [2001, Soap Opera Digest Awards results](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/2001-0/)
15. [Daytime Emmys, The Washington Post (May 9, 1998)](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/1998/05/10/daytime-emmys/013b3282-3e0d-48c1-9607-f0b98b0c08da/)
16. [ICYMI Peter Reckell Interview, Soap Opera Digest (April 11, 2023)](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/icymi-peter-reckell-interview/)
17. [Peter Reckell Talks 'Days of Our Lives,' Bo & Hope and Where He's Been, Woman's World](https://www.womansworld.com/entertainment/celebrities/peter-reckell-talks-days-of-our-lives-bo-hope-where-hes-been)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 1970s to 1990s › Surnames Q to Ri*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license