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Robert Joseph Gilliam is best known to the public because he was married to the late actress Lisa Robin Kelly, who played Laurie Forman in That ’70s Show. There is not much confirmed information about his early life or career in reliable sources. But there are clear public records about his short marriage to Kelly, the legal problems around that time, and the legal steps he took after her death in 2013. This article brings those facts together and keeps the language simple so everyone can follow.
uick bio (at a glance)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Robert Joseph Gilliam |
| Known for | Husband of actress Lisa Robin Kelly (from That ’70s Show) |
| Relationship | Married in 2012; later separated |
| Key events | Both arrested after a dispute in North Carolina (Nov 2012); Kelly filed for divorce and a restraining order in 2013; Gilliam later filed a wrongful-death lawsuit after Kelly’s death |
| Public records suggest | He was 61 years old in Nov 2012 (so birth year is likely around 1951) |
Meeting and marriage to Lisa Robin Kelly
Reliable reports show that Gilliam and Kelly were a couple in 2012 and married that same year. Several news stories from late 2012 refer to Gilliam as Kelly’s husband, which confirms the marriage had already taken place by November 2012. These reports came from local TV stations that covered a police call to their home in Mooresville, North Carolina.
Some later retrospectives mention October 2012 as the wedding month, but local contemporary reports did not print an exact wedding date. For this reason, it is safest to say “they married in 2012.”
A difficult relationship in the public eye
The November 2012 incident
On November 28–29, 2012, Mooresville police answered a disturbance call at the couple’s home. Both Kelly (42) and Gilliam (61) were arrested and charged with assault. Local outlets reported the arrests, their ages, and that both were given bond the next morning. These reports provide the clearest public record of the event.
Divorce filing and restraining order in 2013
In mid-2013, Kelly took legal steps to end the marriage. A public court record shows that on June 28, 2013, she filed a family case against Robert Joseph Gilliam in Los Angeles County (a divorce/separation matter). Around the same time, entertainment press also reported that she had obtained a restraining order. The court listing and multiple news items together confirm the separation and the serious problems between them.
Kelly’s death and Gilliam’s wrongful-death lawsuit
Lisa Robin Kelly died on August 15, 2013, in a treatment facility in Altadena, California. The Los Angeles County Coroner later stated the cause as “multiple drug intoxication.” Major outlets covered these findings.
In June 2014, Gilliam, described in headlines as Kelly’s estranged husband, filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against Pax House, the rehab facility. The Hollywood Reporter and other media covered the filing, noting that Gilliam claimed negligence in Kelly’s care. A year later, in September 2015, a brief report said that the wrongful-death suit had been settled. The short notice did not share settlement terms, but it showed that the case ended without a public trial verdict.
What we know and do not know about Gilliam himself
Known facts
- Gilliam was married to Kelly in 2012 and was publicly known as her husband that year.
- He was 61 at the time of the November 2012 arrests, which suggests a birth year around 1951.
- Kelly filed for divorce and obtained a restraining order in 2013.
- Gilliam sued the rehab facility in 2014, and the case settled in 2015.
Unknown or unclear points
There are many personal details about Gilliam that are not confirmed in high-quality sources, such as his exact birthplace, education, or job history. Some newer blog posts on the web make claims about his profession or personal background, but these claims are not backed by primary records or established reporting. For this reason, they are not included here. When writing about a person with little public record, it is better to rely on local news reports, court indexes, and major outlets that cite official documents.
Context: Lisa Robin Kelly’s struggles
Kelly’s story helps explain why the relationship drew media attention. She was a TV star who faced substance-use problems, arrests, and career breaks before her death. Her obituary and later reports summarized these troubles and the official cause of death. This background is important because Gilliam’s lawsuit argued that the rehab center did not give proper care during her final days.
Why sources matter for this topic
Stories about celebrities and their partners often get repeated online with errors. For Robert Joseph Gilliam, the strongest facts come from local North Carolina news reports, Los Angeles court indexes, and major outlets that covered the 2014 lawsuit and 2015 settlement. Using these types of sources helps keep the record clear and fair.
Timeline (simple)
- 2012 – Kelly and Gilliam are married; by November 2012, police respond to a domestic disturbance at their home in Mooresville, NC; both are arrested.
- June 28, 2013 – Kelly files a divorce/separation case and seeks a restraining order.
- August 15, 2013 – Kelly dies in a rehab facility; later ruled “multiple drug intoxication.”
- June 2014 – Gilliam files a wrongful-death lawsuit against the facility.
- September 2015 – Reported settlement of that lawsuit.
Closing thoughts
Robert Joseph Gilliam entered the public eye because of his brief and troubled marriage to Lisa Robin Kelly. Good reporting from local stations and respected trade outlets shows a clear timeline: marriage in 2012, a domestic incident later that year, a divorce case and restraining order in 2013, Kelly’s tragic death that August, and Gilliam’s wrongful-death suit in 2014 that settled in 2015. Beyond those events, there is little verified information about his private life, and that is normal for someone who was not a public figure. When telling this story, it is best to focus on the facts we can confirm from quality sources.
FAQs (simple answers)
- Who is Robert Joseph Gilliam?
He is best known as the husband of actress Lisa Robin Kelly. Their marriage in 2012 and later legal issues brought his name into the news. - When did he marry Lisa Robin Kelly?
They married in 2012. Local reports called him her husband by November 2012. - How old is he?
Local news listed him as 61 in November 2012, so he was likely born around 1951. - Were there police calls to their home?
Yes. In November 2012, police answered a disturbance call in Mooresville, NC. Both were arrested on assault charges. - Did Lisa Robin Kelly file for divorce?
Yes. A case was filed on June 28, 2013, and reports say she also obtained a restraining order. - How did Lisa Robin Kelly die?
She died on August 15, 2013. The coroner ruled multiple drug intoxication. - Did Gilliam sue the rehab center?
Yes. He filed a wrongful-death suit in June 2014 against Pax House, claiming negligence. - What happened to that lawsuit?
A short report in September 2015 said the case was settled. - Is Gilliam in the entertainment business?
There is no solid reporting from major outlets about his career. Many details of his life are private and not confirmed in reliable sources. - Why is there not much info about him?
He was not a public figure before the marriage. Most confirmed facts come from police reports, court indexes, and legal news tied to Kelly’s case.
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