Most people only know Robert Joseph Gilliam because of his super short and totally chaotic marriage to actress Lisa Robin Kelly (1970–2013). On the popular television series “That ’70s Show” (1998-2006), she portrayed the rebellious sister Laurie Forman. Regretfully, the intense legal drama that ultimately resulted in their breakup largely defined Rob’s brief public persona. The tragic last years of the actress’s life are connected to this story.
Who Exactly Is Rob Gilliam? Digging Into the Details
When we talk about Rob Gilliam, we’re talking about someone who was born around 1951[^1]. This fact is mainly confirmed because reports at the time of his arrest in 2012 consistently noted his age as 61.
Since Rob wasn’t famous himself, we really don’t have a lot of solid info on his life, career, or background before he met Lisa. He appears to have been a private citizen living in North Carolina. This lack of public history means that searches for “Robert Joseph Gilliam” often get muddy.
You might even find records relating to other people with similar names, but the Rob Gilliam connected to Lisa is specifically the one residing in Mooresville, North Carolina, and confirmed to be 61 when they were arrested in 2012.
What we do know from the time is that Rob was the owner of the Citation Drive home in Mooresville where the police incident took place, having owned the property since 2006. This suggests he had an established life in the area long before Lisa Robin Kelly entered the picture. His decision to marry Lisa, an actress who was already dealing with heavy, public struggles, brought his previously quiet life into the national spotlight for a brief, highly tumultuous period.
The Relationship with Lisa Robin Kelly: A Turbulent Chapter (2012–2013)
Rob and Lisa officially tied the knot in 2012. We don’t know the exact circumstances of how they met or when, but they were living together in Mooresville, North Carolina, when their relationship hit the headlines.
It’s important to keep in mind that Lisa was dealing with very public and serious problems by 2012. In 2010, she was arrested for DUI in North Carolina, and in March 2012, she was charged with domestic violence in Los Angeles, but those charges were dropped. She was openly dealing with alcoholism, which she said was caused by the trauma of losing a baby. All of this means that the emotional and legal landscape of her marriage to Rob Gilliam was very unstable.
Sadly, their marriage didn’t even make it a full year before things came to a head.
When Things Went South: The November 2012 Arrest
Their relationship took a serious, public turn in November 2012. Police were called to their home on Citation Drive in Mooresville, North Carolina, around 9:21 p.m. on November 26th because of a major fight[^2].
- The Charges: The police arrested both of them for misdemeanor assault! Rob, who was 61, was charged with misdemeanor assault on a woman[^2]. Lisa, 42, was charged with misdemeanor simple assault, which is said to have happened when she fought with her husband. Both people were arrested and charged with fighting with each other.
- What Happened Next: They were both sent to the Iredell County Detention Center. After paying a $500 bond each, they were let go. They even had a court date set for January 25, 2013.
Though the final outcome of the specific charges against Rob Gilliam isn’t widely documented, the immediate fallout from the incident was clear: it completely destroyed the marriage.
- The Split: That November incident was definitely the final straw. Lisa immediately decided she was done. She filed for divorce shortly after the arrest, initiating proceedings to legally end the union.
- The Restraining Order: To put distance between them, Lisa also successfully obtained a restraining order against Rob Gilliam[^3]. This action really underscored how dangerous and serious the domestic situation had become, making it clear that the marriage was over and the need for legal protection was immediate.
The pending divorce and the restraining order defined the final months of their official relationship.
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Retreating from the Media: Rob’s Return to Private Life
The divorce process was still winding its way through the courts when, tragically, Lisa Robin Kelly passed away in August 2013. She was only 43 years old[^4]. Her death was later confirmed as an accidental overdose.
Following the termination of his marriage and Lisa’s untimely death, Robert Joseph Gilliam, who had been thrust into the national media spotlight against his will, pretty much dropped off the radar entirely. He was not a public figure and, unlike his ex-wife, he didn’t have a professional career that kept him in the news cycle.
He seems to have returned to the private life he had maintained before meeting Lisa. Consequently, there are no current, accessible public records detailing his current residence, what he is doing now (like if he’s retired or working), or his current relationship status. His biographical footprint remains almost entirely defined by that brief, difficult final chapter of Lisa Robin Kelly’s life—the period of their short marriage, the Mooresville arrest, and the resulting legal separation.
Sources
[^1]: Robert Joseph Gilliam – Wikidata (Referencing birth year based on confirmed age at time of arrest.) [^2]: ‘That 70s Show’ star arrested in Mooresville, police say – WSOC TV (Details on Mooresville arrest, charges, and court date.) [^3]: Lisa Robin Kelly – Wikipedia (Referencing divorce filing and restraining order.) [^4]: Lisa Robin Kelly: The Tragedy of Addiction – Sunlight Recovery | Boca Raton Rehab (Referencing Kelly’s death and cause.)
