Shelley Fabares, the actress and singer who starred in “The Donna Reed Show” and earned two Emmy nominations for her role in “Coach,” has died. She was 82.
Fabares died Saturday in Los Angeles surrounded by her loved ones, her family confirmed in a statement to the Associated Press. Her cause of death was not disclosed.
“To her family and friends, Shelley was a source of love, strength, laughter, and comfort,” her family wrote, according to the outlet. “She had a remarkable ability to make people feel welcomed, valued, and cared for.”
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“We will remember Shelley for her kindness, loyalty, wit, courage, and beautiful spirit. We will miss her deeply — not only as a celebrated performer, but as the loving and extraordinary person she was in our everyday lives,” they added.
Fabares became one of television’s most recognizable young stars when she was cast as Mary Stone, the teenage daughter of the characters played by Donna Reed and Carl Betz, on “The Donna Reed Show” in 1958.
During her time on the hit family sitcom, Fabares unexpectedly launched a successful recording career after the show’s producer, Tony Owen, decided to incorporate singing into the series.
The actress’ debut single, “Johnny Angel,” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962 and sold more than 1 million copies. She released several albums and scored additional hits with “Johnny Loves Me” and “The Things We Did Last Summer,” though she later acknowledged that she never considered herself much of a singer.
Fabares left “The Donna Reed Show” as a regular cast member in 1963 but returned for guest appearances before the series ended in 1966. She remained close to Reed, whom she credited as a mentor who helped her navigate Hollywood as a young actress.
At the height of her teen idol fame, Fabares transitioned to the big screen and starred opposite Elvis Presley in three movies: “Girl Happy” in 1965, “Spinout” in 1966 and “Clambake” in 1967.
She also appeared in the 1964 surf movie “Ride the Wild Surf,” the 1966 musical comedy “Hold On!” with Herman’s Hermits and the 1968 Hank Williams Jr. film “A Time to Sing.”
Born Michele Ann Marie Fabares on Jan. 19, 1944, in Santa Monica, California, she was the niece of actress Nanette Fabray. Fabares began modeling as a young child and made her television debut at age 10 on an episode of “Letter to Loretta.”
Her early credits included appearances in “The Bad Seed,” “Never Say Goodbye,” “Jeanne Eagels” and “Marjorie Morningstar.” She also appeared with Annette Funicello in the 1958 Disney serial “Annette.”
After her initial success as a teen star, Fabares built a prolific television career that spanned several decades. In 1971, she portrayed Joy Piccolo, the wife of Chicago Bears running back Brian Piccolo, whom James Caan played, in the acclaimed television movie “Brian’s Song,” which also starred Billy Dee Williams.
Fabares later held regular roles on “The Brian Keith Show,” “The Practice” and “Forever Fernwood.” From 1978 to 1984, she played Francine Webster, the professional rival of Bonnie Franklin’s Ann Romano, on “One Day at a Time.”
She also made guest appearances on television shows, including “The Twilight Zone,” “Mannix,” “The Rockford Files,” “The Love Boat,” “Fantasy Island,” “Mork & Mindy” and “Murder, She Wrote.”
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In 1989, Fabares found renewed success when she joined the ABC sitcom “Coach” as Christine Armstrong, the girlfriend and eventual wife of Hayden Fox, the college football coach played by Craig T. Nelson.
Fabares remained with the series throughout its nine-season run, appearing with Craig T. Nelson, Jerry Van Dyke and Bill Fagerbakke until the show ended in 1997. Her performance earned her two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, in 1993 and 1994.
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Later in her career, Fabares lent her voice to Martha Kent in several animated Superman projects, including “Superman: The Animated Series,” “Justice League” and the 2006 film “Superman: Brainiac Attacks.”
Fabares became an advocate for Alzheimer’s awareness after her mother, Elsa, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. She helped raise money for research, delivered speeches and testified before Congress about the disease. Her mother died in 1992.
In 1999, Fabares faced a serious health crisis when doctors discovered she had progressive liver failure related to autoimmune hepatitis. After spending nearly two years on a transplant waiting list, she had a liver transplant in October 2000.
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Fabares married record and film producer Lou Adler in 1964. The couple separated two years later, and their divorce was finalized in 1980.
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In 1984, she married “M*A*S*H” actor Mike Farrell at the home of her aunt. The couple remained married for more than 40 years.
Fabares is survived by her husband and her stepchildren, Michael and Erin.
