Shelley Fabares, star of 'The Donna Reed Show' and 'Coach,' dead at 82

Shelley Fabares, star of 'The Donna Reed Show' and 'Coach,' dead at 82

Actress Shelley Fabares, best known for playing daughter Mary on "The Donna Reed Show" and TV anchor Christine on "Coach," has died at 82. Fabares died Saturday, August 22, in Los Angeles, surrounded by her loved ones, her family confirmed to People magazine. Fabares played Donna Reed's daughter, fan-favorite Mary Stone, on the 1960s ABC family sitcom "The Donna Reed Show" for nearly 200 episodes from 1958 to 1965. The role earned her a Young Artist Award. She appeared in every episode until her character left for college, and Fabares focused on other projects, appearing in only a handful of episodes in the show's final two seasons. The role gained her popularity as a teen idol, and later a recording contract. She ascended to the Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 with the single "Johnny Angel" in 1962. Her second album included the Top 40 single "Johnny Loves Me" and another hit, "The Things We Did Last Summer." Fabares went on to pursue bigger film roles, including opposite Elvis Presley as leading lady Valerie in "Girl Happy." She'd star opposite Presley twice more, in 1966's "Spinout" and '67's "Clambake."

Craig T. Nelson Remembers Shelley Fabares

Craig T. Nelson, Fabares' co-star on "Coach," has penned a moving tribute to the actress. Calling Fabares "just an extraordinary woman," Nelson said she "always had a smile" and was "welcoming in the midst of chaos." He remembered her as someone he could go to for advice and counsel, not only for himself but for others as well. Nelson stated, "She was welcoming in the midst of chaos and always someone I could go to for advice and counsel, not only myself but others as well. I'll remember you with love, Shelley Fabares." Fabares and Nelson played TV news anchor Christine Armstrong and Hayden Fox, a gruff football coach, respectively, on the ABC sitcom "Coach" for nine years from 1989 to 1997. Their relationship grew over 200 episodes from an on-and-off romance to an eventual marriage. The role earned Fabares two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.

A Career Spanning Decades

Fabares' career spanned decades, with early credits including "The Loretta Young Show," "Annette," "Captain Midnight," and "The Twilight Zone." She also appeared in the Rosalind Russell movie "The Girl Rush" and the Rock Hudson drama "Never Say Goodbye." In the late 1970s, Fabares made an impression as Francine Webster on the CBS sitcom "One Day at a Time." She also played James Caan's wife in "Brian's Song." Additionally, she had a recurring spot on "Highway to Heaven," guest appearances on "Little House on the Prairie" and the TV war film "Memorial Day," where she met her second husband, "M*A*S*H" star Mike Farrell. In the 1990s, Fabares landed her second most beloved role, opposite Craig T. Nelson's college football coach Hayden as TV news anchor Christine. After "Coach" and other smaller roles, Fabares turned to voice acting, in the DC animated film "Superman: The Last Son of Krypton" and "Superman: The Animated Series" as Clark Kent's adoptive mother Martha. Her reprise of the character in the 2003 animated film "Justice League" was her final film or TV role. After acting, Fabares spent over a decade as a producer on the Screen Actors Guild Awards, from 2004 to 2017. Her family remembered the "beloved actress whose work became part of the fabric of American television and film." They said she "brought talent, intelligence, and warmth to every performance" and that her greatest legacy was personal: the love she gave so freely, the friendships she treasured, and the family bonds she held dear. The family stated, "To her family and friends, Shelley was a source of love, strength, laughter, and comfort. She was a devoted wife, cherished stepmother, daughter, sister, niece, aunt, family member, and loyal friend whose warmth, generosity, humor, and grace made an enduring difference in the lives of everyone who knew her." Fabares is survived by her husband, Mike Farrell, and two stepchildren, Erin and Michael Farrell. Farrell, an actor known for his role on "M*A*S*H," was with Fabares for over 40 years. Fabares had been a devoted advocate for Alzheimer's awareness, which affected her mother. In 2000, she underwent liver transplant surgery after being diagnosed with progressive liver failure. In a statement, her family said, "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."