Shelley Fabares, Star of 'Coach' and 'The Donna Reed Show,' Dies at 82
Shelley Fabares, the actress beloved for her roles on "The Donna Reed Show" and "Coach" as well as her Number 1 hit song "Johnny Angel," has died at 82.
Fabares died Saturday in Los Angeles after a brief illness, her family said in a statement. She is survived by her husband, "M*A*S*H" actor Mike Farrell, whom she married in 1984. Her family said, "To her family and friends, Shelley was a source of love, strength, laughter and comfort."
They continued, "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. She had a remarkable ability to make people feel welcomed, valued and cared for."
The family added, "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. We are heartbroken by her loss, yet profoundly grateful for the years we shared with her and for the joy, compassion and love she brought to so many."
From Child Star to Chart-Topping Singer
Fabares was born in Santa Monica, California, and raised near Hollywood. Her mother, Elsa, helped launch her career by getting her into modeling at a young age, which eventually led to television roles. Fabares was not the only performer in her family; her aunt, Nanette Fabray, was a Broadway star with numerous film credits of her own.
Fabares rose to fame as Mary Stone, the oldest child of the title character, on ABC's "The Donna Reed Show." The series ran for 275 episodes between 1958 and 1966, and Fabares appeared in 192 of them before leaving in 1965. While on the show, she released the single "Johnny Angel," which became a Number 1 hit in 1962 and eventually sold more than a million copies, earning a gold certification.
She parlayed that fame into a string of teen-focused films, including 1964's "Ride the Wild Surf" opposite Fabian, and three movies alongside Elvis Presley: 1965's "Girl Happy," 1966's "Spinout!" and 1967's "Clambake."
A Return to Television With 'Coach'
Fabares went on to build a steady television career across the following decades, with credits including "The Little People," "Forever Fernwood," "The Practice," "Hello, Larry," "Highcliffe Manor," "Fantasy Island," "The Love Boat" and "One Day at a Time," on which she played against her wholesome image as Francine Webster, a business rival of Bonnie Franklin's character.
Her most enduring later role came on ABC's "Coach," which ran for 199 episodes between 1989 and 1997. Fabares played Christine Armstrong, a TV news anchor who becomes the love interest, and later wife, of Craig T. Nelson's college football coach, Hayden Fox. Her performance earned her two Emmy nominations, in 1993 and 1994, for supporting actress in a comedy series. She later reflected on the show's staying power, telling the Los Angeles Times, "I did always feel from the very beginning if they could find the right spot for us, this was a show that would last."
Fabares also spoke candidly over the years about the uneven nature of a long acting career. She told the Tampa Bay Times in 1990, "I had a four-year period when I couldn't get work. And then I've had a few years when the only work I could get was an episode of Love Boat or Fantasy Island. So I've been up and down in this business. I've fluttered to the top again."
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