&imwidth=800&imheight=600&format=webp&quality=medium "Donna Reed Show and Coach actor Shelley Fabares dies at 82")
Shelley Fabares, renowned actress and singer, has passed away at the age of 82. She was known for playing Mary Stone on The Donna Reed Show and Christine Armstrong on Coach. Fabares took her last breath on Saturday in Los Angeles. The cause of her death has not been disclosed.
Family pays tribute
The family confirmed the news in a statement and shared that she was surrounded by her loved ones. "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. She had a remarkable ability to make people feel welcomed, valued, and cared for," the statement read.
Who was Shelley Fabares?
Born as Michele Ann Marie Fabares in Santa Monica, California, in 1944, she began her career through modeling at age three. At the age of 10, her television career kicked off on The Loretta Young Show, alongside Frank Sinatra, Paul Newman, and Rock Hudson.
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But her mainstream breakthrough came in 1958 with The Donna Reed Show. She played the role of Mary Stone, and Fabares spent five seasons on the sitcom.
The role also gave her another unexpected opportunity when producer Tony Owen encouraged her to sing. Her 1962 single "Johnny Angel" reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
She entered the big screen during the mid-1960s and became a favourite pairing alongside Elvis Presley in a trio of films: Girl Happy (1965), Spinout (1966), and Clambake (1967).
She later starred in the 1971 television film Brian's Song, and appeared in dozens of television series through the 1970s and 1980s.
In 1989, Fabares was cast opposite Craig T. Nelson in ABC’s Coach. Her role as television journalist Christine Armstrong earned two Primetime Emmy nominations across the series' eight-season run.
Fabares's personal life
The actress got married to record producer Lou Adler in 1964. The duo parted ways in 1980. In 1984, she married actor and activist Mike Farrell (M*A*S*H), who had two children, Erin and Michael.
Fabares is survived by her husband, Mike Farrell, and her stepchildren.
