'Coach' Star Shelley Fabares Dead at 82, Family Confirms
Shelley Fabares, the actress who rose to fame as a teenager on "The Donna Reed Show" before earning two Emmy nominations for "Coach," has died. She was 82. According to Fox News , Fabares died Saturday in Los Angeles…
Shelley Fabares, the actress who rose to fame as a teenager on "The Donna Reed Show" before earning two Emmy nominations for "Coach," has died. She was 82.
According to Fox News, Fabares died Saturday in Los Angeles surrounded by loved ones, her family confirmed 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 said. They remembered her for her "kindness, loyalty, wit, courage, and beautiful spirit."
Fabares became a familiar face on television in 1958 when she joined "The Donna Reed Show" as Mary Stone, the teenage daughter of Donna Reed and Carl Betz's characters.
The role also led to an unexpected music career. Her recording of "Johnny Angel" reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962 and sold more than 1 million copies.
Fabares later moved into film, appearing opposite Elvis Presley in "Girl Happy," "Spinout" and "Clambake." She also starred in projects including "Ride the Wild Surf," "Hold On!" and "A Time to Sing."
Her television career continued for decades. She appeared in shows including "The Twilight Zone," "The Rockford Files," "The Love Boat," "Fantasy Island" and "Murder, She Wrote."
In 1971, Fabares portrayed Joy Piccolo, the wife of Chicago Bears player Brian Piccolo, in the acclaimed television movie "Brian's Song."
She later held regular roles on "One Day at a Time," "The Practice" and other television series.
Fabares reached another career milestone in 1989 when she joined "Coach" as Christine Armstrong, the love interest and eventual wife of Craig T. Nelson's Hayden Fox.
She remained with the ABC sitcom through its nine-season run and received Emmy nominations in 1993 and 1994.
She also voiced Martha Kent in several Superman animated projects, including "Superman: The Animated Series" and "Justice League."
Away from acting, Fabares became an advocate for Alzheimer's research after her mother, Elsa, was diagnosed with the disease.
She also faced her own serious health battle and received a liver transplant in 2000 after being diagnosed with progressive liver failure related to autoimmune hepatitis.
Fabares married Mike Farrell in 1984. The couple remained together for more than four decades.
She is survived by Farrell and her stepchildren, Michael and Erin.