Shelley Fabares Dead: ‘The Donna Reed Show’ Star & Elvis Leading Lady Was 82
She was not on the list.
Shelley Fabares, the actress known for her roles in The Donna Reed Show and several Elvis Presley movies, has died. She was 82.
Fabares’ family, including M*A*S*H star husband Mike Farrell, announced that the 2x Emmy-nominated Coach actress died “surrounded by those who loved her” on Saturday in Los Angeles.
“To her family and friends, Shelley was a source of love, strength, laughter, and comfort,” the family said. “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.”
They added in part, “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. We ask that our family’s privacy be respected as we grieve. We take comfort in knowing that Shelley’s work and the memories she created with those who loved her will continue to live on,” the family wrote.
Born Jan. 19, 1944 in Santa Monica, Michele Ann Marie Fabares began acting at age 3, before making her TV debut at 10 in a 1954 episode of The Loretta Young Show. Over the years, she went on to appear in such shows as Annie Oakley, Walt Disney Presents: Annette, The Twilight Zone, The Incredible Hulk, Fantasy Island, Mork & Mindy, The Love Boat, Newhart and Murder She Wrote.
From 1958 to 1965, Fabares was known for playing daughter Mary Stone on the ABC sitcom The Donna Reed Show.
During this time, Fabares also had a recording contract, which resulted in her Top 40 hit “Johnny Angel” going to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in April 1962. The song sold over a million copies, becoming certified gold.
Fabares also played Craig T. Nelson’s TV news anchor love interest Christine Armstrong in the ABC sitcom Coach, which ran for nine seasons from 1989 to 1997, earning her two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.
On the big screen, Fabares starred opposite Elvis Presley in the movies Girl Happy (1965), Spinout (1966) and Clambake (1967). Her other films credits include The Bad Seed (1956), Hot Pursuit (1987) and Superman: Brainiac Attacks (2006).
Actress
Superman: Brainiac Attacks (2006)
Superman: Brainiac Attacks
5.8
Video
Martha Kent (voice)
2006
Kevin Conroy, Susan Eisenberg, and George Newbern in Justice League (2001)
Justice League
8.5
TV Series
Martha Kent (voice)
2003
Superman: The Animated Series (1996)
Superman: The Animated Series
8.1
TV Series
Martha Kent (voice)
1996–2000
Shelley Fabares in Playing to Win: A Moment of Truth Movie (1998)
Playing to Win: A Moment of Truth Movie
6.7
TV Movie
Nancy Erickson
1998
Shelley Fabares, Craig T. Nelson, Bill Fagerbakke, Kenneth Kimmins, and Jerry Van Dyke in Coach (1989)
Coach
7.1
TV Series
Christine Armstrong
1989–1997
A Nightmare Come True (1997)
A Nightmare Come True
5.3
TV Movie
Lily Zarn
1997
Superman: The Last Son of Krypton (1996)
Superman: The Last Son of Krypton
7.6
TV Movie
Martha Kent (voice)
1996
A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes: The Annette Funicello Story (1995)
A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes: The Annette Funicello Story
7.3
TV Movie
Shelley Fabares (uncredited)
1995
Shelley Fabares, Valerie Harper, Mary Kate Schellhardt, and Hillary Tuck in The Great Mom Swap (1995)
The Great Mom Swap
6.6
TV Movie
Millie Ridgeway
1995
Kari Coleman, Richard Kind, John O'Hurley, and Stephen Tobolowsky in A Whole New Ballgame (1995)
A Whole New Ballgame
6.4
TV Series
Christine Armstrong
1995
Matt Stone and Trey Parker in Your Studio and You (1995)
Your Studio and You
7.6
Short
Shelley Fabares (uncredited)
1995
Gwyneth Paltrow and Robert Urich in Deadly Relations (1993)
Deadly Relations
6.1
TV Movie
Shirley Fagot
1993
Love or Money (1990)
Love or Money
4.5
Lu Ann Reed
1990
Michael DeLuise, Andrea Elson, Brooke Theiss, and Billy Warlock in Class Cruise (1989)
Class Cruise
6.0
TV Movie
Ellen Poston
1989
Angela Lansbury in Murder, She Wrote (1984)
Murder, She Wrote
7.3
TV Series
Liza Caspar
1989
Run Till You Fall (1988)
Run Till You Fall
4.7
TV Movie
Kathy Reuben
1988
Hot Pursuit (1987)
Hot Pursuit
5.8
Buffy Cronenberg
1987
Newhart (1982)
Newhart
7.8
TV Series
Diane Gordon
1987
The Canterville Ghost (1985)
The Canterville Ghost
5.9
TV Movie
Lucy
1985
Suburban Beat (1985)
Suburban Beat
8.1
TV Movie
Mimi Gluskin
1985
Fred Grandy, Bernie Kopell, Ted Lange, Gavin MacLeod, and Lauren Tewes in The Love Boat (1977)
The Love Boat
6.3
TV Series
Mayor Frances HardyMary Frances BellflowerCathy
1980–1985
Valerie Bertinelli, Bonnie Franklin, Pat Harrington Jr., and Mackenzie Phillips in One Day at a Time (1975)
One Day at a Time
6.6
TV Series
Francine Webster
1978–1984
His & Hers (1984)
His & Hers
TV Movie
Barbara McCabe - Jimmy's Wife, a Children's Book Author
1984
Memorial Day (1983)
Memorial Day
6.7
TV Movie
Ellie Walker
1983
ABC Afterschool Specials (1972)
ABC Afterschool Specials
7.2
TV Series
Fran Brogliatti
1983
Lee Horsley in Matt Houston (1982)
Matt Houston
6.5
TV Series
Barbara Newton
1983
Robin Williams and Pam Dawber in Mork & Mindy (1978)
Mork & Mindy
7.2
TV Series
Cathy McConnell
1980–1981
Ricardo Montalban and Hervé Villechaize in Fantasy Island (1977)
Fantasy Island
6.6
TV Series
Linda GrahamEva CaposJill Marlowe ...
1978–1981
Gridlock (1980)
Gridlock
5.9
TV Movie
Louise Gregory
1980
Shelley Fabares, Stephen McHattie, Jenny O'Hara, and Eugenie Ross-Leming in Highcliffe Manor (1979)
Highcliffe Manor
6.4
TV Series
Helen Straight Blacke
1979
Friendships, Secrets and Lies (1979)
Friendships, Secrets and Lies
7.2
TV Movie
Mary Alice
1979
McLean Stevenson in Hello, Larry (1979)
Hello, Larry
5.7
TV Series
Marion Alder
1979
Walt Disney in The Magical World of Disney (1954)
The Magical World of Disney
8.3
TV Series
Grace Donovan
1979
Donovan's Kid (1979)
Donovan's Kid
6.8
TV Movie
Grace Donovan
1979
Pleasure Cove (1979)
Pleasure Cove
6.6
TV Movie
Helen Perlmutter
1979
Lou Ferrigno and Bill Bixby in The Incredible Hulk (1977)
The Incredible Hulk
7.0
TV Series
Holly Cooper
1978
Tony Curtis, Robert Urich, Phyllis Davis, and Judy Landers in Vega$ (1978)
Vega$
6.9
TV Series
Linda Stockwood
1978
Kevin Brophy in Lucan (1977)
Lucan
7.2
TV Series
Marsha
1978
The Practice (1976)
The Practice
6.6
TV Series
Jenny Bedford
1976–1977
Forever Fernwood (1977)
Forever Fernwood
7.4
TV Series
Eleanor Major
1977
Spencer's Pilots (1976)
Spencer's Pilots
6.8
TV Series
Annette collier
1976
Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969)
Marcus Welby, M.D.
7.0
TV Series
Norma Fritchie
1976
Buddy Ebsen in Barnaby Jones (1973)
Barnaby Jones
7.0
TV Series
Susan Burke
1975
Medical Center (1969)
Medical Center
7.1
TV Series
'Mike' Carter
1969–1975
Medical Story (1975)
Medical Story
6.8
TV Series
Susan Duffy
1975
Anthony Franciosa and Laraine Stephens in Matt Helm (1975)
Matt Helm
6.0
TV Series
ChrisTina
1975
Sky Heist (1975)
Sky Heist
6.4
TV Movie
Lisa
1975
The Rookies (1972)
The Rookies
6.9
TV Series
Ann McNeal
1975
Noah Beery Jr. and James Garner in The Rockford Files (1974)
The Rockford Files
8.2
TV Series
Jolene Hyland
1974
Raymond Burr and Barbara Sigel in Ironside (1967)
Ironside
6.9
TV Series
Charlotte Black
1974
Robert Forster, David Birney, and Richard E. Kalk in Police Story (1973)
Police Story
7.5
TV Series
Annette Weiner
1974
The Little People (1972)
The Little People
7.8
TV Series
Dr. Anne Jamison
1972–1974
Glenn Ford, Edgar Buchanan, Victor Campos, Sandra Ego, Peter Ford, and Taylor Lacher in Cade's County (1971)
Cade's County
7.1
TV Series
Stephanie Grainger
1972
Two for the Money (1972)
Two for the Money
6.2
TV Movie
Bethany Hagan
1972
Dennis Weaver in McCloud (1970)
McCloud
7.0
TV Series
Natalie Rudell
1972
Stuart Margolin and Julie Newmar in Love, American Style (1969)
Love, American Style
6.8
TV Series
PattySheilaJulie
1969–1972
Arthur Hill in Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law (1971)
Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law
6.9
TV Series
Lorraine Latham
1971
James Caan, Shelley Fabares, and Billy Dee Williams in Brian's Song (1971)
Brian's Song
7.5
TV Movie
Joy Piccolo
1971
Bruce Lee and James Franciscus in Longstreet (1971)
Longstreet
7.8
TV Series
Marianne Franklin
1971
Mannix (1967)
Mannix
7.4
TV Series
Gwen Townsend
1971
The Interns (1970)
The Interns
7.1
TV Series
Catherine
1971
Leslie Nielsen in Bracken's World (1969)
Bracken's World
7.0
TV Series
Hilary Saxon
1969
Andrew Duggan, Wayne Maunder, and James Stacy in Lancer (1968)
Lancer
7.1
TV Series
Melissa Harper
1969
Fess Parker in Daniel Boone (1964)
Daniel Boone
7.3
TV Series
Charity Brown
1969
Hope Lange and Edward Mulhare in The Ghost & Mrs. Muir (1968)
The Ghost & Mrs. Muir
7.7
TV Series
Vanessa Peekskill
1968
Shelley Fabares, Ed Begley, and Hank Williams Jr. in A Time to Sing (1968)
A Time to Sing
5.5
Amy Carter
1968
Elvis Presley in Clambake (1967)
Clambake
5.7
Dianne Carter
1967
Elvis Presley in Spinout (1966)
Spinout
5.8
Cynthia Foxhugh
1966
John Clarke and Judy Lang in Meet Me in St. Louis (1966)
Meet Me in St. Louis
6.6
TV Movie
Esther
1966
Hold On! (1966)
Hold On!
4.6
Louisa Page
1966
Elvis Presley and Shelley Fabares in Girl Happy (1965)
Girl Happy
6.4
Valerie
1965
The Donna Reed Show (1958)
The Donna Reed Show
7.4
TV Series
Mary Stone
1958–1964
Barbara Eden, Shelley Fabares, Tab Hunter, Fabian, and Peter Brown in Ride the Wild Surf (1964)
Ride the Wild Surf
5.8
Brie Matthews
1964
Rod Serling in The Twilight Zone (1959)
The Twilight Zone
9.0
TV Series
Ellen Tillman (as Shelly Fabares)
1964
Ben Gazzara and Chuck Connors in Arrest and Trial (1963)
Arrest and Trial
7.7
TV Series
Donna Blaney
1964
Angela Lansbury and Tuesday Weld in The Eleventh Hour (1962)
The Eleventh Hour
7.3
TV Series
Carol Hamilton
1964
James Franciscus in Mr. Novak (1963)
Mr. Novak
7.4
TV Series
Dani Cooper
1963
Colgate Theatre (1958)
Colgate Theatre
7.3
TV Series
1958
Molly Bee, Judi Meredith, and John Saxon in Summer Love (1958)
Summer Love
6.0
Twinkie Daley
1958
Loretta Young in The Loretta Young Show (1953)
The Loretta Young Show
7.5
TV Series
KathyMarie Schumann
1954–1958
Marjorie Morningstar (1958)
Marjorie Morningstar
6.2
Seth's Girl Friend (uncredited)
1958
Annette Funicello in Annette (1958)
Annette
8.1
TV Series
Moselle Corey
1958
Kim Novak and Jeff Chandler in Jeanne Eagels (1957)
Jeanne Eagels
6.2
Teenage Girl (uncredited)
1957
Fury (1955)
Fury
7.4
TV Series
Midge Malloy
1957
Sal Mineo, Luana Patten, and John Saxon in Rock, Pretty Baby (1956)
Rock, Pretty Baby
6.2
Twinky Daley
1956
Gail Davis in Annie Oakley (1954)
Annie Oakley
7.3
TV Series
Prudy Warren
1956
Henry Jones, Nancy Kelly, and Patty McCormack in The Bad Seed (1956)
The Bad Seed
7.4
Margie (uncredited)
1956
Rock Hudson and Cornell Borchers in Never Say Goodbye (1956)
Never Say Goodbye
6.1
Suzy Parker
1956
Richard Webb in Captain Midnight (1954)
Captain Midnight
7.6
TV Series
Mary Kingsley
1955
Matinee Theatre (1955)
Matinee Theatre
6.8
TV Series
Young Cathy
1955
Gloria DeHaven and Rosalind Russell in The Girl Rush (1955)
The Girl Rush
5.2
Kim - Age 9 (uncredited)
1955
Producers' Showcase (1954)
Producers' Showcase
7.2
TV Series
Rebecca Gibbs
1955
Producer
The 23rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2017)
The 23rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
6.0
TV Special
producer: SAG-AFTRA
2017
22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2016)
22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
6.3
TV Special
producer: SAG-AFTRA
2016
The 21st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2015)
The 21st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
6.5
TV Special
producer: SAG-AFTRA
2015
20th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2014)
20th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
6.2
TV Special
producer: SAG-AFTRA
2014
19th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2013)
19th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
6.3
TV Special
producer: SAG-AFTRA
2013
18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2012)
18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
4.8
TV Special
SAG producer
2012
17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2011)
17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
5.7
TV Special
producer: Screen Actors Guild
2011
16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2010)
16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
6.5
TV Special
producer: Screen Actors Guild
2010
15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2009)
15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
5.6
TV Special
producer: Screen Actors Guild
2009
14th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2008)
14th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
6.6
TV Special
sag producer
2008
13th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2007)
13th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
5.8
TV Special
sag producer
2007
12th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2006)
12th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
7.5
TV Special
producer: SAG
2006
James Garner in 11th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2005)
11th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
6.3
TV Special
producer: SAG
2005
10th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2004)
10th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
6.8
TV Special
producer: SAG
2004
Soundtrack
James Franco in 11.22.63 (2016)
11.22.63
8.0
TV Mini Series
performer: "Johnny Angel" (uncredited)
2016
Alexis Bledel and Lauren Graham in Gilmore Girls (2000)
Gilmore Girls
8.2
TV Series
performer: "Johnny Angel" (uncredited)
2001
Tina Majorino and Tory the Sea Lion in Andre (1994)
Andre
5.7
performer: "Johnny Angel"
1994
John Goodman in Matinee (1993)
Matinee
6.9
performer: "Johnny Angel"
1993
Christina Ricci, Winona Ryder, Cher, and Bob Hoskins in Mermaids (1990)
Mermaids
6.7
performer: "Johnny Angel"
1990
Shelley Fabares, Ed Begley, and Hank Williams Jr. in A Time to Sing (1968)
A Time to Sing
5.5
performer: "Next Time I Say Goodbye I'm Leaving"
1968
Hold On! (1966)
Hold On!
4.6
performer: "Make Me Happy"
1966
Shindig! (1964)
Shindig!
8.0
TV Series
performer: "My Prayer"
1965
Elvis Presley and Shelley Fabares in Girl Happy (1965)
Girl Happy
6.4
Soundtrackperformer: "Spring Fever", "The Meanest Girl In Town", "Girl Happy" (Reprise) ("I Got News For You", uncredited, uncredited)
1965
The Donna Reed Show (1958)
The Donna Reed Show
7.4
TV Series
performer: "Big Star"performer: "Johnny Angel"
1962
Self
4th Annual Young Entertainer Awards Red Carpet Interviews 2019 (2019)
Teens Wanna Know
6.6
TV Series
Self
2017
W5 (1966)
W5
7.5
TV Series
Self
2012
The One Day at a Time Reunion
7.3
TV Movie
Self
2005
10th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2004)
10th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards
6.8
TV Special
Self
2004
Intimate Portrait (1990)
Intimate Portrait
7.5
TV Series
Self
2002
The 26th Annual People's Choice Awards (2000)
The 26th Annual People's Choice Awards
2.4
TV Special
Self
2000
Biography (1987)
Biography
7.7
TV Series
Self - Narrator
1996–1998
The 49th Annual Writers Guild Awards
TV Special
Self
1997
Vanna White and Ryan Seacrest in Wheel of Fortune (1983)
Wheel of Fortune
6.7
TV Series
Self - Celebrity Contestant
1995
The Ultimate TV Trivia Challenge
2.1
TV Movie
Self - Hostess
1995
Marilu Henner in Marilu (1994)
Marilu
5.4
TV Series
Self
1994
The Suzanne Somers Show (1994)
The Suzanne Somers Show
5.5
TV Series
Self
1994
The 46th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1994)
The 46th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards
7.2
TV Special
Self - Nominee
1994
Robin Roberts, George Stephanopoulos, and Michael Strahan in Good Morning America (1975)
Good Morning America
4.4
TV Series
Self
1994
The 15th Annual Youth in Film Awards
TV Special
Self
1994
Golden Globes 50th Anniversary Celebration (1994)
Golden Globes 50th Anniversary Celebration
4.7
TV Movie
Self
1994
The 45th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1993)
The 45th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards
6.5
TV Special
Self - Nominee
1993
Sally Jessy Raphael in Sally Jessy Raphael (1983)
Sally Jessy Raphael
4.5
TV Series
Self - Guest
1991–1993
Vicki Lawrence in Vicki! (1992)
Vicki!
5.9
TV Series
Self
1993
Debbie Gibson in One on One with John Tesh (1991)
One on One with John Tesh
2.1
TV Series
Self
1991
Phil Donahue in Donahue (1967)
Donahue
6.3
TV Series
Self
1991
Linda Dano and Dee Kelly in Attitudes (1985)
Attitudes
7.6
TV Series
Self
1989
The 25th Annual TV Week Logie Awards (1983)
The 25th Annual TV Week Logie Awards
TV Special
Self
1983
The John Davidson Show (1980)
The John Davidson Show
4.7
TV Series
Self
1982
Paul Lynde in The Hollywood Squares (Daytime) (1965)
The Hollywood Squares (Daytime)
6.8
TV Series
Self - Panelist
1973–1976
Dinah Shore in Dinah! (1974)
Dinah!
7.0
TV Series
Self
1976
The Magnificent Marble Machine (1975)
The Magnificent Marble Machine
5.1
TV Series
Self
1976
The Bob Braun Show (1967)
The Bob Braun Show
2.5
TV Series
Self - Actress
1973–1974
Shindig! (1964)
Shindig!
8.0
TV Series
Self - Singer
1965
The Lloyd Thaxton Show (1961)
The Lloyd Thaxton Show
8.1
TV Series
Self
1964–1965
American Bandstand (1952)
American Bandstand
7.5
TV Series
Self - Musical Guest
1964
Celebrity Party
9.5
TV Special
Self
1963
Here's Hollywood (1960)
Here's Hollywood
8.4
TV Series
Self
1961
Hollywood Christmas Lane Parade of the Stars (1960)
Hollywood Christmas Lane Parade of the Stars
TV Special
Self
1960
Bob Hope in The Bob Hope Show (1950)
The Bob Hope Show
7.3
TV Series
Self - Hollywood Deb Star
1960
The Dick Clark Show (1958)
The Dick Clark Show
7.6
TV Series
Self
1959
Archive Footage
A Year in Music (2019)
A Year in Music
6.7
TV Series
Self (archive footage)
2022
Lonnie Ray Senstock in Once in a Lew Moon (2015)
Once in a Lew Moon
6.4
Self (archive footage)
2015
My Yearbook 1960-1963 (2015)
My Yearbook 1960-1963
TV Movie
Self (archive footage)
2015
The Sixties (2014)
The Sixties
8.4
TV Mini Series
Self - Mary Stone (archive footage)
2014
My Music: '60s Girl Grooves (2013)
My Music: '60s Girl Grooves
TV Movie
Self (archive footage)
2013
The Best of Superman (2013)
The Best of Superman
6.2
Video
Self (archive sound)
2013
There's Only One Elvis (2002)
There's Only One Elvis
8.7
TV Movie
Self - Valerie Frank (archive footage)
2002
The Definitive Elvis: The Hollywood Years - Part II: 1962-1969
8.3
Video
Self (archive footage)
2002
Television: The First Fifty Years (1999)
Television: The First Fifty Years
7.5
Video
Self - Mary Stone (archive footage)
1999
The Greatest Shows You Never Saw (1996)
The Greatest Shows You Never Saw
7.4
TV Special
Self - Mimi (archive footage)
1996
The Donna Reed Show (1958)
The Donna Reed Show
7.4
TV Series
Mary Stone (archive footage)
1965
Discography
Studio albums
Shelley! -- Colpix Records CP-426 (Mono)/SCP-426 (Stereo) — No. 106, July 62[35]
The Things We Did Last Summer—Colpix CP-431/SCP-431 — No. 121, 10/62[35]
Teenage Triangle—Colpix CP-444/SCP-444 — No. 48, May 63[35]
Featuring four tracks each by Shelley, James Darren and Paul Petersen
Bye Bye Birdie—Colpix CP-454/SCP-454—1963
Songs from the movie sung by Shelley, The Marcels, James Darren and Paul Petersen
More Teenage Triangle—Colpix CP-468/SCP-468—1964
Second compilation featuring Shelley, James Darren and Paul Petersen
Soundtrack songs
"Spring Fever" (1965) with Elvis Presley from Girl Happy (The soundtrack album only features Presley's vocals)
"Make Me Happy" (March 1966) from Hold On! MGM Records
"Next Time I Say Goodbye I'm Leaving" (1968) from soundtrack of A Time to Sing (Music From The Original Soundtrack) MCA Records– MCA-1458
Compilations
Rare Items And Big Hits Colpix Records (1989)
The Best of Shelley Fabares Rhino Records R2 71651—1994
Shelley Fabares Johnny Angel Collectables Records No. 9931 July 2005
Shelley Fabares Meets Paul Petersen Collectables Records July 2009
Growing Up-The 1962 Recordings Jasmine Records 2014
