‘Coach’ star Shelley Fabares dies at 82 in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES: Shelley Fabares, known for her roles in popular shows including ‘The Donna Reed Show’ and ‘Coach’, has died at the age of 82. The actor died on Saturday in Los Angeles, her family said, as per Variety.

Her family remembered Fabares not just for her work on screen but also for the person she was away from the cameras. According to Variety, in a statement, the family said, “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,” they added.

‘Coach’ star Shelley Fabares has died at 82
The actress, who played Christine Armstrong opposite Craig T. Nelson for nearly a decade on the beloved sitcom, died on Aug. 22 in L.A.
“To her family and friends, Shelley was a source of love, strength, laughter, and comfort,” her… pic.twitter.com/viwfq82B2R

— HELLO! Canada (@HelloCanada) August 23, 2026

Fabares became a familiar face on television after playing Mary Stone on ‘The Donna Reed Show’. The ABC sitcom ran from 1958 to 1966, with Fabares appearing in 192 episodes before leaving the show in 1965.

Years later, she found another major television role as Christine Armstrong on ‘Coach’. The sitcom, which starred Craig T. Nelson as college football coach Hayden Fox, ran from 1989 to 1997. Fabares received two Emmy nominations for her role in the show, in 1993 and 1994.

Fabares also had a short music career while working on ‘The Donna Reed Show’. Her 1961 song ‘Johnny Angel’ reached No. 1 on the charts.

She later appeared in several films aimed at young audiences and worked with Elvis Presley in three movies: ‘Girl Happy’ in 1965, ‘Spinout!’ in 1966 and ‘Clambake’ in 1967. She also starred in the 1971 television film ‘Brian’s Song’, playing Joy Piccolo, the wife of football player Brian Piccolo.

Her other television credits included ‘The Little People’, ‘Forever Fernwood’, ‘The Practice’, ‘Hello, Larry’, ‘Highcliffe Manor’, ‘Fantasy Island’, ‘One Day at a Time’ and ‘The Love Boat’.

Born in Santa Monica, California, in 1944, Fabares grew up around Hollywood. Her mother, Elsa, worked as a model and later appeared on television, while her aunt Nanette Fabray was a Broadway and television actor.

Fabares began working as a child and appeared on ‘The Loretta Young Show’ in 1954. She made her film debut in the 1956 Rock Hudson-starrer ‘Never Say Goodbye’.

Away from acting, Fabares was also involved with the Screen Actors Guild and took part in industry work for several years. She was involved in efforts linked to the guild and supported early discussions about bringing SAG and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists together.

Fabares married music and film producer Lou Adler in the 1960s. She later married actor Mike Farrell in 1984. The couple was involved in several social and political causes during the 1980s and 1990s.

After ‘Coach’ ended, Fabares appeared less often on screen as she dealt with health problems. In 2000, she underwent a liver transplant after waiting nearly two years for a donor. Her experience also brought attention to the need for organ donations.

She was also a longtime supporter of the Alzheimer’s Association after her mother was diagnosed with the disease in the 1990s. (ANI)