Shelley Fabares, 1944 – 2026

TV star Shelley Fabares, 82, died on Aug. 22. Fabares (a niece of Nanette Fabray) starred as daughter Mary on The Donna Reed Show, Ann’s business rival on One Day at a Time, and Christine Armstrong on Coach. Fabares started acting early, having increasingly large roles in The Bad Seed, Annie Oakley, Captain Midnight, Rock Pretty Baby, Summer Love, The Twilight Zone (romancing a juvenile delinquent alien), and others, before being cast as Mary Stone in 1958. She was also an Elvis Girl, in Girl Happy, Spinout, and Clambake (she also had a hit song, 1962’s “Johnny Angel”). Her career continued percolating through the 1990s, with guest spots on just about every TV show (including with fellow Elvis Girl Marlyn Mason in Longstreet). She was married to producer Lou Adler and actor Mike Farrell, who survives. Her Donna Reed costar Paul Petersen runs a child-actor foundation; of her own career, Fabares said, “The chances of a child coming through as I did . . . the world is too hard. On the other hand, I would always encourage children of mine if they wanted to be in school plays and dance and sing. But I wouldn't put them to work. I think the years on The Donna Reed Show were so incredibly important. Donna Reed was simply an extraordinary woman, a woman of great strength, kindness, integrity and compassion. I am not trying to make her sound like a saint, but she had the most profound influence on me. I carry her with me today.”

“Johnny Angel” (which you will never get out of your head): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnEmeOUmjVk&list=RDOnEmeOUmjVk&start_radio=1