Shelley Fabares, ‘Coach’ and ‘The Donna Reed Show’ Star, Dies at 82

Shelley Fabares, the star of the classic sitcoms “The Donna Reed Show” and “Coach,” died on Saturday in Los Angeles. She was 82.

Fabares’ family said in a statement, “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.”

Fabares starred as the Stone family daughter Mary in “The Donna Reed Show,” which ran for 275 episodes from 1958 to 1966. Fabares appeared in 192 episodes and left the series in 1965. In “Coach,” which aired 199 episodes from 1989 to 1997, she played Christine Armstrong, a TV news anchor and the romantic interest of Craig T. Nelson’s Coach Hayden Fox.

Fabares also had a brief career as a singer, notching a No.1 hit with her 1961 track “Johnny Angel.”

Some of Fabares’ other TV credits include “The Little People,” “Forever Fernwood,” “The Practice,” “Hello, Larry,” “Highcliffe Manor,” “Fantasy Island,” “One Day at a Time” and “The Love Boat.”

Fabares was born in Santa Monica, Calif in January 1944. Her mom, Elsa, started her modeling career at a young age, which naturally led to roles on TV.