Actress Shelley Fabares Dies at 82 from Pneumonia

Shelley Fabares passed away on Aug. 22 at the age of 82, her family said, citing pneumonia as the immediate cause. She had been diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis and underwent a liver transplant in 1997.

Born in Santa Monica on Jan. 19, 1944, Fabares began her career in the mid-1950s with guest appearances on television before becoming a regular on The Donna Reed Show, appearing in nearly 200 episodes from 1958 to 1963. She later acted in several films with Elvis Presley and continued to guest-star on series such as The Twilight Zone, The Incredible Hulk, Fantasy Island, Mork & Mindy, The Love Boat, Newhart and One Day at a Time. She also portrayed Brian Piccolo’s wife in the 1971 TV movie Brian’s Song.

From 1991 to 1997, Fabares played Christine Armstrong, a TV reporter and later wife of the title character on the ABC sitcom Coach, earning Emmy nominations in 1993 and 1994. Her final on-screen work included voice roles as Martha Kent in episodes of Superman: The Animated Series, Justice League and Superman: Brainiac Attacks.