Actress Shelley Fabares Dies at 82 from Pneumonia
Shelley Fabares, 82, died of pneumonia after a brief illness; she had previously undergone a liver transplant and was known for roles on 'The Donna Reed Show' and 'Coach.'
Shelley Fabares, the 82-year-old actress best known for playing Mary Stone on "The Donna Reed Show" and the newscaster wife on "Coach," died on Saturday after a brief illness, her family said. The cause of death was pneumonia, according to a statement released to media outlets on Thursday. Fabares had been diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis and received a liver transplant in October 2000 after nearly two years on the waiting list.
"To her family and friends, Shelley was a source of love, strength, laughter and comfort," the family statement read. "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."
Fabares was survived by her husband, actor Mike Farrell, known for "MAS*H." Her career spanned television and film, including three Elvis Presley movies in the mid-1960s, the TV film "Brian’s Song" with James Caan, and a number-one Billboard hit with her recording of "Johnny Angel" in 1962. She earned two Emmy nominations for her role on "Coach," which aired from 1989 to 1997, and appeared in series such as "One Day at a Time," "The Practice," and "Highcliffe Manor."