Shelley Fabares, the actor and singer best known for “The Donna Reed Show,” “One Day at a Time” and “Coach,” has died at 82, according to ABC News and a statement from her family to The Associated Press.
Her family said she died Saturday in Los Angeles. No cause of death was provided. In their statement, they described her as a source of love, strength, laughter and comfort.
Fabares was born in Santa Monica in 1944 and began performing as a child. Her first TV credit came at age 10 on “The Loretta Young Show,” and she later appeared in projects including “Our Town,” “The Girl Rush,” “Never Say Goodbye,” “Annette,” “Captain Midnight” and “The Twilight Zone.”
She became widely known as Mary Stone on “The Donna Reed Show,” where she appeared from 1958 to 1963. During that time she also signed a recording contract and earned two Top 40 hits, including “Johnny Angel.”
Fabares later played Francine Webster on “One Day at a Time” and Christine Armstrong on “Coach.” She was married to producer Lou Adler in 1964 and later to actor Mike Farrell, whom she married in 1984. Her family said she will be remembered for her kindness, loyalty, wit, courage and beautiful spirit.
