Shelley Fabares facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shelley Fabares
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Fabares in 1991
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Michele Ann Marie Fabares
January 19, 1944 Santa Monica, California, U.S.
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| Other names | Shelly Fabares |
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| Years active | 1947–2006 |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Relatives | Nanette Fabray (aunt) |
Michele Ann Marie "Shelley" Fabares (born January 19, 1944) is a retired American actress and singer. She is famous for her roles on two popular TV shows. She played the daughter, Mary Stone, on the sitcom The Donna Reed Show from 1958 to 1963. Later, she played Christine Armstrong on the sitcom Coach from 1989 to 1997.
Fabares also starred in three movies with the legendary singer Elvis Presley: Girl Happy (1965), Spinout (1966), and Clambake (1967).
Besides acting, she had a successful singing career. In 1962, her song "Johnny Angel" became a huge hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 music chart.
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Early Life and Family
Shelley Fabares was born in Santa Monica, California, on January 19, 1944. Her parents were James and Elsa Fabares, and she has an older sister named Nanette. Her aunt was the famous actress Nanette Fabray. Fabares grew up near Hollywood and graduated from North Hollywood High School in 1961.
Career Beginnings
First Steps in Acting
Fabares started her acting career when she was only three years old. At age 10, she appeared on television for the first time in an episode of Letter to Loretta.
She also had small roles in several movies as a child, including The Bad Seed (1956) and Rock, Pretty Baby! (1956). She appeared in many popular TV shows of the 1950s, such as Annie Oakley and Fury.
Rise to Fame
The Donna Reed Show
In 1958, Fabares got the part that made her a star. She was cast as Mary Stone, the teenage daughter in the family TV comedy The Donna Reed Show. The show was very popular and ran for eight years. Fabares became a huge favorite with teenagers across the country.
She had great respect for her TV mom, Donna Reed. "Donna Reed was simply an extraordinary woman, a woman of great strength, kindness, integrity and compassion," Fabares later said.
A Hit Singing Career
Because she was so popular on TV, Fabares was offered a recording contract. In 1962, she recorded the song "Johnny Angel". It shot to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and sold over a million copies.
Even though she had a hit song, Fabares was surprised by her success as a singer. "I was stunned about that, to put it mildly," she said. "After all, I never could sing."
She released two albums and had another hit song called "Johnny Loves Me". After her music success, Fabares left The Donna Reed Show in 1963 to focus on other acting roles, though she returned for guest appearances.
Movie and Television Career
Starring with Elvis Presley
In the mid-1960s, Fabares starred in several movies. She was the leading lady for Elvis Presley in three of his popular films: Girl Happy (1965), Spinout (1966), and Clambake (1967). She also starred in the beach movie Ride the Wild Surf (1964) and the musical Hold On! (1966) with the band Herman's Hermits.
Return to Television
In the late 1960s and 1970s, Fabares returned to television. She appeared as a guest star on many popular shows, including The Rockford Files, Mannix, and Ironside.
One of her most important roles during this time was in the TV movie Brian's Song (1971). She played the wife of football player Brian Piccolo. Her performance in the movie was highly praised.
From 1972 to 1974, she had a main role in the TV series The Brian Keith Show. She also had a recurring role on the popular sitcom One Day at a Time in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Coach and Later Work
In 1989, Fabares landed her second major TV role as Christine Armstrong on the sitcom Coach. The show was a big hit and ran until 1997. For her work on Coach, Fabares was nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards.
After Coach ended, Fabares began doing voice acting. She was the voice of Martha Kent, Superman's mother, in Superman: The Animated Series. She played the role again in the show Justice League and the movie Superman: Brainiac Attacks (2006).
Personal Life
Shelley Fabares married record producer Lou Adler in 1964. They separated in 1966 and their marriage ended in 1980. In 1984, she married actor Mike Farrell, who is known for his role in the TV series M*A*S*H.
In the late 1990s, Fabares was diagnosed with a serious liver condition. In October 2000, she received a life-saving liver transplant.
Selected Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Never Say Goodbye | Suzy Parker |
| 1958 | Summer Love | Twinkie Daley |
| 1964 | Ride the Wild Surf | Brie Matthews |
| 1965 | Girl Happy | Valerie Frank |
| 1966 | Hold On! | Louisa Page |
| 1966 | Spinout | Cynthia Foxhugh |
| 1967 | Clambake | Dianne Carter |
| 1968 | A Time to Sing | Amy Carter |
| 2006 | Superman: Brainiac Attacks | Martha Kent (voice) |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1958–1965 | The Donna Reed Show | Mary Stone | 191 episodes |
| 1964 | The Twilight Zone | Ellen Tillman | Episode: "Black Leather Jackets" |
| 1971 | Brian's Song | Joy Piccolo | Television film |
| 1972–1974 | The Brian Keith Show | Dr. Anne Jamison | 47 episodes |
| 1978–1984 | One Day at a Time | Francine Webster | 23 episodes |
| 1989 | Murder, She Wrote | Liza Caspar | 2 episodes |
| 1989–1997 | Coach | Christine Armstrong | 199 episodes |
| 1996–1998 | Superman: The Animated Series | Martha Kent (voice) | 8 episodes |
Awards and Nominations
- Primetime Emmy Award: Nominated twice for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for Coach (1993, 1994).
- Young Artist Award: Won the "Former Child Star Lifetime Achievement Award" in 1994 for her role on The Donna Reed Show.
- TV Land Award: Nominated in 2004 for Favorite Teen Dream for The Donna Reed Show.
See also
In Spanish: Shelley Fabares para niños
