Shelley Fabares

American actress and singer (born 1944)

Shelley Fabares

Fabares in 1991

Born|

Michele Ann Marie Fabares

(1944-01-19) January 19, 1944 (age 81)

Santa Monica, California, U.S.

Other names| Shelly Fabares
Occupations|

* Actress
* singer

Years active| 1947–2006
Spouses|

Lou Adler

(m. 1964; div. 1980)​

Mike Farrell

(m. 1984)​

Relatives| Nanette Fabray (aunt)

Michele Ann Marie "Shelley" Fabares (/ˌfæbəˈreɪ/; born January 19, 1944) is a retired American actress and singer. She is known for her television roles as Mary on the sitcom The Donna Reed Show (1958–1963) and as Christine Armstrong on the sitcom Coach (1989–1997), the latter of which earned her two Primetime Emmy Awards nominations. Her film roles include playing the leading lady to Elvis Presley in Girl Happy (1965), Spinout (1966), and Clambake (1967).

In 1962, her recording of "Johnny Angel" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

## Early life

[edit]

Fabares was born in Santa Monica, California on January 19, 1944.[1] She was born to James Alan Fabares (1909-1977), who was born in Algiers, New Orleans, and Elsa R. Eyler, who died from Alzheimer's disease in 1992. She has an older sister Nanette ("Smokey").[2] She is the niece of actress Nanette Fabray (née Fabares).[3] She graduated from North Hollywood High School in 1961.[4]

## Career

[edit]

### Early TV appearances

[edit]

Fabares's acting debut was at the age of 3. At the age of 10, she made her first appearance on television in an episode of Letter to Loretta, "The Clara Schuman Story" (1954).[5][6]

Early TV appearances included the Producers' Showcase adaptation of Our Town starring Frank Sinatra and Paul Newman.[7] She was Young Cathy in a Matinee Theatre adaptation of Wuthering Heights.

John Saxon, Shelley Fabares, John Wilder and Jill St. John in Summer Love (1958)

Fabares had small parts in The Girl Rush (1955), Never Say Goodbye (1956), The Bad Seed (1956), Rock, Pretty Baby! (1956), Jeanne Eagels (1957), Marjorie Morningstar (1958), and Summer Love (1958).

On TV she was in Captain Midnight, Annie Oakley, Fury, and Colgate Theatre.[8]

She portrayed Moselle Corey on Annette (1958) starring Annette Funicello.[9]

She guest starred on Mr. Novak, The Eleventh Hour, Arrest and Trial, and The Twilight Zone ("Black Leather Jackets").[10][11]

### The Donna Reed Show

[edit]

The Donna Reed Show: (clockwise from bottom left) Paul Petersen, Donna Reed, Carl Betz, and Shelley Fabares, 1958

In 1958, Fabares landed the role of Mary Stone in the long-running family sitcom The Donna Reed Show. This ran until 1966. Fabares quickly established herself as a favorite with teen audiences.[12][11]

"Donna Reed was simply an extraordinary woman, a woman of great strength, kindness, integrity and compassion," said Fabares later of her television mother.[13]

### Singer

[edit]

With James Darren in 1959

Fabares' national popularity led to a recording contract and two "Top 40" hits, including "Johnny Angel", which went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in April 1962, and peaked at number 41 in the UK.[3][14] It sold over one million copies and was certified gold.[15] She released an album, Shelley!. "I was stunned about that, to put it mildly," she later said. "After all, I never could sing."[16]

This was followed by a second album, The Things We Did Last Summer, which included two hit songs "Johnny Loves Me" (No. 21) and "The Things We Did Last Summer" (No. 46).

In Canada she had three songs the Top 40 with Johnny Angel at No. 1 for three weeks, Johnny Loves Me at No. 24, and Ronnie, Call Me at No. 16 for two weeks.[17][18][19]

Fabares left The Donna Reed Show in 1963 (she would return periodically until its end in 1966) to pursue other acting opportunities. She released a third album, Teenage Triangle in 1963.

### Film career

[edit]

Fabares was one of the female leads in the surf film Ride the Wild Surf (1964).[11] She was Elvis Presley's leading lady in Girl Happy (1965) for MGM[11] and played the love interest of Peter Noone of Herman's Hermits and sings Make Me Happy in Hold On! at the same studio. Filmink wrote in Girl Happy Fabares is "channelling Ann-Margret in Viva Las Vegas and doing it very well, too."[20]

MGM made a pilot for a TV series based on Meet Me in St. Louis with Fabares in the lead but no network was receptive to it.

Publicity photo of Fabares, c. 1966

She was reunited with Elvis for Spinout (1966) at MGM and Clambake (1967), at United Artists.[11]

Sam Katzman cast her as the love interest of a young Hank Williams Jr. in A Time to Sing (1968).[11]

### TV guest spots

[edit]

Film roles dried up in the late 1960s and Fabares went back to guest starring on shows like The Ghost & Mrs. Muir,[21] Daniel Boone, Medical Center, Lancer, Bracken's World, and The Interns.[22]

Fabares said she went through a period where she struggled to find work. "I went to bed on Tuesday having worked since I was 3. I got up Wednesday morning and didn't work for four years, went to bed Wednesday night after four years, got up and interviewed for a Mannix episode and started working again. I think this business is very cyclical. You go through busy times and you go through dead times."[23]

After Mannix, she was in Longstreet, Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law, Love, American Style, Rockford Files, McCloud and Cade's County.

"I wasn't a big risk-taker," she said later. "I should have been more aggressive. I was nervous and scared to try something really different."[16]

Fabares had supporting roles in television films like Brian's Song (1971) (playing the wife of Brian Piccolo, played by James Caan), and Two for the Money (1972). Her performance in Brian's Song earned her a Golden Globe nomination.[24]

### The Brian Keith Show, The Practice

[edit]

Fabares had a regular role on The Brian Keith Show (1972–1974), known as The Little People during its first season, which lasted for 47 episodes.[25]

When the show ended she resumed guest shots: Police Story, Ironside, The Rockford Files, The Rookies, Matt Helm, Medical Story, Marcus Welby, M.D., Barnaby Jones, and Spencer's Pilots.

She had a role in the television film Sky Heist (1975) and from 1976 to 1977 had a regular part on The Practice with Danny Thomas.

### Forever Fernwood, One Day at a Time and Highcliffe Manor

[edit]

She then had a regular role on Forever Fernwood.

In 1978, Fabares played Francine Webster on the CBS sitcom One Day at a Time, a role she reprised for the last three years of the show. "I was Francine, a rather villainous character," she said later. "She was wonderful. She saw the world only through her eyes, and it never occurred to her that other people didn't."[26]

She was also in episodes of Lucan, Vega$, The Incredible Hulk, Hello, Larry, and Fantasy Island.

Fabares was in the television film Pleasure Cove (1979), Donovan's Kid (1979), Friendships, Secrets and Lies (1979) and The Great American Traffic Jam (1980).

She had the starring role in the TV series Highcliffe Manor (1979) but it only lasted six episodes.

### 1980s

[edit]

In the 1980s Fabares could be seen on Mork & Mindy, Matt Houston, The Love Boat, Newhart, and Murder, She Wrote.

She did a television film Memorial Day (1983) with Mike Farrell (who would later become her husband), as well as the films Suburban Beat (1985), The Canterville Ghost (1985), Hot Pursuit (1987), and Run Till You Fall (1988).

### Coach

[edit]

In 1989, she won the role of Christine Armstrong Fox on the ABC sitcom Coach. "Here was an intelligent, funny, well-written series," Fabares said "And the people putting it on wanted me to play a very successful, ambitious woman in it."[16]

The series originally struggled in the ratings until it shifted to play after Roseanne. It was a hit and played until 1997.

For her work, Fabares was nominated twice for a Primetime Emmy Award,[27] and, in 1994, she was honored by the Young Artist Foundation with its Former Child Star "Lifetime Achievement" Award for her role as Mary Stone on The Donna Reed Show.[28]

During the series' run Fabares appeared on Love or Money (1990), Deadly Relations (1993), The Great Mom Swap (1995), and A Nightmare Come True (1997).

### Later career

[edit]

After Coach ended in 1997, Fabares voiced the role of Martha Kent on Superman: The Animated Series.[29] She reprised the role twice, once in Justice League and again for the direct-to-video film Superman: Brainiac Attacks (2006).

She was in Playing to Win: A Moment of Truth Movie (1998).

From 2004 to 2011 she produced the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

## Personal life

[edit]

In 1964, Fabares married producer Lou Adler. They separated in 1966 and divorced in 1980.[30] Since 1984, she has been married to actor Mike Farrell.[31]

In October 2000, Fabares received a liver transplant after being diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis.[32][33]

## Filmography

[edit]

Film  Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

1955  | The Girl Rush | Kim Halliday (Age 9)  | Uncredited
1956  | Never Say Goodbye | Suzy Parker  |
1956  | The Bad Seed | Margie  | Uncredited
1957  | Jeanne Eagels | Teenage Girl  | Uncredited
1958  | Summer Love | Twinkie Daley  |
1958  | Marjorie Morningstar | Seth's Girl Friend  | Uncredited
1964  | Ride the Wild Surf | Brie Matthews  |
1965  | Girl Happy | Valerie Frank  |
1966  | Hold On! | Louisa Page  | Alternative title: There's No Place Like Space
1966  | Spinout | Cynthia Foxhugh  |
1967  | Clambake | Dianne Carter  |
1968  | A Time to Sing | Amy Carter  |
1987  | Hot Pursuit | Buffy Cronenberg  |
1990  | Love or Money | LuAnn Reed  | Alternative title: For Love or Money
2006  | Superman: Brainiac Attacks | Martha Kent (voice)  | Direct-to-video[34]
Television  Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

|
|
|

1954–1958  | The Loretta Young Show | Marie Schumann
Kathy  | 2 episodes
1955  | Producers' Showcase | Rebecca Gibbs  | Episode: "Our Town"
1955  | Matinee Theater | Young Cathy  | Episode: "Wuthering Heights"
1955  | Captain Midnight | Mary Kingsley  | Episode: "Flight Into the Unknown"
1956  | Annie Oakley | Prudy Warren  | Episode: "Treasure Map"
1957  | Fury | Midge Mallon  | Episode: "The Tomboy"
1958  | Walt Disney Presents: Annette | Moselle Corey  | 15 episodes
1958  | Colgate Theatre |  | Episode: "Welcome to Washington"
1958–1965  | The Donna Reed Show | Mary Stone  | 191 episodes
1959  | The Rebel | Nora Hendry  | 1 episode
1963  | Mr. Novak | Dani Cooper  | 2 episodes
1964  | The Eleventh Hour | Carol Hamilton  | Episode: "How Do I Say I Love You?"
1964  | Arrest and Trial | Donna Blaney  | Episode: "An Echo of Conscience"
1964  | The Twilight Zone | Ellen Tillman  | Episode: "Black Leather Jackets"
1968  | The Ghost & Mrs. Muir | Vanessa  | Episode: "Vanessa"
1969  | Daniel Boone | Charity Brown  | Episode: "A Touch of Charity"
1969  | Lancer | Melissa Harper  | Episode: "Juniper's Camp"
1969  | Bracken's World | Hilary Saxon  | Episode: "Package Deal"
1969  | Medical Center | "Mike" Carter  | Episode: "Operation Heartbeat"
1971  | Longstreet | Marianne Franklin  | Episode: "The Girl with the Broom"
1971  | Brian's Song | Joy Piccolo  | Television film
1971  | Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law | Lorraine Latham  | Episode: "Burden of Proof"
1971  | Mannix | Gwen Townsend  | Episode: "A Step in Time"
1972  | McCloud | Natalie Rudell  | Episode: "Fifth Man in a String Quartet"
1972  | Two for the Money | Bethany Hagen  | Television film
1972  | Cade's County | Stephanie  | Episode: "The Fake"
1972–1974  | The Little People/The Brian Keith Show | Dr. Anne Jamison  | 47 episodes
1974  | Police Story | Annette Weiner  | Episode: "Wolf"
1974  | Ironside | Charlotte Black  | Episode: "The Far Side of the Fence"
1974  | The Rockford Files | Jolene Hyland  | Episode: "Caledonia - It's Worth a Fortune!"
1975  | The Rookies | Ann McNeal  | Episode: "Solomon's Dilemma"
1975  | Matt Helm | Chris/Tina  | Episode: "Now I Lay Me Down To Die"
1975  | Barnaby Jones | Susan Burke  | Episode: "Flight to Danger"
1976  | Marcus Welby, M.D. | Norma Fritchie  | Episode: "Strike Two!"
1976  | Spencer's Pilots | Annette  | Episode: "The Code"
1976–1977  | The Practice | Jenny Bedford  | 27 episodes
1977–1978  | Forever Fernwood | Eleanor Major  | Unknown episodes
1978  | Vega$ | Linda Stockwood  | Episode: "The Games Girls Play"
1978  | The Incredible Hulk | Holly Cooper  | Episode: "Escape from Los Santos"
1978–1984  | One Day at a Time | Francine Webster  | 23 episodes
1979-1981  | Fantasy Island | Various Roles  |
1979  | Hello, Larry | Marion Alder  | 3 episodes
1979  | Highcliffe Manor | Helen Blacke  | 6 episodes
1980–1981  | Mork & Mindy | Cathy  | 3 episodes
1980–1985  | The Love Boat | Various roles  | 3 episodes
1983  | Matt Houston | Barbara Newton  | Episode: "The Visitors"
1983  | ABC Afterschool Special | Fran Brogliatti  | Episode: "The Celebrity and the Arcade Kid"
1983  | Memorial Day | Ellie Walker  | Television film
1985  | The Canterville Ghost | Lucy  | Television film
1985  | Suburban Beat | Mimi  | Television film
1987  | Newhart | Diane Beckwith  | Episode: "The First of the Belles"
1988  | Run Till You Fall | Kathy Reuben  | Television film
1989  | Murder, She Wrote | Liza Caspar  | 2 episodes
1989–1997  | Coach | Christine Armstrong  | 199 episodes
1993  | Deadly Relations | Shirley Fagot  | Television film
1995  | The Great Mom Swap | Millie Ridgeway  | Television film
1996–1998  | Superman: The Animated Series | Martha Kent (voice)  | 8 episodes[34]
1997  | A Nightmare Come True | Lily Zarn  | Television film
1998  | Playing to Win: A Moment of Truth Movie | Nancy Erickson  | Television film
2003  | Justice League | Martha Kent (voice)  | Episode: "Comfort and Joy"[34]

## Discography

[edit]

### Studio albums

[edit]

* Shelley! \-- Colpix Records CP-426 (Mono)/SCP-426 (Stereo) — No. 106, July 62[35]
* The Things We Did Last Summer—Colpix CP-431/SCP-431 — No. 121, 10/62[35]
* Teenage Triangle—Colpix CP-444/SCP-444 — No. 48, May 63[35]

Featuring four tracks each by Shelley, James Darren and Paul Petersen

* Bye Bye Birdie—Colpix CP-454/SCP-454—1963

Songs from the movie sung by Shelley, The Marcels, James Darren and Paul Petersen

* More Teenage Triangle—Colpix CP-468/SCP-468—1964

Second compilation featuring Shelley, James Darren and Paul Petersen

### Soundtrack songs

[edit]

* "Spring Fever" (1965) with Elvis Presley from Girl Happy (The soundtrack album only features Elvis' vocals)
* "Make Me Happy" (March 1966) from Hold On! MGM Records
* "Next Time I Say Goodbye I'm Leaving" (1968) from soundtrack of A Time to Sing (Music From The Original Soundtrack) MCA Records– MCA-1458

### Compilations

[edit]

* Rare Items And Big Hits Colpix Records (1989)
* The Best of Shelley Fabares Rhino Records R2 71651—1994
* Shelley Fabares Johnny Angel Collectables Records No. 9931 July 2005
* Shelley Fabares Meets Paul Petersen Collectables Records July 2009
* Growing Up-The 1962 Recordings Jasmine Records 2014

### Singles

[edit]

Year  | Title  | B-Side | U.S. | Label and number

|
|
|
|

February 1962  | "Johnny Angel"  | "Where's It Gonna Get Me"  | 1[3] | Colpix 621
April 1962  | "What Did They Do Before Rock 'n' Roll"(with Paul Petersen) | "Very Unlikely"
(with Paul Petersen) |

| Colpix 631
May 1962  | "Johnny Loves Me"  | "I'm Growing Up"  | 21[36] | Colpix 636
August 1962  | "The Things We Did Last Summer"  | "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do"  | 46[37] | Colpix 654
December 1962  | "Telephone (Won't You Ring)"  | "Big Star"  | 109[38] | Colpix 667
March 1963  | "Ronnie, Call Me When You Get a Chance"  | "I Left a Note to Say Goodbye"  | 72[39] | Colpix 682
October 1963  | "Welcome Home"  | "Billy Boy"  |

| Colpix 705
January 1964  | "Football Season's Over"  | "He Don't Love Me"  |

| Colpix 721
September 1964  | "I Know You'll Be There"  | "Lost Summer Love"  |

| Vee-Jay VJ632
May 1965  | "My Prayer"  | "Pretty Please"  |

| Dunhill D-4001
August 1966  | "See Ya 'Round On the Rebound"  | "Pretty Please"  |

| Dunhill D-4041

## Awards and nominations

[edit]

Year  | Award  | Result  | Category  | Film or series

|
|
|
|

1993  | Primetime Emmy Award | Nominated  | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Coach
1994  | Coach
1965  | Laurel Awards  | Nominated  | New Faces, Female  |

2004  | TV Land Award | Nominated  | Favorite Teen Dream - Female  | The Donna Reed Show
1994  | Young Artist Award | Won  | Former Child Star Lifetime Achievement Award  | The Donna Reed Show

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Strodder, Chris (2000). Swingin' Chicks of the '60s: A Tribute to 101 of the Decade's Defining Women. Cedco. p. 35\. ISBN 978-0768322323.
2. ^ "Bio Shelley Fabares". All Shelley Fabares. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
3. ^ a b c Bronson, Fred (2003). The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits: The Inside Story Behind Every Number One Single on Billboard's Hot 100 from 1955 to the Present (5 ed.). Billboard Books. p. 107\. ISBN 978-0823076772.
4. ^ "Sept 61". Philadelphia Daily News. September 7, 1961. p. 24. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
5. ^ Leszczak, Bob (June 25, 2015). From Small Screen to Vinyl: A Guide to Television Stars Who Made Records, 1950-2000. Washington, DC: Rowman & Littlefield. p. 112\. ISBN 9781442242746.
6. ^ The Loretta Young Show - S1 E27 - "The Clara Schumann Story" on YouTube
7. ^ Our Town (Producers' Showcase, 1955) on YouTube
8. ^ Korman, Seymour (June 4, 1960). "TOPS WITH TEENS: Shelley Fabares Likes Boys, Music, Swimming, Chocolate Cake, and (again!) Boys". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. C25.
9. ^ Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 49\. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
10. ^ "Shelley Fabares Gets 2nd 'Mr. Novak' Role". Los Angeles Times. July 9, 1963. p. C7.
11. ^ a b c d e f "Shelley Fabares". TVGuide.com. TV Guide. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
12. ^ Fink, John (September 25, 1960). "Terrific Teen: Fabares Believe It or Not, She's Shy!" Chicago Daily Tribune. p. B18.
13. ^ King, Susan (May 16, 1993). "Five Years Of Coach; Shelley Fabares marks 100th show". [Montreal]: The Gazette p. F6.
14. ^ "Shelley Fabares - Johnny Angel". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 4, 2012.
15. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 145. ISBN 978-0214204807.
16. ^ a b c Mirabella, Alan (November 28, 1989). "'Coach' is New Life for Shelley Fabaes". Orlando Sentinel p. E6.
17. ^ "CHUM Hit Parade - March 12, 1962".
18. ^ "CHUM Hit Parade - July 9, 1962".
19. ^ "CHUM Hit Parade - April 15, 1963".
20. ^ Vagg, Stephen (December 13, 2024). "Beach Party Movies Part Three: Over exposure". Filmink. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
21. ^ "Shelley Fabares Role". Los Angeles Times September 4, 1968. p.H14.
22. ^ "Shelley Fabares Set for Lancer Episode". Los Angeles Times February 4, 1969. p. G14.
23. ^ "Shelley Fabares Has Half-Century of Screen Presence". Orlando Sentinel. Los Angeles Times. July 28, 1996. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
24. ^ Lane, Lydia (March 15, 1972). "BEAUTY: Actress Learned Hard Way". Los Angeles Times. p. I-13.
25. ^ Anderson, Jack (December 23, 1972). "Donna's 'little girl' grows up" Chicago Tribune p. B5.
26. ^ Buck, Jerry (July 9, 1991). Veteran Fabares Likes Challenge of 'Coach' Role". [Ft Lauderdale]: Sun-Sentinel p. 3E.
27. ^ Lisanti, Tom (May 20, 2015). Fantasy Femmes of Sixties Cinema: Interviews With 20 Actresses From Biker, Beach and Elvis Movies. McFarland. p. 283\. ISBN 978-1476601168.
28. ^ "15th Annual Youth in Film Awards". Young Artist Academy. Archived from the original on July 9, 2000. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
29. ^ Hartman, Matthew (August 11, 2021). "Superman: The Complete Animated Series Saves Blu-ray October 12th". High-Def Digest. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
30. ^ "Shelley Fabares". Glamour Girls of the Silver Screen. Retrieved April 4, 2012.
31. ^ Sanz, Cynthia (April 15, 1991). "Shelley Fabares Fell for a Former M*A*S*H-Er, Mike Farrell". People. 35: 72. ISSN 0093-7673. Archived from the original on May 10, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2009.
32. ^ Slaughter, Adele (April 24, 2002). "Shelley Fabares 'coaches' life-giving game plan". USA Today. Retrieved May 8, 2009.
33. ^ "Shelley Fabares: Illness and Liver Transplant". MedicineNet. April 22, 2003. Retrieved April 4, 2012.
34. ^ a b c "Shelley Fabares (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved October 10, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
35. ^ a b c "Shelley Fabares". AllMusic. January 19, 1944. Retrieved April 4, 2012.
36. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1996). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (6th ed.). New York: Watson-Guptill Publications. p. 212. ISBN 978-0823076321.
37. ^ "Shelley Fabares". AllMusic. January 19, 1944. Retrieved April 4, 2012.
38. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2005). Bubbling Under The Billboard Hot 100 1959-2004 (2nd ed.). Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 94\. ISBN 0-89820-162-4.
39. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2003). Top Pop Singles 1955-2002 (10th ed.). Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 234. ISBN 978-0898201550.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Shelley Fabares.

* Shelley Fabares at IMDb
* Shelley Fabares discography at Discogs

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Other|

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*[m.]: married
*[div.]: divorced
*[c.]: circa