Biography

Michele Ann Marie Fabares (born 19 January 1944), addressed professionally as Shelley Fabares, is a talented American actress, singer, songwriter, and activist. She is best known for her work on the television shows Coach (1989–1997) and The Donna Reed Show (1958–1963). 

She was motivated to pursue a career in show business by her aunt Nanette Fabray, an accomplished actress. She took on several acting roles in her teen years after becoming a tap dancer and model. With her portrayal of Mary Stone in The Donna Reed Show in the 1960s, she rose to fame as the teen queen.

After then, Shelley Fabares appeared in numerous films and TV shows, with one of her biggest parts still being in the sitcom Coach. She stunned her audience with her vocal prowess when she launched the hit single Johnny Angel, which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. 

Even though she acknowledged having poor vocal abilities and chose to concentrate on acting, she still released three music albums. Shelley Fabares was never assertive in her job search since she dislikes taking risks; as a result, she had multiple out-of-work periods sprinkled throughout her successful career. 

Shelley Fabares participates actively on the National Alzheimer’s Association board. She underwent a liver transplant at the age of 56 and beat the potentially fatal auto-immune hepatitis.

Shelley Fabares
Shelley Fabares: History ‧ Bio ‧ Photo
Wiki Facts & About Data
Full Name:	Michele Ann Marie Fabares
Stage Name:	Shelley Fabares
Born:	19 January 1944 (age 80 years old)
Place of Birth:	Santa Monica, California, United States
Nationality:	American
Height:	1.63 m
Parents:	Elsa Fabares, James Fabares
Siblings:	Smokey Fabares
Husband • Spouse:	Mike Farrell (m. 1984), Lou Adler (m. 1964–1980)
Boyfriend • Partner:	N/A
Children:	Erin Farrell, Michael Farrell
Occupation:	Actress • Singer
Net Worth:	$1.5 million

Early Life & Education

James Fabares and Elsa Fabares welcomed Shelley Fabares into the world on January 19, 1944, in Santa Monica, California, United States. She shared a worn-out two-story home in Hollywood with her parents and sister Smokey Fabares. 

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Her father, James Fabares, was employed at a real estate company. At Immaculate Heart High School, Shelley Fabares attended classes. She began dancing when she was just three years old. She started modeling while still in elementary school. She was introduced to show business by actress Nanette Fabray, her aunt. 

At age 10, Shelley Fabares made her television debut in the episode Letter of Loretta of The Clara Schuman Story. That same year, she made appearances in TV dramas, including Captain Midnight and Annie Oakley. 

She portrayed Rebecca Gibbs in Our Town, a musical adaption of Thornton Wilder‘s play of the same name that aired on Producer’s Showcase in 1955. Shelley Fabares also played the part of young Cathy in a Matinee Theatre version of the book Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.

Career

The Girl Rush, released in 1955, marked the beginning of Shelley Fabares‘ film career. She appeared in the films Never Say Goodbye, The Bad Seed, Rock, Pretty Baby!, Jeanne Eagels, Marjorie Morningstar, and Summer Love over the course of the following three years. She has been on the television programs Fury and Colgate Theatre. 

When she played Mary Stone in the family comedy The Donna Reed Show, she had a breakthrough in 1958. Her character was diminished after the fifth season, only to return at the conclusion of the series. She was already well-known at that point as a teen idol. In the 1960s, Shelley Fabares experimented with various characters in the films Girl Happy, Hold On! A Time to Sing, the Elvis Presley vehicle Spinout, Clambake, and the beach-themed love drama Ride the Wild Surf.

She appeared in a few TV drama series in guest spots from 1962 to 1965, including The Twilight Zone, Mr. Novak, Arrest and Trial, The Eleventh Hour, The Ghost & Mrs. Muir, Daniel Boone, Medical Center, Lancer, Bracken’s World, and The Interns. The TV shows Mannix, Longstreet, Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law, Love, American Style, McCloud, and Cade’s County, as well as Police Story, Ironside, The Rockford Files, The Rookies, Matt Helm, Medical Story, Marcus Welby, M.D., Barnaby Jones, Highcliffe Manor. 

Shelley Fabares played recurring lead parts in three sitcoms with Brian Keith, Danny Thomas, and Greg Mullavey: The Brian Keith Show (1972–1974), The Practice (1976–77), and Forever Fernwood (1977–1978). She also had minor roles in films like Brian’s Song (1971), Two for the Money (1972), Sky Heist (1975), Pleasure Cove, Donovan’s Kid, Friendships, Secrets, and Lies (1979), and Gridlock in addition to her TV appearances (1980). 

She portrayed the well-known Francine Webster in the sitcom One Day at a Time in 1978. In the following episodes, she appeared as a guest star on The Incredible Hulk, Lucan, Vega$, Fantasy Island, and Hello, Larry. Shelley Fabares appeared in sitcoms like Mork & Mindy, Matt Houston, The Love Boat, Newhart, and Murder, She Wrote in the 1980s. 

She appeared in films including Memorial Day, Suburban Beat, The Canterville Ghost, Hot Pursuit, and Run Till You Fall during this time. She starred in the 1989 comedy Coach, which lasted for the next eight years, as the ambitious Christine Armstrong Fox, Craig T. Nelson‘s love interest. 

In the interim, Shelley Fabares also appeared in the television shows Love or Money, Deadly Relations, The Great Mom Swap, and A Nightmare Come True. She voiced Martha Kent in two episodes of Superman: The Animated Series, Justice League (2003) and Superman: Brainiac Attacks (2004). She appeared as an actor in the 1998 film Win: A Moment of Truth (2006). 

The debut of Johnny Angel, Shelley Fabaress’ first pop record, occurred on the Donna’s Prima Donna episode of the fourth season of The Donna Reed Show. Johnny Angel was released in 1962. It was adapted from a song by Lee Pockriss and Lyn Duddy that they wrote and composed. A follow-up to Johnny Angel, titled Johnny Loves Me, appeared on her second pop album, The Things We Did Last Summer, which was published in 1962. The album’s lead single was likewise a huge success. 

The Donna Reed Show co-stars James Darren and Paul Petersen contributed four songs each to her third album, Teenage Triangle, which was released in 1963 on Colpix Records. 

Awards & Achievements

For her roles in the television movies Brian’s Song and Coach, Shelley Fabares received nominations for the Golden Globe Award and the Primetime Emmy Award (twice).

She is one of the many famous people covered in the 2016 book X Child Stars: Where Are They Now? by Kathy Garver and Fred Ascher. She is profiled in this book, along with some of her unique images and other important biological information. 

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Personal Life

In June 1964, Lou Adler, a record and film producer, wed Shelley Fabares. After two years, the couple split up and divorced in 1980. 

Later, in 1984, Shelley Fabares wed actor Mike Farrell. Erin Farrell and Michael Farrell, his children from a previous marriage, have her as their stepmother. 

In 1992, Elsa Fabares, Shelley Fabares‘ mother, passed away from Alzheimer’s. In 1998, she had a house accident in which her left side ribs were shattered. After she had healed from her wounds, a lethal case of auto-immune hepatitis was discovered. 

In October 2000, Shelley Fabares underwent a life-saving liver transplant as part of her treatment. She is on the National Alzheimer’s Association’s board and serves as one of its national spokespersons. She views this as one of her most fulfilling experiences to date. 

Net Worth

American actress and singer Shelley Fabares has a $1.5 million net worth.

Social Media 

• Instagram: @shelleyfabares