Shelley Fabares
Biography
Michele Ann Marie "Shelley" Fabares ( January 19, 1944) is an American actress and singer. Fabares is known for her roles as Donna Reeds daughter Mary Stone on The Donna Reed Show (1958–1963), and as Hayden Foxs love interest (and eventual wife) Christine Armstrong on the sitcom Coach (1989–1997). She was Elvis Presleys co-star in three films. In 1962, her recording of "Johnny Angel" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Michele Ann Marie Fabares was born in Santa Monica, California. She is the niece of actress Nanette Fabray. Fabares began acting at age three, and at age 10 made her television debut in an episode of Letter to Loretta. After guest-starring on various television series, Fabares landed the role of Mary Stone in the long-running family sitcom The Donna Reed Show.
Read full biography ↓
Her 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. It sold over one million copies and was certified gold. Fabares left The Donna Reed Show in 1963 (she would return periodically until its end in 1966) to pursue a film career. She appeared in a number of motion pictures, including three Elvis Presley movies: Girl Happy (1965), Spinout (1966), and Clambake (1967), the most by any one actress. In two other 1960s movies, she played the love interest of Peter Noone of Hermans Hermits in Hold On! and of a young Hank Williams, Jr. in A Time to Sing.
During the 1970s, Fabares appeared on several television series, including Love, American Style, The Rockford Files, The Interns, Mannix, The Practice, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, and Fantasy Island. In 1971, she starred along with Billy Dee Williams and James Caan in the successful TV movie Brians Song, the true story of terminally ill Chicago Bears running back Brian Piccolo. Caan played Piccolo, and she played his wife, Joy. In 1981, Fabares played Francine Webster on One Day at a Time, a role she reprised throughout the series run.
In 1989, she won the role of Christine Armstrong Fox on the ABC sitcom Coach. For her work, Fabares was nominated twice for a Primetime Emmy Award, 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. After Coach ended in 1997, Fabares voiced the role of Martha "Ma" Kent in Superman: The Animated Series. She reprised the role twice, once for a 2003 episode of Justice League and again for the 2006 direct-to-video film Superman: Brainiac Attacks.
Fabares was a lifelong friend of Annette Funicello, whom she met in catechism class in the seventh grade. She was at Annettes bedside with her family when she died of multiple sclerosis on April 8, 2013.
Fabares married record and movie producer Lou Adler in June 1964, separated in 1966, and was divorced in 1980. In 1984, she married actor Mike Farrell, and is stepmother to his two children, Erin and Michael.
In October 2000, Fabares received a life-saving liver transplant after being diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis.
Discography
Studio albums
Shelley! -- Colpix CP-426 (Mono)/SCP-426 (Stereo) -- #106, 7/62
The Things We Did Last Summer—Colpix CP-431/SCP-431 -- #121, 10/62
Teenage Triangle—Colpix CP-444/SCP-444 -- #48, 5/63
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) w/Elvis Presley from the movie Girl Happy (The soundtrack album only features Elvis vocals)
"Make Me Happy" (March 1966) from the movie soundtrack of Hold On! MGM Records
"Next Time I Say Goodbye Im Leaving" (1968) from the movie soundtrack of A Time to Sing (Music From The Original Soundtrack) MCA Records– MCA-1458
Compilations
Rare Items And Big Hits Colpix (1989)
The Best of Shelley Fabares Rhino R2 71651—1994
Shelley Fabares Johnny Angel Collectables #9931 July 2005
Shelley Fabares Meets Paul Petersen Collectables Records July 2009
Growing Up-The 1962 Recordings Jasmine 2014
Singles[edit]
YearTitleB-SideU.S.Label and number
February 1962"Johnny Angel""Wheres It Gonna Get Me"1[2]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""Im Growing Up"21[12]Colpix 636
August 1962"The Things We Did Last Summer""Breaking Up is Hard to Do"46[13]Colpix 654
December 1962"Telephone (Wont You Ring)""Big Star"109[14]Colpix 667
March 1963"Ronnie, Call Me When You Get a Chance""I Left a Note to Say Goodbye"72[15]Colpix 682
October 1963"Welcome Home""Billy Boy"
-
Colpix 705
January 1964"Football Seasons Over""He Dont Love Me"
-
Colpix 721
September 1964"I Know Youll 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
Filmography
Film
YearTitleRoleNotes
1955The Girl RushKim - Age 9Uncredited
1956Never Say GoodbyeSuzy Parker
1956The Bad SeedMargieUncredited
1957Jeanne EagelsTeenage GirlUncredited
1958Summer LoveTwinkie Daley
1958Marjorie MorningstarSeths Girl FriendUncredited
1964Ride the Wild SurfBrie Matthews
1965Girl HappyValerie Frank
1966Hold On!Louisa PageAlternative title: Theres No Place Like Space
1966SpinoutCynthia Foxhugh
1967ClambakeDianne Carter
1968A Time to SingAmy Carter
1971Brians SongJoy Piccolo
1987Hot PursuitBuffy Cronenberg
1990Love or MoneyLuAnn ReedAlternative title: For Love or Money
2006Superman: Brainiac AttacksMartha Kent (Voice)Direct-to-video release
Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
1954–1958Letter to LorettaMarie Schumann
Kathy2 episodes
1955Producers ShowcaseRebecca Gibbs1 episode
1955Matinee TheaterYoung Cathy1 episode
1955Captain MidnightMary Kingsley1 episode
1956Annie OakleyPrudy Warren1 episode
1957FuryMidge Mallon1 episode
1958Walt Disney Presents: AnnetteMoselle Corey15 episodes
1958–1965The Donna Reed ShowMary Stone191 episodes
1959The RebelNora Hendry1 episode
1963Mr. NovakDani Cooper2 episodes
1964The Eleventh HourCarol Hamilton1 episode
1964Arrest and TrialDonna Blaney1 episode
1964The Twilight ZoneEllen Tillman1 episode
1968The Ghost and Mrs. MuirVanessa1 episode
1969Daniel BooneCharity Brown1 episode
1969LancerMelissa Harper1 episode
1969Brackens WorldHilary Saxon1 episode
1969Medical Center"Mike" Carter1 episode
1971LongstreetMarianne Franklin1 episode
1971Brians SongJoy PiccoloTelevision movie
1971Owen Marshall: Counselor at LawLorraine Latham1 episode
1972McCloudNatalie Rudell1 episode
1972Cades CountyStephanie1 episode
1972The Brian Keith ShowDr. Anne JamisonUnknown episodes
1974Police StoryAnnette Weiner1 episode
1974IronsideCharlotte Black1 episode
1974The Rockford FilesJolene Hyland1 episode
1975The RookiesAnn McNeal1 episode
1975Matt HelmChris/Tina1 episode
1975Barnaby JonesSusan Burke1 episode
1976Marcus Welby, M.D.Norma Fritchie1 episode
1976Spencers PilotsAnnette1 episode
1976-1977The PracticeJenny Bedford27 episodes
1977–1978Forever FernwoodEleanor MajorUnknown episodes
1978Vega$Linda Stockwood1 episode
1978The Incredible HulkHolly Cooper1 episode
1978–1984One Day at a TimeFrancine Webster23 episodes
1979Hello, LarryMarion Alder3 episodes
1979Highcliffe ManorHelen6 episodes
1980–1981Mork and MindyCathy3 episodes
1980–1985The Love BoatVarious roles3 episodes
1983Matt HoustonBarbara Newton1 episode
1983ABC Afterschool SpecialFran Brogliatti1 episode
1983Memorial DayEllie WalkerTelevision movie
1985The Canterville GhostLucyTelevision movie
1985Suburban BeatMimiTelevision movie
1987NewhartDiane Beckwith1 episode
1988Run Till You FallKathy ReubenTelevision movie
1989Murder, She WroteLiza Caspar2 episodes
1989–1997CoachChristine Armstrong199 episodes
1993Deadly RelationsShirley FagotTelevision movie
1995The Great Mom SwapMillie RidgewayTelevision movie
1996Superman: The Last Son of KryptonMartha Kent (Voice)Television movie
1996–1998Superman: The Animated SeriesMartha Kent (Voice)8 episodes
1997A Nightmare Come TrueLily ZarnTelevision movie
1998Playing to Win: A Moment of Truth MovieNancy EricksonTelevision movie
2003Justice LeagueMa Kent (Voice)1 episode
Awards and nominations
YearAwardResultCategoryFilm or series
1993Primetime Emmy AwardNominatedOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy SeriesCoach
1994Coach
1965Laurel AwardsNominatedNew Faces, Female
-
2004TV Land AwardNominatedFavorite Teen Dream - FemaleThe Donna Reed Show
1994Young Artist AwardWonFormer Child Star Lifetime Achievement AwardThe Donna Reed Show
Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.
