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| Birth Name(s) : Michelle Marie Fabares |
Date of Birth: January 19, 1944 |
| Status:
Married
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Partner:
Mike Farrell |
| Profession:
Actor |
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Full Shelley Fabares Biography
Pretty, girlish, light leading lady who has enjoyed a remarkably lengthy career in mostly trivial TV fare since the mid-1950s. Beginning in early adolescence in films and TV, Fabares first gained real attention with her role as Mary Stone, perfect daughter to the perfect mom, on the sitcom ode to the 50s nuclear family, "The Donna Reed Show" (ABC, 1958-63). She also enjoyed a hit on the pop music charts at this time, the schmaltzy but fondly remembered Number 1 smash, "Johnny Angel".
Fabares left "The Donna Reed Show" in 1963 (when her character went off to college) and returned to feature films, but, despite roles in three Elvis Presley movies ("Girl Happy" 1965, "Spinout" 1966 and "Clambake" 1967), her career stalled until the mid-70s. A series of sitcom roles followed, either supporting or recurring roles on popular fare ("One Day at a Time", as Bonnie Franklin's uptight, perma-pressed business associate) or leading roles on less successful shows ("The Practice", a lukewarm vehicle for Danny Thomas). The vivacious Fabares nonetheless had become by that time a comfortable, familiar presence to TV watchers. Her role as Craig T Nelson's often frustrated fiance (and later wife) on "Coach" (ABC, 1989-97) represented not only a return to a popular series but also one of her more likable and sizable parts to date. |
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Additional Shelley Fabares Biography
Shelley Fabares (born January 19, 1944) is an American actress and singer, primarily for her roles on movies, soap operas and television.
Born Michele Ann Marie Fabares in Santa Monica, California, she is the niece of Nanette Fabray, who changed the spelling of her last name, though Shelley kept the original form. She got her big break in the role of the teenage daughter in the long-running television family sitcom, The Donna Reed Show. Her national popularity led to a recording contract and she had two "Top 40" hits including "Johnny Angel" that went to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April of 1962. Fabares left the TV show for a career in film and starred in a number of motion pictures including three Elvis Presley movies: Girl Happy (1965), Spinout (1966) and Clambake (1967).
Fabares is Annette Funicello's best friend. Shelley and Annette have been friends since they were young teenagers, and Shelley was a bridesmaid at Annette's first wedding. Shelley also played herself in A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes: The Annette Funicello Story. Fabares married Jan & Dean's record producer Lou Adler in June 1964 before separating in 1966. The couple would officially divorce many years later, in 1980.
In later years, she returned to television, most notably in the roles of Francine Webster on One Day at a Time and as Christine Armstrong Fox on the sitcom Coach. She has traveled extensively, speaking out and offering families support on behalf of the Alzheimer’s Association.
She is married to actor Mike Farrell and is stepmother to his two children from a previous marriage. In October 2000, she received a life-saving liver transplant after being diagnosed with hepatitis. In early 2007, she joined her husband on a promotion tour for his autobiography. |
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