begin quote from:


Shelley Fabares

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigationJump to search
Shelley Fabares
Shelley Fabares 1991.jpg
Fabares in 1991
Born
Michele Ann Marie Fabares

January 19, 1944 (age 78)
Other namesShelly Fabares
Occupation
  • Actress
  • singer
Years active1947–2006
Spouse(s)
(m. 1964; div. 1980)

(m. 1984)
RelativesNanette Fabray (aunt)

Michele Ann Marie "ShelleyFabares (/fæˈbr/; born January 19, 1944) is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her television roles as Mary Stone on the sitcom The Donna Reed Show (1958–1963) and as Christine Armstrong on the sitcom Coach (1989–97), the latter of which earned her two Primetime Emmy Awards nominations.

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

Biography[edit]

Early life[edit]

Fabares was born in Santa Monica, California on January 19, 1944.[1] She is the niece of actress Nanette Fabray (née Fabares).[2] She graduated from North Hollywood High School in 1961.[3]

Her father was James Alan Fabares, who was born in Algiers, New Orleans on 2 August 1909, and died in Los Angeles on 10 December 1977, and her mother was Elsa R. Eyler, who died from Alzheimer's disease in 1992. She has an older sister Nanette ("Smokey").(Source: Ancestry.com)[4]

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.[citation needed]

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).[citation needed]

On TV she was in Captain MidnightAnnie OakleyFury, and Colgate Theatre.[8]

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

She guest starred on Mr. NovakThe Eleventh HourArrest 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 PetersenDonna ReedCarl 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]

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.[2][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).

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.[citation needed]

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.[citation needed]

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,[17] Daniel BooneMedical CenterLancerBracken's World, and The Interns.[18]

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."[19]

After Mannix, she was in LongstreetOwen Marshall, Counselor at LawLove, American StyleRockford FilesMcCloud 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 support roles in TV movies 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.[20]

The Brian Keith ShowThe 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.[21]

When the show ended she resumed guest shots: Police StoryIronsideThe Rockford FilesThe RookiesMatt HelmMedical StoryMarcus Welby, M.D.Barnaby Jones, and Spencer's Pilots.[citation needed]

She had a role in the TV movie Sky Heist (1975) and from 1976 to 1977 had a regular part on The Practice with Danny Thomas.[citation needed]

Forever FernwoodOne 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."[22]

She was also in episodes of LucanVega$The Incredible HulkHello, Larry, and Fantasy Island.

Fabares was in the TV movies 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 & MindyMatt HoustonThe Love BoatNewhart, and Murder, She Wrote.[citation needed]

She did a TV movie Memorial Day (1983) with Mike Farrell who became her husband, as well as movies Suburban Beat (1985), The Canterville Ghost (1985), Hot Pursuit (1987), and Run Till You Fall (1988).[citation needed]

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,[23] 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.[24]

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 "Ma" Kent on Superman: The Animated Series. She reprised the role twice, once for a 2003 episode of 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.[25] Since 1984, she has been married to actor Mike Farrell.[26]

In October 2000, Fabares received a liver transplant after being diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis.[27][28]

Filmography[edit]

Film
YearTitleRoleNotes
1955The Girl RushKim Halliday (Age 9)Uncredited
1956Never Say GoodbyeSuzy Parker
1956The Bad SeedMargieUncredited
1957Jeanne EagelsTeenage GirlUncredited
1958Summer LoveTwinkie Daley
1958Marjorie MorningstarSeth's Girl FriendUncredited
1964Ride the Wild SurfBrie Matthews
1965Girl HappyValerie Frank
1966Hold On!Louisa PageAlternative title: There's No Place Like Space
1966SpinoutCynthia Foxhugh
1967ClambakeDianne Carter
1968A Time to SingAmy Carter
1987Hot PursuitBuffy Cronenberg
1990Love or MoneyLuAnn ReedAlternative title: For Love or Money
2006Superman: Brainiac AttacksMartha Kent (Voice)Direct-to-video release
Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
1954–1958The Loretta Young ShowMarie Schumann
Kathy
2 episodes
1955Our TownRebecca 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: Black Leather Jackets
1968The Ghost & Mrs. MuirVanessa1 episode
1969Daniel BooneCharity Brown1 episode
1969LancerMelissa Harper1 episode
1969Bracken's WorldHilary Saxon1 episode
1969Medical Center"Mike" Carter1 episode
1971LongstreetMarianne Franklin1 episode
1971Brian's SongJoy PiccoloTelevision movie
1971Owen Marshall, Counselor at LawLorraine Latham1 episode
1971MannixGwen Townsend1 episode
1972McCloudNatalie Rudell1 episode
1972Two for the MoneyBethany HagenTelevision movie
1972Cade's CountyStephanie1 episode
1972–1974The Little People/The Brian Keith ShowDr. Anne Jamison47 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
1976Spencer's 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 ManorHelen Blacke6 episodes
1980–1981Mork & 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 LeagueMartha Kent (Voice)1 episode

Discography[edit]

Studio albums[edit]

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]

Compilations[edit]

  • 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""Where's 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""I'm Growing Up"21[30]Colpix 636
August 1962"The Things We Did Last Summer""Breaking Up Is Hard to Do"46[31]Colpix 654
December 1962"Telephone (Won't You Ring)""Big Star"109[32]Colpix 667
March 1963"Ronnie, Call Me When You Get a Chance""I Left a Note to Say Goodbye"72[33]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]

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