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Shelley Fabares

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
88

Gender
Female

Birthday
January 19, 1944 (82 years old)

Place of Birth
Santa Monica, California, USA

Shelley Fabares

Biography

Michele Ann Marie "Shelley" Fabares (/fæˈbreɪ/; born January 19, 1944) is a retired 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 (1989–1997), 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, Spinout, and Clambake.

As the niece of singer/comedienne Nanette Fabray, she was indoctrinated early into the show biz life. Tap dancing from age three, she also modeled during her elementary school years and began appearing on such TV shows as Captain Midnight (1954) and Annie Oakley (1954) (the latter a recurring role). At age 12, she made her professional film debut in the Rock Hudson/Cornell Borchers tearjerker Never Say Goodbye (1956) as Hudson's daughter, and went on to play kid sister roles in the rock 'n' roll-themed Rock, Pretty Baby! (1956) and its sequel Summer Love (1957) both starring John Saxon.

Teen-idol status came with her coming-of-age role as the ever-wholesome daughter "Mary Stone" on The Donna Reed Show (1958), a part she played for five seasons before embarking on a more grown-up film career. The character of "Mary Stone" was gently phased out of the show as her character "left for college". During its' run, she and TV "brother" Paul Petersen grew so popular that they sprinted to adjoining pop singing celebrity, although both admitted that their vocal talents were limited. In 1962, her recording of "Johnny Angel" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. She left The Donna Reed Show in 1963 (she would return periodically until its end in 1966) to pursue other acting opportunities.

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). She released a third album, Teenage Triangle in 1963.

She landed top femme parts in such fun-and-frolic fare as Ride the Wild Surf (1964), Hold On! (1966) in which she played the love interest of Peter Noone (of Herman's Hermits) and sings Make Me Happy, as well as three of Elvis Presley's less-acclaimed films of the later 1960s: Girl Happy (1965), Spinout (1966) and Clambake (1967). She then played the love interest of a young Hank Williams Jr. in A Time to Sing (1968).

She had support roles in television films like Brian's Song (1971) (playing Brian Piccolo's wife with James Caan as Brian), and Two for the Money (1972). Her performance in Brian's Song earned her a Golden Globe nomination.

For her work, she 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. From 2004 to 2011 she produced the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Known For

Acting

2026Elvis: A Life in Musicas Self (archive footage)
2006Superman: Brainiac Attacksas Martha Kent (voice)
2001Justice Leagueas Martha Kent (voice)
1998Playing to Win: A Moment of Truth Movieas Nancy Erickson
1997A Nightmare Come Trueas Lily Zarn
1996Superman: The Last Son of Kryptonas Martha Kent (voice)
1996Superman: The Animated Seriesas
1996Superman: The Animated Seriesas Martha Kent (voice)
1995A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes: The Annette Funicello Storyas Self (uncredited)
1995The Great Mom Swapas Millie Ridgeway
1995Your Studio and Youas Shelley Fabares
1995A Whole New Ballgameas Christine Armstrong
1993Deadly Relationsas Shirley Fagot
1990Love or Moneyas Lu Ann Reed
1989Coachas Christine Armstrong
1988Run Till You Fallas Kathy Reuben
1987Hot Pursuitas Buffy Cronenberg
1985Suburban Beatas Mimi
1985The Canterville Ghostas Lucy
1984Murder, She Wroteas Liza Caspar
1983Memorial Dayas Ellie Walker
1982Newhartas
1982Matt Houstonas
1980Gridlockas Louise Gregory
1979Friendships, Secrets and Liesas Mary Alice
1979Highcliffe Manoras Helen Straight Blacke
1979Hello, Larryas Marion Alder
1979Donovan's Kidas Grace Donovan
1979Pleasure Coveas Helen Perlmutter
1978Vega$as
1978Mork & Mindyas Cathy McConnell
1978Fantasy Islandas Jill Marlowe
1977The Incredible Hulkas Holly Cooper
1977Forever Fernwoodas
1977The Love Boatas Cathy
1977The Love Boatas Mary Frances Bellflower
1977Lucanas
1976Spencer's Pilotsas
1976The Practiceas Jenny Bedford
1975One Day at a Timeas Francine Webster
1975Matt Helmas Chris / Tina
1975Medical Storyas Susan Duffy
1975Sky Hei$tas Lisa
1974Dinah!as Self
1974The Rockford Filesas Jolene Hyland
1973Police Storyas
1972The Brian Keith Showas Dr. Anne Jamison
1972The Rookiesas
1972Two for the Moneyas Bethany Hagan
1971Brian's Songas Joy Piccolo
1971Owen Marshall: Counselor at Lawas Lorraine Latham
1970McCloudas
1969Love, American Styleas Julie
1969Love, American Styleas Sheila
1969Medical Centeras
1969Marcus Welby, M.D.as Norma Fritchie
1969Operation Heartbeatas 'Mike' Carter
1968Lanceras
1968The Ghost & Mrs. Muiras
1968A Time to Singas Amy Carter
1967Clambakeas Dianne Carter
1967Mannixas
1967Ironsideas Charlotte Black
1966Spinoutas Cynthia Foxhugh
1966Hold On!as Louisa Page
1965Girl Happyas Valerie
1964Daniel Booneas Charity Brown
1964Shindig!as Self - Singer
1964Ride the Wild Surfas Brie Matthews
1963Mr. Novakas Dani Cooper
1963Arrest and Trialas
1963Arrest and Trialas Donna Blaney
1959The Twilight Zoneas Ellen Tillman
1958The Donna Reed Showas
1958The Donna Reed Showas Mary Stone
1958Marjorie Morningstaras Seth's Friend (uncredited)
1958Summer Loveas Twinkie Daley
1957Jeanne Eagelsas Teenage Girl (uncredited)
1957Annetteas Moselle Corey
1956Rock, Pretty Babyas Teresa "Twinky" Daley
1956The Bad Seedas Margie (uncredited)
1956Never Say Goodbyeas Suzy Parker
1955Matinee Theateras
1955Our Townas Rebecca Gibbs
1955The Girl Rushas Young Kim
1954The Wonderful World of Disneyas Grace Donovan
1953Letter to Lorettaas Marie Schumann
1950The Bob Hope Showas Self

Production