Shelley Fabares, Star Of Coach And The Donna Reed Show, Dead At 82

Shelly Fabares, best known to TV audiences for playing Mary Stone on "The Donna Reed Show" and Christine Armstrong on "Coach," died on Saturday, August 22, her family has announced. An exact cause of death has not been released, but according to the actress' family, she passed after battling a brief illness.

"To her family and friends, Shelley was a source of love, strength, laughter and comfort," Fabares' family said in a statement. "She was a devoted wife, cherished stepmother, daughter, sister, niece, aunt, family member and loyal friend whose warmth, generosity, humor and grace made an enduring difference in the lives of everyone who knew her. She had a remarkable ability to make people feel welcomed, valued and cared for."

Fabares' extensive television career began with a 1954 appearance on "The Loretta Young Show," eventually landing her first major TV role on "The Donna Reed Show" in 1958. Fabares played Mary Stone, Reed's on-screen daughter, for the show's first five seasons, then appeared in a recurring capacity for the final three. Fabares' next major part came in 1989, playing wife to Craig T. Nelson's for all nine seasons of "Coach." 

In between "Donna Reed" and "Coach," Fabares made appearances on countless hit shows, including "The Twilight Zone," "The Rockford Files," the original "One Day at a Time" and "Fantasy Island," "The Love Boat," and "Newhart," to name just a few.

What was your favorite Fabares role? Drop a comment with your memories of the actress below.