Shelley Fabares, beloved as Mary Stone on The Donna Reed Show and Christine Armstrong on Coach, has died in Los Angeles. Her death was announced today, August 23, and is now confirmed by AP, Variety, the Los Angeles Times and The Hollywood Reporter.
For a 55+ U.S. audience, this is especially significant because Fabares spans several powerful nostalgia categories: classic television, “Johnny Angel,” Coach, and Elvis Presley. She starred opposite Elvis in three films — Girl Happy, Spinout and Clambake — and her 1962 recording of “Johnny Angel” reached No. 1. She was also married to MASH* star Mike Farrell. No cause of death was announced in the AP report.
