For eight seasons, America watched Paul Petersen and Shelley Fabares grow up together on The Donna Reed Show. She portrayed Mary Stone, and he was her little brother Jeff Stone. Now, more than sixty years after the beloved sitcom ended, Petersen is saying goodbye to his dear friend Shelley who he still counted as family.
Paul Petersen’s tribute to Shelley Fabares: ‘I will miss you forever’
Shelley Fabares and Paul Petersen at The Actors Fund’s Looking Ahead Awards in Los Angeles on December 6, 2016.
(WENN Rights Ltd / Alamy Live News)
Paul Petersen posted his tribute to his official Facebook page, and it was also posted to the page for A Minor Consideration, the non-profit organization he founded to help former child stars.
He shared, “Shelley Fabares #3 sister. I love you dearly and admired your talents. A loss for all of us. I will miss you forever.”
He signed the affectionate tribute as Paul “Paulito” Petersen. The “Paulito” is a reference to a nickname that Fabares had for him. Also the #3 sister was a reference to how he considered her his third sister. He had two real-life sisters, Patricia (Patty) and Pamela Grace. Patty appeared on the later episodes of The Donna Reed Show.
Shelley Fabares and Paul Peteresen had a deep, lasting bond. They shared 275 episodes of the ABC sitcom from 1958 to 1966, and their connection was lifelong.
How Shelley Fabares died at 82
Shelley Fabares was married to “MAS*H” star Mike Farrell for 42 years.
(Everett Collection Inc / Alamy Live News)
Fabares died Saturday, August 22, 2026, in Los Angeles. She was surrounded by loved ones, according to a family statement first shared with People. She was 82 years old. A cause for her death hasn’t been released publicly.
Her family’s statement was warm and especially personal. They shared, “To her family and friends, Shelley was a source of love, strength, laughter, and comfort. 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.”
The family closed with a request. “We ask that our family’s privacy be respected as we grieve.”
Fabares had a long history with liver disease. She was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis in 1999 and received a transplant in October 2000 after nearly two years on a waiting list, as ABC News reported. She’s survived by her husband of 42 years, MAS*H star Mike Farrell, and her stepchildren.
Craig T. Nelson remembers his “Coach” co-star Shelley Fabares
Shelley Fabares spent eight seasons as Christine Armstrong opposite Craig T. Nelson on ABC’s Coach, a memorable role for which she earned two Emmy nominations. Nelson told Entertainment Weekly, “Shelley was a great and grand lady… just a rock. I will miss her. She was a foundational part of my life during the run of Coach.”
“She was just an extraordinary woman. She always had a smile. She was welcoming in the midst of chaos and always someone I could go to for advice and counsel, not only myself but others as well. I’ll remember you with love, Shelley Fabares,” he added.
Glenn Scarpelli and Morgan Fairchild say goodbye
Glenn Scarpelli, who worked with Shelley Fabares on One Day at a Time, wrote on his Instagram page about their lasting friendship.
“My heart is filled with the most wonderful lifelong memories with Shell. She was truly beautiful inside and out. We remained in touch since the day I met her. The last time we spoke was last Christmas week. I knew she had been struggling a bit with her health but I always thought I’d physically see her again. The last thing we said before hanging up was ‘I love you’ and ‘I love you too.'”
Morgan Fairchild also had a sweet tribute message, which she posted on X. She stated, “So very sorry to hear of the passing of Shelley Fabares! We served on the SAG board together for years & she was the sweetest, most down-to-earth lady imaginable! Such a loss for our biz & for the world. My condolences to her husband, Mike Farrell & her friends & family!”
From ‘Johnny Angel’ to Elvis Presley: the career Shelley Fabares leaves behind
Shelley Fabares was the only actress to co-star with Elvis Presley in three films, including “Girl Happy” in 1965.
(Collection Christophel / Alamy Live News)
Born in Santa Monica on January 19, 1944, and the niece of Broadway star Nanette Fabray, Fabares was a working actress by age three. The Donna Reed Show made her a teen idol, and a song she recorded for her show made her a pop star. “Johnny Angel,” which she premiered on the show itself, hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April 1962 and sold more than a million copies.
Hollywood noticed, and she has the distinction of being the only actress to star opposite Elvis Presley in three films, playing his love interest in Girl Happy (1965), Spinout (1966) and Clambake (1967). She played Joy Piccolo in the 1971 tearjerker Brian’s Song, joined One Day at a Time, and then found a second career peak on Coach from 1989 to 1997, according to Variety. She retired from acting in 2006.
She is remembered by millions of fans, too. I was a child of the 1980s, and my sister Holly and I grew up watching The Donna Reed Show in reruns every night on Nick at Nite. I wanted so badly to be like Mary Stone, the character Shelley portrayed, and I thought she was the coolest ideal of what it would be like to be a teenager. I admired her music, too, and I loved following her career through the years. She brought joy to so many who will remember her with love.