Craig T. Nelson is mourning the death of his “Coach” co-star Shelley Fabares.
The actor, in an emotional statement, paid tribute to his on-screen love interest, who passed away at the age of 82 on August 22. This comes two days after her family released a lengthy statement confirming her passing.
Craig T. Nelson starred as the main male lead, Coach Hayden Fox, in the 1989 ABC sitcom series, which aired for nine seasons. During the series, he falls in love and later marries Shelley Fabares’ character.
Shelley Fabares, Star of ‘The Donna Reed Show’ and ‘Coach,’ Dies at 82
The baby-boomer icon had a No. 1 hit with “Johnny Angel,” co-starred in three Elvis movies and was married to ‘M*A*S*H’ actor Mike Farrell. pic.twitter.com/oROEI6lL7R
— Mike Netter (@nettermike) August 24, 2026
Fabares’ husband of 42 years, Mike Farrell, and her family confirmed her death in a joint statement shared with PEOPLE. The statement revealed that she died on Saturday in Los Angeles, surrounded by her loved ones, though the cause of death was not disclosed.
The statement described the late actress as “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. They also praised her for being a source of love and strength to her friends and family.
Fabares made her mark in the world of American Television and film with her memorable characters on different TV shows; however, her family sees her as more than an on-screen star. They said that her greatest legacy was “the love she gave so freely, the friendships she treasured, and the family bonds she held dear.” The actress’s family then asked for privacy to deal with the heartbreaking loss.
Craig T. Nelson Makes Heartfelt Statement After ‘Coach’ Co-star’s Death
Nelson put his grief into words while recalling the times he spent with Fabares during her lifetime. The pair played love interests for nine years and bonded over their characters on the ABC sitcom.
“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,’” his statement to Entertainment Weekly began.
Nelson continued praising the late actress/singer as an “extraordinary woman” who always wore a smile. He went on, saying that she had a listening ear and a warm heart, and that she was someone he could always go to for advice and counsel.
“I’ll remember you with love, Shelley Fabares,” Nelson concluded his tribute to the two-time Emmy nominee. Fabares previously praised her co-star in an interview, calling him “a brilliant actor.” She also often spoke highly of her “thrilling” experience on the sitcom.
Other Industry Stars Also Paid Respects To Shelley Fabares
Nelson’s tribute comes after two other co-stars from different projects issued a statement remembering the actress following the confirmation of her death: Fabares’ co-stars from “One Day at a Time,” Glenn Scarpelli and Morgan Fairchild from “Mork & Mindy.”
Scarpelli wrote a thoughtful tribute on Sunday on Instagram, revealing that he had kept in touch with the singer over the years, even recalling their last telephone conversation. “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,” Scarpelli wrote.
He noted that Fabares was “beautiful inside and out” before adding The last thing we said before hanging up was ‘I love you’ and ‘I love you too.’”
In Fairchild’s tribute, she noted that the actress was “the sweetest, most down-to-earth lady imaginable!” They worked on the SAG-AFTRA board together for years, and Fairchild noted that Fabares’ death was a loss for the industry and the world.
A Glimpse Into “The Donna Reed Show” Star’s Personal Life
Fabares initially married music producer Lou Adler in 1964, but they separated two years later. She filed for divorce in 1978, and it was finalized in 1980. Years later, she decided to give love a second chance with “M*A*S*H” star Mike Farrell, and that love lasted till death did them part.
The actress never had any biological children, but in marrying Farrell, she became a stepmother to his two children from his previous marriage, Erin and Michael. In April, Farrell opened up on a podcast, recalling how he met the love of his life.
“You know, in the business, you sort of bump into each other. We were both working at Universal at different times,” he shared, noting that they were cordial with each other whenever they met.
In 1980, they met again in San Francisco at an affiliate dinner. They talked for a bit that evening and stood in line together because their names were close alphabetically.
Farrell and Fabares shared a cable car that night and were assigned to the same airport ride the next day. The actress was dating someone else at the time, but three months later, they met up again and started dating.
Shelley Fabares Built Her Career From A Tender Age
Fabares started chasing the Hollywood dream as a child and made her TV debut at the age of 10. She made a name for herself starring as Mary Stone, the teenage daughter of Donna Reed’s character on her self-titled show.
She then expanded her career into music in the early 1960s. Her 1962 recording of “Johnny Angel” became a massive hit and reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. She continued appearing in TV shows and films throughout the 70s and 80s before landing her 9-year-long iconic role on “Coach.”
The singer had an estimated net worth of $6 million at the time of her death, according to Celebrity Net Worth, derived from her various entertainment projects, including those beyond her two best-known sitcoms.
Many, like Craig T. Nelson, will miss the “Coach” alum!
