Michele Ann Marie Fabares was born in Santa Monica, California. She is the niece of actress Nanette Fabray. Fabares began acting at age three, and at age 10 made her television debut in an episode of Letter to Loretta. After guest-starring on various television series, Fabares landed the role of Mary Stone in the long-running family sitcom The Donna Reed Show.
Her national popularity led to a recording contract and two "Top 40" hits, including "Johnny Angel," which went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in April 1962, and peaked at number 41 in the UK. It sold over one million copies and was certified gold. Fabares left The Donna Reed Show in 1963 (she would return periodically until its end in 1966) to pursue a film career. She appeared in a number of motion pictures, including three Elvis Presley movies: Girl Happy (1965), Spinout (1966), and Clambake (1967), the most by any one actress. In two other 1960s movies, she played the love interest of Peter Noone of Herman's Hermits in Hold On! and of a young Hank Williams, Jr. in A Time to Sing.
During the 1970s, Fabares appeared on several television series, including Love, American Style, The Rockford Files, The Interns, Mannix, The Practice, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, and Fantasy Island. In 1971, she starred along with Billy Dee Williams and James Caan in the successful TV movie Brian's Song, the true story of terminally ill Chicago Bears running back Brian Piccolo. Caan played Piccolo, and she played his wife, Joy. In 1981, Fabares played Francine Webster on One Day at a Time, a role she reprised throughout the series' run.
In 1989, she won the role of Christine Armstrong Fox on the ABC sitcom Coach. For her work, Fabares 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. After Coach ended in 1997, Fabares voiced the role of Martha "Ma" Kent in Superman: The Animated Series. She reprised the role twice, once for a 2003 episode of Justice League and again for the 2006 direct-to-video film Superman: Brainiac Attacks.
Fabares was a lifelong friend of Annette Funicello, whom she met in catechism class in the seventh grade. She was at Annette's bedside with her family when she died of multiple sclerosis on April 8, 2013.
Fabares married record and movie producer Lou Adler in June 1964, separated in 1966, and was divorced in 1980. In 1984, she married actor Mike Farrell, and is stepmother to his two children, Erin and Michael.
In October 2000, Fabares received a life-saving liver transplant after being diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis.
Discography
Studio albums
Shelley! -- Colpix CP-426 (Mono)/SCP-426 (Stereo) -- #106, 7/62
The Things We Did Last Summer—Colpix CP-431/SCP-431 -- #121, 10/62
Teenage Triangle—Colpix CP-444/SCP-444 -- #48, 5/63
Featuring four tracks each by Shelley, James Darren and Paul Petersen
Bye Bye Birdie—Colpix CP-454/SCP-454—1963
Songs from the movie sung by Shelley, The Marcels, James Darren and Paul Petersen
More Teenage Triangle—Colpix CP-468/SCP-468—1964
Second compilation featuring Shelley, James Darren and Paul Petersen
Soundtrack songs[edit]
"Spring Fever" (1965) w/Elvis Presley from the movie Girl Happy (The soundtrack album only features Elvis' vocals)
"Make Me Happy" (March 1966) from the movie soundtrack of Hold On! MGM Records
"Next Time I Say Goodbye I'm Leaving" (1968) from the movie soundtrack of A Time to Sing (Music From The Original Soundtrack) MCA Records– MCA-1458
Compilations
Rare Items And Big Hits Colpix (1989)
The Best of Shelley Fabares Rhino R2 71651—1994
Shelley Fabares Johnny Angel Collectables #9931 July 2005
Shelley Fabares Meets Paul Petersen Collectables Records July 2009
Growing Up-The 1962 Recordings Jasmine 2014
Singles[edit]
Year Title B-Side U.S. Label and number
February 1962 "Johnny Angel" "Where's It Gonna Get Me" 1[2] Colpix 621
April 1962 "What Did They Do Before Rock 'n' Roll"(with Paul Petersen) "Very Unlikely"
(with Paul Petersen)
-
Colpix 631
May 1962 "Johnny Loves Me" "I'm Growing Up" 21[12] Colpix 636
August 1962 "The Things We Did Last Summer" "Breaking Up is Hard to Do" 46[13] Colpix 654
December 1962 "Telephone (Won't You Ring)" "Big Star" 109[14] Colpix 667
March 1963 "Ronnie, Call Me When You Get a Chance" "I Left a Note to Say Goodbye" 72[15] Colpix 682
October 1963 "Welcome Home" "Billy Boy"
-
Colpix 705
January 1964 "Football Season's Over" "He Don't Love Me"
-
Colpix 721
September 1964 "I Know You'll Be There" "Lost Summer Love"
-
Vee-Jay VJ632
May 1965 "My Prayer" "Pretty Please"
-
Dunhill D-4001
August 1966 "See Ya 'Round On the Rebound" "Pretty Please"
-
Dunhill D-4041
Filmography
Film
Year Title Role Notes
1955 The Girl Rush Kim - Age 9 Uncredited
1956 Never Say Goodbye Suzy Parker
1956 The Bad Seed Margie Uncredited
1957 Jeanne Eagels Teenage Girl Uncredited
1958 Summer Love Twinkie Daley
1958 Marjorie Morningstar Seth's Girl Friend Uncredited
1964 Ride the Wild Surf Brie Matthews
1965 Girl Happy Valerie Frank
1966 Hold On! Louisa Page Alternative title: There's No Place Like Space
1966 Spinout Cynthia Foxhugh
1967 Clambake Dianne Carter
1968 A Time to Sing Amy Carter
1971 Brian's Song Joy Piccolo
1987 Hot Pursuit Buffy Cronenberg
1990 Love or Money LuAnn Reed Alternative title: For Love or Money
2006 Superman: Brainiac Attacks Martha Kent (Voice) Direct-to-video release
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1954–1958 Letter to Loretta Marie Schumann
Kathy 2 episodes
1955 Producers' Showcase Rebecca Gibbs 1 episode
1955 Matinee Theater Young Cathy 1 episode
1955 Captain Midnight Mary Kingsley 1 episode
1956 Annie Oakley Prudy Warren 1 episode
1957 Fury Midge Mallon 1 episode
1958 Walt Disney Presents: Annette Moselle Corey 15 episodes
1958–1965 The Donna Reed Show Mary Stone 191 episodes
1959 The Rebel Nora Hendry 1 episode
1963 Mr. Novak Dani Cooper 2 episodes
1964 The Eleventh Hour Carol Hamilton 1 episode
1964 Arrest and Trial Donna Blaney 1 episode
1964 The Twilight Zone Ellen Tillman 1 episode
1968 The Ghost & Mrs. Muir Vanessa 1 episode
1969 Daniel Boone Charity Brown 1 episode
1969 Lancer Melissa Harper 1 episode
1969 Bracken's World Hilary Saxon 1 episode
1969 Medical Center "Mike" Carter 1 episode
1971 Longstreet Marianne Franklin 1 episode
1971 Brian's Song Joy Piccolo Television movie
1971 Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law Lorraine Latham 1 episode
1972 McCloud Natalie Rudell 1 episode
1972 Cade's County Stephanie 1 episode
1972 The Brian Keith Show Dr. Anne Jamison Unknown episodes
1974 Police Story Annette Weiner 1 episode
1974 Ironside Charlotte Black 1 episode
1974 The Rockford Files Jolene Hyland 1 episode
1975 The Rookies Ann McNeal 1 episode
1975 Matt Helm Chris/Tina 1 episode
1975 Barnaby Jones Susan Burke 1 episode
1976 Marcus Welby, M.D. Norma Fritchie 1 episode
1976 Spencer's Pilots Annette 1 episode
1976-1977 The Practice Jenny Bedford 27 episodes
1977–1978 Forever Fernwood Eleanor Major Unknown episodes
1978 Vega$ Linda Stockwood 1 episode
1978 The Incredible Hulk Holly Cooper 1 episode
1978–1984 One Day at a Time Francine Webster 23 episodes
1979 Hello, Larry Marion Alder 3 episodes
1979 Highcliffe Manor Helen 6 episodes
1980–1981 Mork & Mindy Cathy 3 episodes
1980–1985 The Love Boat Various roles 3 episodes
1983 Matt Houston Barbara Newton 1 episode
1983 ABC Afterschool Special Fran Brogliatti 1 episode
1983 Memorial Day Ellie Walker Television movie
1985 The Canterville Ghost Lucy Television movie
1985 Suburban Beat Mimi Television movie
1987 Newhart Diane Beckwith 1 episode
1988 Run Till You Fall Kathy Reuben Television movie
1989 Murder, She Wrote Liza Caspar 2 episodes
1989–1997 Coach Christine Armstrong 199 episodes
1993 Deadly Relations Shirley Fagot Television movie
1995 The Great Mom Swap Millie Ridgeway Television movie
1996 Superman: The Last Son of Krypton Martha Kent (Voice) Television movie
1996–1998 Superman: The Animated Series Martha Kent (Voice) 8 episodes
1997 A Nightmare Come True Lily Zarn Television movie
1998 Playing to Win: A Moment of Truth Movie Nancy Erickson Television movie
2003 Justice League Ma Kent (Voice) 1 episode
Awards and nominations
Year Award Result Category Film or series
1993 Primetime Emmy Award Nominated Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Coach
1994 Coach
1965 Laurel Awards Nominated New Faces, Female
-
2004 TV Land Award Nominated Favorite Teen Dream - Female The Donna Reed Show
1994 Young Artist Award Won Former Child Star Lifetime Achievement Award The Donna Reed Show
Welcome Home
Shelley Fabares Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You went with her and then she hurt you so
But I won't ever say I told you so
Darling, I still love you so
Welcome, welcome home, baby
The kiss you walked away from still is there
The heart you've broken you can still repair
They all said that you'd never
Come back to me
Funny how wrong
People can be
So tell me you won't roam, baby
And I will kiss your sorry tears away
I know that this time you've come back to stay
Darling welcome, mmm welcome home
Tell me you won't roam, baby
And I will kiss your sorry tears away
I know that this time you've come back to stay
Darling, welcome, mmm welcome home
Welcome, mmm welcome home (Welcome home)
Welcome, mmm welcome home (Welcome home)
Welcome, mmm welcome home (Welcome home)
In Shelley Fabares's song "Welcome Home," she sings to her lover who has returned to her after leaving with another woman who hurt him. Despite the warnings of those around him, he has chosen to come back to Fabares. She reassures him of her love and welcomes him back into her arms.
The first verse acknowledges that the lover went with another woman who ended up hurting him. However, Fabares does not want to rub the mistake in his face and instead chooses to focus on the present moment, welcoming him home with open arms. She still loves him and is willing to let go of the past and look towards the future.
In the second verse, Fabares reminds her lover that he can still fix the heart he has broken. She believes in him and wants him to know that he still has a chance with her. Fabares acknowledges that people around her thought her lover would never come back, but she always had faith that he would return to her.
Overall, the song is a message of forgiveness and second chances. Fabares shows unconditional love for her lover and is willing to look past their past mistakes. The lyrics are simple yet powerful, portraying the deep emotions of love, forgiveness, and reconciliation.
Line by Line Meaning
Welcome, welcome home, baby
I am glad to have you back home.
You went with her and then she hurt you so
You left with someone else but she ended up hurting you.
But I won't ever say I told you so
I won't rub it in your face that I warned you about this person.
Darling, I still love you so
My love for you has not diminished despite what happened.
The kiss you walked away from still is there
Our relationship was strong before you left and it still is.
The heart you've broken you can still repair
You hurt me by leaving but we can still fix things between us.
They all said that you'd never
People thought you would never come back to me.
Come back to me
Return to our relationship.
Funny how wrong
It's ironic that they were mistaken.
People can be
People often make incorrect assumptions.
So tell me you won't roam, baby
Promise me that you won't leave again.
And I will kiss your sorry tears away
I will comfort you and make things better.
I know that this time you've come back to stay
I am confident that this time you will not leave again.
Darling welcome, mmm welcome home
I am happy to have you back and welcome you with open arms.
Welcome, mmm welcome home (Welcome home)
Once again, I welcome you home with all my heart.
Contributed by James R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@VILJL
Shelley Fabares was born on January 19, 1944 and celebrated her 80th birthday today, January 19, 2024. She was on "The Donna Reed Show" (1958-1963) and the sitcom "Coach" (1989-1997) which earned her two Primetime Emmy Awards nominations. Her recording of "Johnny Angel" reached number one (#1) on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on April of 1962. It was a certified Gold Record, selling over a million copies. I was in eight grade at Miami Springs Junior High School when this song was popular
@bluelagoon5575
A doll with a lovely voice. September 17, 2020 listening and my heart beat so fast
@duaneduncan5280
She's absolutely gorgeous the best was wondering if they will ever show her video of her singing Johnny angel on American bandstand in 1962 the June 19th show would love to watch it
@harryknackers7892
God she was adorable.
@davidoverholt251
Shelly did 3 Elvis Presley movies, after she left the Donna Reed Show, and other appearances and TV shows. She also appeared in the TV sitcom style series Coach for several years just to name a few.
@davidoverholt251
Still love her singing the songs from my youth! And still thank the Donna Reed Show! When I was young, and had to be home when the street lights turned on!
@taylortimeless
This song has been stuck in my head for a while.
@raymondmarchand8815
Shelly, you are a real Doll!
@MrRoute6600
Beautiful Person.
@michaelodonnell9756
I best remember her from the movie Brian's Song.