Shelley Fabares
b. Michelle Fabares, 19 January 1944, Santa Monica, California, USA. Fabares, whose music career was highlighted by the 1962 number 1 song Johnny Angel, was the niece of actress Nanette Fabray. Turning to acting herself, Fabares landed roles in such '50s' films as Never Say Goodbye, Rock, Pretty Baby and Summer Love before being offered the part of Mary Stone in the US television situation comedy The Donna Reed Show in 1958. As the show's popularity rose, both she and series co-star Paul Petersen signed recording contracts with Colpix Records. Fabares was given the ballad Johnny Angel, written by Lee Pockriss and Lyn Duddy, and after its debut on the television show, the single quickly rose to number 1. Three follow-up singles did not fare nearly as well, nor did the two albums she recorded for Colpix. In 1964 Fabares married record producer Lou Adler, who arranged a record deal for Fabares with VeeJay Records. There were no hits and Fabares then became the first artist signed to his new Dunhill Records label. Again there were no hits and Fabares returned to acting, working with Herman's Hermits in their film Hold On and with Elvis Presley in Girl Happy, Spinout and Clambake. She divorced Adler in the late '60s and continued to work in film and television. In the late '80s and early '90s she was a member of the cast of Coach, a popular television situation comedy.