Craig T. Nelson called his longtime "Coach" co-star Shelley Fabares "an extraordinary woman" after the actress died at 82 following a brief illness, a loss that closes a chapter in classic American television.
Nelson, who played opposite Fabares for all nine seasons of the ABC sitcom, shared his tribute with Entertainment Weekly after the actress's family confirmed her death over the weekend. Fabares died Saturday in Los Angeles, surrounded by loved ones, Fox News reported. No cause of death was disclosed, though the Hollywood Reporter noted she had been battling a brief illness.
Nelson's words were direct and warm, the kind of tribute that only comes from years of shared work. He described Fabares as "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."
Nelson also called her "a great and grand lady... just a rock. I will miss her." The two played husband and wife, Hayden and Christine Fox, on the sitcom from 1989 to 1997, a run that earned both of them Emmy recognition.
"Coach" followed the misadventures of Hayden Fox, a fictional college football coach at Minnesota State University, and his relationships on and off the field. Nelson won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in 1992 and earned nominations in the same category in 1990 and 1991. Fabares received two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Christine Armstrong.
Fabares herself seemed to relish the work. In a 1990 interview with the Los Angeles Times, she talked about the growing depth of her character's relationship with Nelson's Hayden Fox.
Fabares' death comes during a difficult stretch for fans of classic television. Our earlier coverage of Fabares' passing detailed her long career and the outpouring of grief from fans and colleagues alike.
"The show is about the coach and the relationships in his life. There's been more of a focus this year on Hayden's and Christine's relationship. Obviously, I enjoy that.... I like how they have our relationship developing. I think Hayden and Christine are at an interesting point in their relationship where they are moving forward, but both are frightened."
That interview captured something about Fabares that colleagues kept returning to in their tributes: she cared about the craft, and she cared about the people around her.
Long before "Coach," Fabares had already built a name in American living rooms. She starred on "The Donna Reed Show" and appeared in three films opposite Elvis Presley. In 1962, she scored a No. 1 hit with "Johnny Angel," a song that became one of the era's pop standards. She later appeared on "One Day at a Time," adding to a television résumé that spanned decades, AP News reported.
Her personal life included serious health challenges. Breitbart reported that Fabares underwent a liver transplant in October 2000 after being diagnosed with progressive liver failure and spending 22 months on a transplant waiting list. She survived that crisis and continued to be a presence in the lives of those around her.
The entertainment world has lost several beloved television actors in recent months. Vincent Pastore, known for his role on "The Sopranos," also died recently at 80.
Her family's statement to People painted a picture of a woman whose warmth extended well beyond the screen. They described Fabares as a "devoted wife" 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. For millions, Shelley was a beloved actress whose work became part of the fabric of American television and film."
The family said they would miss Fabares "deeply," describing her as not only "a celebrated performer, but as the loving and extraordinary person she was in our everyday lives." The statement was carried by Page Six alongside Nelson's tribute.
Hollywood has also been grappling with the sudden death of actress Hayden Panettiere at just 36, a loss that hit the industry hard and prompted a DEA investigation into the circumstances.
Fabares' passing is a different kind of loss, not sudden, not mysterious, but the quiet departure of a woman who spent six decades in front of the camera and, by every account, treated the people behind it with grace. That combination is rarer than a nine-season run on network television, and Nelson clearly knew it.
