This ’60s Beauty Icon Received a Liver Transplant While Battling Illness – Her Photos & Story

The young star started tap dancing at three, modeled as a child, and appeared in TV shows like “Captain Midnight” and “Annie Oakley” by the mid-1950s. She then rose to fame as Mary Stone, the wholesome daughter on the beloved sitcom “The Donna Reed Show” in 1958.

Her role as America’s sweetheart turned her into a teen idol, and she even scored a chart-topping hit with the single “Johnny Angel.” Then, after five seasons, the actress transitioned into film.

She often played bubbly, bikini-clad leads in lighthearted ’60s movies such as “Ride the Wild Surf” and three Presley films — “Girl Happy,” “Spinout,” and “Clambake.”

While the late ’60s brought a shift in Hollywood tastes, the actress reinvented herself in more serious roles. She earned acclaim as the wife of a dying football player in “Brian’s Song” in 1971 and found steady success on television.

The star showcased her comedic chops in shows like “One Day at a Time” and later cemented her status as a fan favorite playing Christine Armstrong, Craig T. Nelson’s partner, in the hit sitcom “Coach.” The role brought her eight seasons of success and two Emmy nominations.

Offscreen, the ’60s beauty icon was also known for her love life. She flirted with teen idol Fabian, caught the attention of Presley, and married record producer Lou Adler in the mid-1960s. However, the pair eventually divorced in 1980 after a separation of almost 14 years.

In the end, she found her real-life leading man, Mike Farrell. By the early ’90s, the actress shared a cozy five-bedroom home in Sherman Oaks, California, with Farrell, the former “M*A*S*H” star turned human-rights activist.

“He has expanded my whole world. Nothing in Mike’s life is casual. He’s very serious,” she said of her husband, whom she married in 1984. Farrell, known for his serious nature, credited his wife with softening his public image. “People talk about how much more fun I am,” he admitted.

Their story began in 1970 when the dark-haired actress guest-starred on “The Interns,” a short-lived series starring Farrell. However, it wasn’t until 12 years later, at a CBS affiliates convention, that their paths truly converged.

By then, both had gone through divorces — Farrell from his 17-year marriage to actress Judy Farrell and the “Captain Midnight” star from Adler. A polite greeting turned into coffee, which eventually led to deeper conversations.

Farrell then invited his future wife to view photographs and footage from a humanitarian trip to Central America. “I had just gotten back from a tour of refugee camps [in Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua], and I was reeling from the terribly inhuman treatment I had seen,” he recalled.

At the time, the actress admitted, she knew nothing about Central America, but Farrell’s passion for activism quickly drew her in. Within a year, he proposed at a quiet health-food restaurant in Topanga Canyon,

The couple then tied the knot in a ceremony at the Pacific Palisades home of the ’60s beauty icon’s aunt, who later played her mother on “Coach.” However, their relationship was not without its challenges.

Farrell’s children, Mike and Erin, struggled with their parents’ divorce and the introduction of a new stepmother. “The divorce was very hard on the kids,” the actress reflected. “It took a lot of love, patience, courage, and strength, but now they have two solid homes, which is what we all wanted.”

The couple also faced darker times as close friends and family battled illness. The actress’s mentor and dear friend Donna Reed, who played her mother on “The Donna Reed Show,” was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Reed’s passing in 1986 left the dark-haired star heartbroken. Around the same time, her own mother, Elsa, began showing signs of Alzheimer’s disease. The actress and her sister, Smokey, then faced the emotional challenge of placing their mother in a care facility.

However, through these struggles, the couple’s bond only grew stronger, with friends and colleagues admiring their enduring partnership. Craig T. Nelson, the actress’s “Coach” co-star, observed, “The typical show-business rules do not apply to them. They have a superior intellect, and they really are nice people.”

Bill Fagerbakke, who played the dim-witted but lovable Dauber Dybinski, echoed the sentiment, though with humor. “I told [her] once that it seems they never argue, but she claimed they have ferocious fights. I think she’s lying. Their niceness is amazing,” he said.

Farrell spoke of his wife with admiration, saying, “There is a light inside her that is just magical. I find her a constant source of rejuvenation.” The actress, in turn, described the balance they brought to each other, “Mike grounds me, and I think I pull him out sometimes. It’s a nice mix.”

By 1994, their love was tested once more as the actress faced a serious injury after falling through the floor joists of her under-construction home, breaking all the ribs on the left side of her body. While being treated in the emergency room, doctors recommended a follow-up visit as a precaution.

To everyone’s surprise, tests revealed dangerously high liver counts. Although the cause of the issue remained unclear, medications initially helped stabilize her condition, and for years her liver counts plateaued. Then, in early 1999, everything changed.

The star suffered a sudden esophageal bleed — an episode so severe she was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. “I was terribly ill,” she later recalled. Doctors confirmed the bleeding was linked to progressive liver failure, and a renowned hepatologist explained that only a liver transplant could save her life.

In April 1999, she was placed on the transplant waiting list. The uncertainty was overwhelming, as she knew many patients didn’t survive long enough to receive a donor organ. “I was very much aware that I was living on borrowed time,” the actress shared.

Then, after waiting over a year, her pager finally went off on October 23, 2000 — it was time. “We have your liver,” Dr. Vierling told her. The transplant was a success, and by 2003, the Hollywood actress reflected on how the experience had transformed her.

She revealed that she wouldn’t wish the experience on anyone but was so blessed to have Farrell. She credited her husband for being her rock during the ordeal, saying, “I was so very ill for such a long time, and we didn’t know what was wrong.”

“But he was with me every step of the way — accompanying me to every doctor’s appointment. He’s just monumental, and I don’t know how I could have gotten through this without him,” she continued.

She emerged from the life-threatening ordeal with a new perspective, cherishing every moment of life and the love she shared with her devoted partner.

So, who is this remarkable woman who rose from teen stardom, shared the screen with Presley, overcame heartbreaking personal struggles, and survived a life-threatening health crisis?

She is none other than Shelley Fabares, who is still admired for her beauty all these years later. “Was and still is a beautiful woman,” one social media user commented on a throwback post of the actress. “Liked her! What happened to her?” another person typed.

A third shared, “She’s an angel to me!” and a fourth wrote, “I always thought she was so pretty.” Another person commented, “​​I wonder if she had a good life,” and a fifth shared, “I had a crush on her !!!” Continue reading to see the actress’s transformation over the years.

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Shelley Fabares built a career that spanned decades, starred alongside Hollywood legends, and overcame life-threatening challenges. Her story is one of reinvention, love, and perseverance — a testament to the strength behind her enduring success.