The Emmy nominee died on Aug. 22 at the age of 82.

*Coach *actress Shelley Fabares’ cause of death revealed

The Emmy nominee died on Aug. 22 at the age of 82.

By Daysia Tolentino

Daysia Tolentino

Daysia Tolentino is a writer at *. *She has written for * *since 2025. Her work has appeared in NBC News, Vulture, GQ, and InStyle.

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August 27, 2026 7:04 p.m. ET

Shelley Fabares in 1981. Credit:

Harry Langdon/Getty

- Shelley Fabares died of pneumonia, her family confirmed on Thursday.

- Fabares died at the age of 82 on Aug. 22.

- Her family previously honored her as “a source of love, strength, laughter, and comfort.”

New details have been revealed about actress Shelley Fabares’ death on Aug. 22 at the age of 82.

Days after her passing, her family confirmed her cause of death was pneumonia, *PEOPLE* reported on Thursday.

The *Coach* actress’ family first confirmed her death on Aug. 23, sharing that she was surrounded by her loved ones when she died.

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“To her family and friends, Shelley was a source of love, strength, laughter, and comfort,” a statement read, per *PEOPLE*. “She was 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. She had a remarkable ability to make people feel welcomed, valued, and cared for.”

Prior to her death, the *Donna Reed Show* alum had managed other health conditions, as she was previously diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis, which is a disease that attacks the liver cells. She had a liver transplant in 2000.

In the wake of her death, Fabares’ former costars and friends paid tribute to her, including her *Coach *castmate and onscreen love interest Craig T. Nelson.

“Shelley was a great and grand lady… just a rock. I will miss her,” Nelson, 82, wrote in a statement to **. “She was a foundational part of my life during the run of *Coach*.”

Shelley Fabares and Craig T Nelson in ‘Coach’.

The pair worked together for nearly a decade, and Nelson remembered his costar as “just an extraordinary woman.”

“She always had a smile,” he continued. “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.”

Meanwhile, her *Ride the Wild Surf *costar Barbara Eden honored her as a “darling” friend in a touching remembrance post.

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Shelley Fabares arrives at The Actors Fund’s 2016 Looking Ahead Awards at Taglyan Complex on Dec. 6, 2016.

Amanda Edwards/WireImage

“Oh goodness, what can I say about Shelley Fabares,” Eden, 95, wrote in an Instagram post on Monday. “Dear sweet Shelley. I learned just now of her passing on Saturday. While I’m saddened by the news, I am filled with happy memories of filming *Ride the Wild Surf *with her, Susan Hart and all the boys!”

She praised Fabares as a “sweet, good girl,” noting that it can be tough to find friendly personalities on set.

“In the acting world you never know what type of people your fellow castmates may be when you start a project,” the *I Dream of Jeannie* star continued. “It’s always a treat when you find yourself among good, happy people.”

Fabares is survived by her husband and *M*A*S*H *star Mike Farrell and two stepchildren.

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