Mike Farrell Pays Tribute to His Late Wife Shelley Fabares, Says She Was 'A Source of Love, Strength, Laughter, & Comfort' | Just Jared - Celebrity News and Gossip

Mike Farrell is paying tribute to his late wife Shelley Fabares.

The iconic star of The Donna Reed Show, One Day at a Time, Coach, and more, passed away on Saturday, August 22, at the age of 82. Her husband, 87, published an emotional Instagram post dedicated to her memory on Monday morning (August 24).

“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Shelley Fabares, who died Saturday, August 22 in Los Angeles surrounded by those who loved her,” Mike wrote in the caption.

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Mike Farrell has shared a tribute to his wife after her passing over the weekend

He continued, “To her family and friends, Shelley was a source of love, strength, laughter, and comfort. 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.”

Mike went on to praise her work in the many television and film roles she was known for, including “her appearances opposite Elvis Presley in three films” and her “beloved role on Coach.”

Earlier today, her Coach co-star Craig T. Nelson also paid tribute to her.

“We will remember Shelley for her kindness, loyalty, wit, courage, and beautiful spirit. We will miss her deeply—not only as a celebrated performer, but as the loving and extraordinary person she was in our everyday lives,” Mike said.

While “heartbroken by her loss,” he also said he and his family are “profoundly grateful for the years we shared with her and for the joy, compassion, and love she brought to so many.”

Mike concluded his caption with a plea to fans and the media to respect the family’s privacy as they take the time to grieve.

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Mike recently remembered how he and Shelley first met

A few months before she died, Mike shared the story of how he and Shelley first met during a visit to the Still Here Hollywood podcast with Steve Kmetko.

When they met, Mike was starring on MASH and Shelley had found success on The Donna Reed Show and One Day at a Time. He recalled often bumping into her at events where actors would sometimes mingle

“I’d say hello and she’d say hello, and that was it, pretty much,” he said.

A political activist, Mike visited El Salvador in 1980 to meet with people at refugee camps and then immediately went to a dinner for CBS in San Francisco. He said he felt “blitzed” by the experience and the jarring shift from El Salvador to Hollywood.

Shelley also happened to be there, as their shows both aired on CBS.

Mike recalled walking over to her and saying, “‘Excuse me. I just would like you to know that every time I see you, I feel really good and I feel a little calmer than I had been prior to that.’ And she said, ‘Mike, that’s very sweet, very nice of you.’”

They continued chatting after dinner and shared a cable car ride together down to Fisherman’s Wharf.

“We walked along the coast and I just spilled my guts about this experience I just had in Central America,” he said. “And she was very patient and very sweet and very supportive.”

Later, Mike invited her to a talk he was giving on El Salvador and they had the chance to reconnect, with Shelley having recently gotten out of another relationship. They ended up marrying in December 1984.

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