Craig Nelson pays tribute to Shelley Fabares after death
Craig Nelson pays tribute to Coach co-star Shelley Fabares after her death at 82. The actor called her a foundational part of his life on the ABC sitcom and remembered the Emmy-nominated actress as an extraordinary woman he will deeply miss.
Key Takeaways
- Craig T. Nelson released an emotional tribute after Shelley Fabares died at 82.
- He said she was a foundational part of his life during the run of Coach.
- Nelson and Fabares played husband and wife on the ABC sports sitcom for nine seasons.
- Fabares' family confirmed she died following a brief illness.
- Both stars earned Primetime Emmy recognition for their Coach roles.
The news lands hard for fans of the long-running series and for readers following celebrity breaking news. Nelson's words underline how central Fabares was to the show's heart and to his own experience making it.
What did Craig Nelson say about Shelley Fabares?
According to Page Six, Nelson shared a statement with Entertainment Weekly after Fabares' death.
"Shelley was a great and grand lady… just a rock. I will miss her," he said. "She was a foundational part of my life during the run of 'Coach.'"
He went further, calling her "just an extraordinary woman" who "always had a smile." Nelson said she was "welcoming in the midst of chaos" and someone he and others could turn to "for advice and counsel."
"I'll remember you with love, Shelley Fabares," he concluded.
How long did Nelson and Fabares star on Coach together?
Nelson and Fabares played husband and wife on Coach for nine years. He starred as Hayden Fox, the obsessive head coach of the Minnesota State University Screaming Eagles football team.
She played Christine Armstrong, a news anchor and Hayden's wife, as the sitcom tracked his career, eccentric assistants, and their relationship. Coach aired on ABC for nine seasons from 1989 to 1997.
Nelson won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series in 1992 and was nominated in 1990 and 1991. Fabares received two Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for Christine Armstrong.
In a 1990 Los Angeles Times interview, Fabares said she enjoyed the growing focus on Hayden and Christine. She noted the pair were "moving forward, but both are frightened" at that point in the story.
When did Shelley Fabares die and what did her family say?
Over the weekend, Fabares' family confirmed the actress' death. The Donna Reed Show alum died the day prior following a brief illness, according to reporting cited by Page Six from The Hollywood Reporter.
In a statement to People, her family said: "To her family and friends, Shelley was a source of love, strength, laughter, and comfort." They described her as a devoted wife and loyal friend whose warmth, generosity, humor, and grace left a lasting mark.
"She had a remarkable ability to make people feel welcomed, valued, and cared for," the statement said. "For millions, Shelley was a beloved actress whose work became part of the fabric of American television and film."
They added that they will miss her deeply, "not only as a celebrated performer, but as the loving and extraordinary person she was in our everyday lives."
Nelson's tribute and the family's farewell together frame why Fabares mattered on screen and off — a partner to Nelson's Coach legacy, and a presence remembered with love.