The star of ‘Coach’ and ‘The Donna Reed Show’ died on Aug. 22 in Los Angeles

NEED TO KNOW

• Shelley Fabares died on Aug. 22 in Los Angeles, surrounded by loved ones, according to her family
• The actress’ cause of death was revealed five days later
• She was best known for roles on The Donna Reed Show and Coach and starred in three Elvis Presley films

A cause of death has been revealed for TV actress Shelley Fabares after she died on Aug. 22 at age 82.

The Coach alum died of pneumonia, her family confirms to PEOPLE. She was previously diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis and in 2000 received a liver transplant.

The Donna Reed Show star’s family confirmed her death in a statement shared with PEOPLE on Aug. 23, sharing that she died in Los Angeles surrounded by her loved ones. She is survived by her husband, M*A*S*H star Mike Farrell, and stepchildren.

Her family remembered the actress as 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,” their statement read. “She had a remarkable ability to make people feel welcomed, valued, and cared for.”

Her family also celebrated her career accomplishments, from her “memorable role as Mary Stone” on The Donna Reed Show and Christine Armstrong on Coach, to her “successful recording career,” and starring opposite Elvis Presley in three films: Girl Happy (1965), Spinout (1966) and Clambake (1967).

Fabares appeared widely on television in guest roles throughout the ‘60s and ‘70s. In 1971, she starred in the beloved, Emmy-winning TV film Brian’s Song with James Caan and Billy Dee Williams. She had a starring role on the 1976 TV series The Practice, and both she and her aunt, Nanette Fabray, appeared on the TV series One Day at a Time in recurring and then main roles. Other shows she appeared on included Police Story, The Rockford Files, The Love Boat and Murder, She Wrote.

“She brought talent, intelligence, and warmth to every performance,” the family statement read. “But to those closest to her, her greatest legacy was personal: the love she gave so freely, the friendships she treasured, and the family bonds she held dear.”

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In addition to her prolific TV and film career, she was involved with fundraising for Alzheimer’s research, of which her mother was diagnosed. Fabares also supported an array of human rights causes.

“I travel around the country, make speeches, do fundraising, testify before Congress — things that I never thought I would ever do,” she told The Roanoke Times in 1994. “It is so far out of the realm of what I thought I would be doing with my life. But I had the example of what Mike has done with his life. My experience with the Alzheimer’s Association has been one of the most rewarding of my life.”

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