Shelley Fabares, the actress who became a familiar face to generations of television viewers through The Donna Reed Show and Coach, has died. She was 82.

Fabares died Saturday, Aug. 22, in Los Angeles, surrounded by loved ones, her family confirmed in a statement shared with PEOPLE. She is survived by her husband, MASH* star Mike Farrell, and her stepchildren, Michael and Erin.

For fans, Fabares leaves behind an unusually varied career. She began working as a child, became one of television’s best-known teenage daughters, unexpectedly scored a No. 1 pop hit, appeared opposite Elvis Presley in three movies and decades later found another major sitcom success as Christine Armstrong on Coach.

But her family said the version of Fabares they will remember most had little to do with fame.

They described her as a source of “love, strength, laughter, and comfort” whose warmth and generosity made people around her feel valued and cared for.

She Started Performing Almost as Soon as She Could Remember

Fabares was born in Santa Monica, California, in 1944, into a family that already had ties to show business.

Her aunt was actress Nanette Fabray, and her mother introduced Shelley to modeling when she was only 3 years old.

By age 10, Fabares had made her television debut on Letter to Loretta.

The experience gave her an early education in Hollywood, but Fabares later acknowledged that growing up on a set could be complicated.

She once explained that child actors were expected to behave with a level of discipline that could make ordinary childhood freedom difficult.

That early professional life soon led to the role that first made her famous.

In 1958, Fabares joined The Donna Reed Show as Mary Stone, the teenage daughter of Donna Reed’s Donna Stone and Carl Betz’s Dr. Alex Stone. Paul Petersen played her brother, Jeff.

The sitcom turned Fabares into one of the recognizable young television stars of the era.

Donna Reed Became Much More Than a Costar

Fabares’ relationship with Donna Reed extended far beyond their television roles.

Years later, she described Reed as a role model before she even understood what that term meant.

Reed helped Fabares navigate not only acting but the realities of working in Hollywood as a young woman.

Fabares later remembered moments when Reed would walk around the set with her, sharing stories from her own life and encouraging the teenager to confront situations that frightened her.

That influence remained important to Fabares for decades.

Even long after The Donna Reed Show ended, she continued to speak about Reed with admiration and credited her with teaching lessons that went far beyond performing.

Then a Sitcom Turned Her Into a No. 1 Singer

One of the strangest turns in Fabares’ career came almost by accident.

During the 1961–62 season of The Donna Reed Show, producer Tony Owen decided to introduce singing into the series through Fabares and Petersen.

Fabares later joked that she had not exactly volunteered enthusiastically.

Nevertheless, the experiment produced something enormous.

Her recording of “Johnny Angel” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962.

Fabares subsequently released four albums, even though she would later joke that she never really considered herself much of a singer.

The song nevertheless became one of the defining pop hits associated with her early career.

She Appeared in Three Movies With Elvis Presley

Fabares’ television fame also opened the door to movies.

In 1965, she starred opposite Elvis Presley in Girl Happy.

The pairing worked well enough that they reunited for two more Presley films: Spinout in 1966 and Clambake in 1967.

She also appeared in the 1966 film Hold On! with Herman’s Hermits.

For audiences who remember the Hollywood of the 1960s, those Elvis films became another major part of Fabares’ legacy.

She later looked back on that period with affection, describing the Presley movies as simply “great” experiences.

Her Career Had Highs, Lows and a Major Comeback

After leaving regular appearances on The Donna Reed Show, Fabares continued working extensively in television.

She appeared in the acclaimed 1971 television movie Brian’s Song with James Caan and Billy Dee Williams and later had a starring role in the 1976 series The Practice.

Her television credits also included One Day at a Time, Police Story, The Rockford Files, The Love Boat and Murder, She Wrote.

But Fabares was candid about the unpredictability of an acting career.

She once recalled going through a four-year period when she could not find work at all. At other times, guest appearances were the only jobs available.

Then came Coach.

The NBC sitcom premiered in 1989, starring Craig T. Nelson as college football coach Hayden Fox. Fabares played Christine Armstrong, his ambitious and successful romantic partner.

Their on-and-off relationship became one of the emotional centers of the series.

The show initially struggled in the ratings, and Fabares later joked that almost nobody seemed to be watching.

But after NBC found a stronger time slot, Coach became a hit.

Fabares eventually earned two Emmy nominations for her performance.

Mike Farrell Became Her “Safe Harbor”

Away from the screen, Fabares married Mike Farrell in 1984.

Farrell was already widely known for playing B.J. Hunnicutt on MASH*.

Their marriage became one of the central relationships of Fabares’ later life.

Farrell once described a “light” inside his wife that he found rejuvenating, while Fabares said the two balanced each other.

That partnership became especially important during one of the most difficult periods of her life.

Not long after their marriage, Donna Reed was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Around the same time, Fabares learned that her own mother had been secretly battling Alzheimer’s disease.

Fabares later recalled spending enormous amounts of time at the hospital and said Farrell never questioned her devotion to the people she loved.

She called him her “safe harbor.”

Reed died in 1986. Fabares’ mother died in 1992.

Personal Loss Led Her to Alzheimer’s Advocacy

Her mother’s illness ultimately changed the direction of Fabares’ life outside acting.

She became involved in fundraising and advocacy for Alzheimer’s research, traveling around the country, making speeches and even testifying before Congress.

Fabares once said her work with the Alzheimer’s Association became one of the most rewarding experiences of her life.

Her own health also presented serious challenges.

In 2000, Fabares underwent a liver transplant after being diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis.

Farrell described her at the time as “a tough cookie.”

Her Family Says Her Greatest Legacy Was Personal

Fabares’ career touched several generations.

Some viewers first knew her as Mary Stone.

Others remember “Johnny Angel.”

Elvis fans know her from Girl Happy, Spinout and Clambake.

And viewers who came along decades later remember Christine Armstrong from Coach.

Her family acknowledged all of those accomplishments in their statement following her death.

But they said the lasting impression she made on those closest to her came from something much simpler.

They remembered her kindness, loyalty, humor, courage and ability to make people feel loved.

“We will miss her deeply,” the family said, adding that they remain grateful for the years they shared with her and for the joy and compassion she brought into their lives.

Shelley Fabares spent nearly her entire life connected to entertainment, from childhood television sets to hit records, Elvis movies and a second sitcom triumph decades later.

Yet the people who knew her best say the most important role she played was never written for television.

It was the one she played in their lives.