Shelley Fabares, the actress and singer who became widely known for her work in television and film, died August 22 at age 82, with her family now confirming to USA Today, on August 27, that she died of pneumonia.
Fabares had experienced serious health problems before her death. She was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis, a condition in which the body's immune system attacks the liver. In 2000, she underwent a liver transplant after her liver became severely damaged. She continued her career and public life following the procedure.
Fabares first became a familiar face to television audiences as Mary Stone on the ABC sitcom 'The Donna Reed Show' (1958-1965), appearing in nearly 200 episodes. Her career also extended into music. In 1962, Fabares' recording of ‘Johnny Angel’ reached no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. She also appeared alongside Elvis Presley in three movies: ‘Girl Happy’ (1965), ‘Spinout’ (1966), and ‘Clambake’ (1967). She later landed another major television role as Christine Armstrong on ‘Coach’ (1989-1997), earning her two Primetime Emmy nominations.
Her death highlights the serious risks associated with pneumonia, a lung infection that can affect people of all ages. The disease is responsible for nearly 2.5 million deaths annually, including 672,000 children under five. Each year, there are over 120 million cases of pneumonia, with severe cases requiring hospitalization. Despite being preventable and treatable, it remains a leading cause of death, especially among the elderly, young children, and those with weakened immune systems.
Click on to learn why pneumonia is more dangerous than many realize and why early detection and prevention are crucial.