NEWS / Actress Shelley Fabares died from pneumonia – death certificate

The death certificate of American actress Shelley Fabares lists “acute respiratory distress” as her immediate cause of death, with “primary pneumonia” listed a condition that led to her death. The actress, most famous for her appearance on the TV shows One Day at a Time, The Donna Reed Show, and Coach, passed away at the age of 82 in Los Angeles, California, on August 23, 2026.

PEOPLE was able to obtain a certified copy of Fabares’s death certificate on September 2, 2026, which allowed the online periodical to reveal the actress’s immediate cause of death as well as the underlying condition that led to her death. Fabares’s family had already previously told PEOPLE that she had passed away from pneumonia.

“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,” the family’s statement read, as quoted by PEOPLE. “She had a remarkable ability to make people feel welcomed, valued, and cared for.”

In addition to her TV roles, Fabares also starred in the leading female role opposite Elvis Presley in Girl Happy (1965), Spinout (1966), and Clambake (1967). Her performance of the song “Johnny Angel” reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1962.