logo
Getty Images
Getty Images

Shelley Fabares First Met Her Husband of 35 Years Mike Farrell on the Set of His Show 'The Interns'

Joe Akins
Oct 30, 2019
07:30 P.M.

Shelley Fabares and Mike Farrell of "M*A*S*H" fame enjoy a loving marriage that has stood the test of time, and many can't but wonder what it is that has made them stay together all these years.

Advertisement

Shelley Fabares and Mike Farrell met in 1970 when she was a guest star on an episode of one of his series, "The Interns," which didn't last long.

Mike Farrell and Shelley Fabares at the Premiere Of FX's "The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story" on January 8, 2018 | Photo: Getty Images

Mike Farrell and Shelley Fabares at the Premiere Of FX's "The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story" on January 8, 2018 | Photo: Getty Images

Advertisement

That meeting didn't bear any footnote, and it took another twelve years for them to see each other again.

This time they saw each other at a CBS affiliates convention, and at this point, their casual acquaintance was beginning to take another dimension.

At the time of their second meeting, Shelley and Mike were both divorced from their marriages to Lou Adler and Juddy Farrell, respectively.

"To have his strength when everything else is out of control …that's the unbelievable gift he has given."

Shelley Fabares and Mike Farrell at the 'Fundraiser Benefit for Senator Christopher Dodd' on December 5, 1985 | Photo: Getty Images

Shelley Fabares and Mike Farrell at the 'Fundraiser Benefit for Senator Christopher Dodd' on December 5, 1985 | Photo: Getty Images

Advertisement

The pair got to mingle after the convention, and a year later, Farrell proposed to Shelley. They married in 1984 at the Pacific Palisades, which was the home of Shelley's aunt, veteran actress, Nanette Fabray.

The early days of their marriage were not easy for the couple. For one, Shelley didn't find early acceptance for Shelley from Farrell's two children from his former marriage. She admitted to this, as she said:

"The divorce was very hard on the kids. It took a lot of love, patience, courage and strength, but now they have two solid homes which is what we all wanted."

 Mike Farrell and actress Shelly Fabares at The Bronson Caves at Griffith Park on February 24, 2014 | Photo: Getty Images

Mike Farrell and actress Shelly Fabares at The Bronson Caves at Griffith Park on February 24, 2014 | Photo: Getty Images

Advertisement

There were more struggles for the new couple. A close friend of Shelley, Donna Reed, who played the role of her mom on the show, "The Donna Reed Show," came down with pancreatic cancer, and died in 1986.

Soon after, Shelley's mother, Elsa, began showing signs of Alzheimer's, leading to her being put in a nursing home.

These struggles and the many others that came would have been enough to bring Shelley down, but in Mike, she had a support system that kept her going.

Shelley Fabares and Mike Farrell at the Second Annual Commitment to Life' Gala on September 20, 1986 | Photo: Getty Images

Shelley Fabares and Mike Farrell at the Second Annual Commitment to Life' Gala on September 20, 1986 | Photo: Getty Images

Advertisement

"When Donna and Mother were ill at the same time, mentally I was totally gone. Physically, I was gone 98 percent of the time. I just stayed at the hospital for months, and never, ever did Mike question it," she said.

"He was always easing my mind. He ran everything for me. He has become my safe harbor. To have his strength when everything else is out of control …that's the unbelievable gift he has given."

Shelley would later suffer some health issues, including liver troubles, which required her to do a liver transplant in 2000.

 Mike Farrell and Shelley Fabares attend the Emmy Awards September 20, 1993 | Photo: Getty Images

Mike Farrell and Shelley Fabares attend the Emmy Awards September 20, 1993 | Photo: Getty Images

Advertisement

That experience made her rethink her life, and again she owed her survival to her husband. She said:

"I was so very ill for such a long time, and we didn't know what was wrong, but he was with me every step of the way – accompanying me to every doctor's appointment. He's just monumental, and I don't know how I could have gotten through this without him."

Their marriage survived those early years, and thirty-five years later, they remain a happy, united couple, still in love and supportive of one another.

Advertisement
info
Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories!
By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy
Advertisement
Related posts

Carrie Underwood Has Gone through Many 'Difficulties' with Husband Mike Fisher - Inside Their Love Story

March 10, 2022

Annette Funicello Met 2nd Husband at 16 - He Saved Her Life & Became Her Full-Time Caregiver

April 01, 2022

After Abandoning Her Daughter 24 Years Ago, Mother Shows up at Her Wedding – Story of the Day

March 04, 2022

Poor Old Man Who Buys Groceries Every Day Stops Showing Up, Store Owner Decides to Check on Him — Story of the Day

March 11, 2022

Inside Ina Garten's Decision to Not Have Kids with Husband of 53 Years Whom She Met at 15

March 20, 2022

Marlo Thomas’ Spouse Was a Virgin before Marriage to Mom of His 5 Kids & a Lousy Lover Afterward

February 03, 2022

Delta Burke's Husband Was Not Bothered by Her Weight Gain after Proposing to Her on Their 2nd Date

April 20, 2022

'I Can't Believe I Actually Found You!': Birth Mom Reunites with Son after 33 Years of Separation

March 05, 2022

Naomi Judd's Heart Was 'Ripped Out and Stomped on by Men' ⁠— Inside Her Marriages

May 06, 2022

Bridget Moynahan Wed In 'Gorgeous' Mermaid-Shaped Gown on 'Fall Harvest Wedding' Years after Tom Brady Split

September 28, 2023

'You Don't Yell at Her': Three Kids Happy for Mom's New Husband after Living with Abusive Dad

March 11, 2022

Twins Send Dad to Nursing Home, Learn He Left Inheritance to Janitor Who Is Their Carbon Copy – Story of the Day

February 13, 2022

Ron Howard Was Most Concerned about His Kids' Values — Inside His Decision to Protect Them

April 26, 2022

Charlotte Rae's Husband Cheated on Her with Other Men – He Could Not Marry His Love after Their Divorce

March 30, 2022