How Donna Reed Became a ‘Second Mother’ to Shelley Fabares

If you grew up watching classic television, you probably remember The Donna Reed Show. And if you remember that show, then you also, without a doubt, remember Mary Stone. Played by Shelley Fabares, Mary seemed to have a pretty close-to-ideal American family life. However, behind the scenes, things weren’t always picture perfect.

When Fabares first joined the cast of The Donna Reed Show as a teenager, she was understandably intimidated. Reed was Hollywood royalty, and Fabares hung on her every word. Before long, that early case of stage fright turned into something much warmer. Reed took the young cast member under her wing, becoming a real mentor, a second mother, and a trusted friend. Fabares looked up to her so much that she spent years trying to emulate her grace and poise. Decades later, she would remark that whenever she faced a tough decision, she could still hear Reed’s voice in her head calmly offering up self-deprecating, practical advice.