Who’s Still Alive from ‘The Donna Reed Show’?

Lauren Novak January 27, 6:01 pm

THE DONNA REED SHOW, from left: Shelley Fabares, Paul Petersen, Donna Reed, Carl Betz, (1960), 1958-1966 — Everett Collection

From 1958 to 1966, Donna Reed starred as the quintessential 1950s TV mom, Donna Stone, on The Donna Reed Show. Carl Betz was cast as her husband, Dr. Alex Stone, but it was Reed who led the charming black-and-white family sitcom, which revolved around the everyday joys and dilemmas of suburban life.

THE DONNA REED SHOW, Paul Petersen, Donna Reed, Shelley Fabares, Carl Betz, 1958-1966

Everett Collection

In its later seasons, The Donna Reed Show introduced recurring characters, but, at its core, the show remained focused on the lighthearted adventures of the Stone family. Though the sitcom was widely embraced during its time, today, it’s often viewed as a series that could be considered quite sexist, with its heroine synonymous with the perfect middle class housewife. But despite its age, The Donna Reed Show still holds a special place in television history, and its cast continued to various ventures long after the series ended.

While Reed and Betz have since passed, the actors who portrayed their children went on to pursue fulfilling careers. Let’s find out what they’re up to now!

Shelley Fabares (81)

Mary Stone

Everett Collection; Jonathan Leibson/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Shelley Fabares was no stranger to the spotlight when she landed the role of Mary Stone, having begun acting at just three years old. Throughout the show’s early seasons, Mary’s storylines explored the ups and downs of teenage life, from first dates to learning how to drive. However, Fabares began appearing less frequently as the series progressed, ultimately leaving to explore other opportunities.

Her career flourished in both film and television. She starred alongside Elvis Presley in Girl Happy (1965) and took on roles in Brian’s Song (1971) and Hot Pursuit (1987). She found great success on television in the ’80s sitcom Coach, where she played Christine Armstrong, a news anchor and love interest to Craig T. Nelson‘s character. Her work on the show earned her two Emmy nominations. Over the years, she also appeared in The Little People, The Practice, One Day at a Time and more.

Fabares also made her mark in the music industry, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard charts with “Johnny Angel,” a song she performed on The Donna Reed Show. She released three albums by 1963 and contributed to soundtracks for Girl Happy, Bye Bye Birdie, and Hold On! (1966). While she has since retired from acting—her last credited role was voicing Martha Kent in Superman: Brainiac Attacks (2006)—she remains active in public life, occasionally writing op-eds and even rocking a bold pink, spiky hairstyle in recent years.

Paul Petersen (79)

Jeff Stone

Everett Collection; Jonathan Leibson/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Like Fabares, Paul Petersen’s career wasn’t confined to acting. After starting his career on the Mickey Mouse Club and playing Jeff Stone for the entirety of The Donna Reed Show, he dabbled in music, recording several songs throughout the ’60s. His acting career extended beyond the sitcom, with roles in films like A Time for Killing and The Happiest Millionaire, plus guest appearances on Lassie, My Three Sons, Fantasy Island and The Virginian. In 2016, he lent his voice to a modern revival of the classic radio anthology Suspense.

While Petersen stayed in the entertainment world, he also focused on advocacy. After witnessing the struggles of former child stars, he founded A Minor Consideration in 1991, an organization dedicated to supporting young actors and pushing for industry-wide reforms. The group provides mentorship, education and legislative advocacy to protect child performers from exploitation.

Petersen has also shared his insights in The Hollywood Complex, a documentary about aspiring child actors, and even played a tongue-in-cheek version of himself in Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star (2003). In addition, he carved out a third career as an author. In the ’70s, he wrote a book series called The Smuggler, which followed the adventures of a weed smuggler-turned-secret agent.