70s TV icon wears bold political hat during rare outing with actress wife who famously said 'NO' to Elvis

Daily Mail​

26-07-2025

Fans were thrilled to catch a rare glimpse of one of Hollywood's most enduring couples out and about in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
The M*A*S*H legend, 85, and his wife of over four decades, 81, who got her start on The Donna Reed Show, looked completely smitten as they strolled hand in hand through a sunny Burbank park.
Dressed down in jeans, a crisp white tee, and a cheeky black baseball cap that read 'Make America Normal Again,' the TV icon was a far cry from his days playing the clean-cut army doctor B.J. Hunnicutt in the 1950s-set classic.
Meanwhile, his ageless better half—who also sang 1961's Johnny Angel—turned heads with pastel-pink hair and a David Bowie tee, showing the same youthful energy that made her a teen star and later a sitcom standout on Coach alongside Craig T. Nelson.
Back in the day, she lit up the screen opposite Elvis Presley in Girl Happy, Spinout, and Clambake—and while the King was reportedly smitten, the young starlet, already spoken for, famously turned him down without hesitation.
Still stumped?
If you guessed Mike Farrell and Shelley Fabares—you're spot on!
The adorable couple have been going strong since tying the knot back in 1984.
Before finding lasting love, Farrell was married to Judy Hayden—his college sweetheart and a high school English and drama teacher in Laguna Beach.
They wed in 1963, had two children together, Michael and Erin, but ultimately split in 1980 and finalized their divorce the following year.
Shelley also had a high-profile first marriage, saying 'I do' to music producer Lou Adler in 1964.
Though they separated just two years later, their divorce wasn't finalized until 1980—just in time for both stars to get a second shot at love.
Born and raised in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Farrell has carved out a diverse and respected career in Hollywood.
He joined the legendary MASH* during its fourth season, stepping in to replace Wayne Rogers and quickly winning over fans with his portrayal of the empathetic army doctor B.J. Hunnicutt.
Alongside Farrell, the iconic ensemble cast featured Alan Alda as Hawkeye, Loretta Swit as Hot Lips Houlihan, Jamie Farr as Klinger, and many others who helped shape the show's enduring legacy.
After MASH* ended, Farrell continued to build an impressive résumé, appearing in numerous television roles including guest spots on Justice League.
He also stepped behind the camera, producing the acclaimed 1998 film Patch Adams, starring Robin Williams.
Farrell's post-M*A*S*H* career also includes a notable role in the legal drama Providence.
He also became the Vice President of the Screen Actors Guild for a time.
Meanwhile, Fabares rose to fame as a teen star on The Donna Reed Show, quickly becoming a household name in the late 1950s and early '60s.
She made a successful transition to music with the chart-topping hit Johnny Angel before continuing her acting career in both film and television.
In the '80s and '90s, she earned critical acclaim and Emmy nominations for her role as Christine Armstrong on the sitcom Coach.
Early in her career, Shelley starred opposite Elvis in films like Girl Happy and Spinout.
Although Elvis was reportedly smitten, Shelley famously turned down his advances.
She has since explained that while they didn't share a romance, they genuinely cared for each other, and she found it refreshing to be free of any romantic pressure.
'The presence that this man had — you couldn't talk, nobody did anything — you just sort of stopped and watched him,' she once said of the icon. 'He was beautiful and [he had] a charisma that was just amazing.'