Fabares left "The Donna Reed Show" in 1963 (when her character went off to college) and returned to feature films, but, despite roles in three Elvis Presley movies ("Girl Happy" 1965, "Spinout" 1966 and "Clambake" 1967), her career stalled until the mid-70s. A series of sitcom roles followed, either supporting or recurring roles on popular fare ("One Day at a Time", as Bonnie Franklin's uptight, perma-pressed business associate) or leading roles on less successful shows ("The Practice", a lukewarm vehicle for Danny Thomas). The vivacious Fabares nonetheless had become by that time a comfortable, familiar presence to TV watchers. Her role as Craig T Nelson's often frustrated fiance (and later wife) on "Coach" (ABC, 1989-97) represented not only a return to a popular series but also one of her more likable and sizable parts to date.