Actress and singer Annette Funicello was an original cast member of The Mickey Mouse Club and went on to become a popular teen idol in the 1960s for her series of Beach Party films with Frankie Avalon. Before that she had appeared in the hit 1959 Disney film The Shaggy Dog, and her final performance before semi-retirement was in The Monkees' psychedelic movie Head.
If It Ain't Broke...
Beach Party became such a phenomenon in the surf-crazy Sixties that Funicello and Avalon (and for most of the films director William Asher) signed on for six more similar (very similar) films that were released over two years time. Titles included How to Stuff a Wild Bikini and the particularly popular Beach Blanket Bingo.
Struggles with MS
Funicello was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis before she publicly announced that she suffered from the disease, but since coming out with the news she has become a tireless fundraiser and supporter for the fight against MS.
Featured Video
Annette Funicello Timeline
Note: The majority of the links in this timeline are to IMDb, which has pop-ups.
October 22, 1942: Born
1955: The Mickey Mouse Club
1959: The Shaggy Dog
1963: Beach Party
1964: Bikini Beach
1964: Pajama Party
1965: Beach Blanket Bingo
1979: Represents Skippy in peanutbutter commercials
1987: Back to the Beach
1995: A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes: The Annette Funicello Story
1994: Star on the Walk of Fame
References
Fast Facts
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Full name
Annette Joanne Funicello
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Born
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Birthplace
Utica, New York
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Years active
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Fact:
She was the only Mousketeer hand-selected by Walt Disney
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Fact:
Appeared in Skippy Peanut Butter commercials in the 1970s
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Fact:
Announced in 1992 that she suffers from Multiple Sclerosis
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Fact:
Created the Annette Funicello Fund for Neurological Disorders in 1993
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Fact:
Created the "Annette Funicello Collectible Bear Company"
