Annette Funicello – Original Mouseketeer – Biography
Annette Funicello
Biography
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Annette Joanne Funicello (October 22, 1942 – April 8, 2013) was an Italian-American actress and singer. Annette Funicello began her professional career as a child performer at the age of twelve. She rose to prominence as one of the most popular Mouseketeers on the original Mickey Mouse Club.
![](http://dev.everybodylovesitalian.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/annette-Funicello-Mouseketter-5.jpg)
As a teenager, she transitioned to a successful career as a singer with the pop singles “O Dio Mio”, “Tall Paul” and “Pineapple Princess“, as well as establishing herself as a film actress, popularizing the successful “Beach Party” genre alongside co-star Frankie Avalon during the mid-1960s.
![](http://dev.everybodylovesitalian.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Frankie-Avalon-and-Annette-Funicello-2.jpg)
In 1992, Annette Funicello announced that she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She died of complications from the disease on April 8, 2013.
![](http://dev.everybodylovesitalian.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Annette-Funicello-Mouseketeer-5.jpg)
Annette Joanne Funicello was born in Utica, New York, to Italian Americans Virginia Jeanne (née Albano; 1921 – 2007) and Joseph Edward Funicello (1916 – 2009). Her family moved to Southern California when she was four years old.
Annette Joanne Funicello was born in Utica, New York, to Italian Americans Virginia Jeanne (née Albano; 1921 – 2007) and Joseph Edward Funicello (1916 – 2009). Her family moved to Southern California when she was four years old.
Annette took dancing and music lessons as a child to overcome shyness. In 1955, the 12-year-old was discovered by Walt Disney when she performed as the Swan Queen in Swan Lake at a dance recital at the Starlight Bowl in Burbank, California. Disney cast her as one of the original Mouseketeers.
![](http://dev.everybodylovesitalian.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Annette-Funicello-Mouseketeer-3-1.jpg)