Charismatic actress Annette Funicello<\/strong> was an incredible phenomenon in the 1950s, ruling television screens when she was still a kid. She was perhaps most popular for her association with Disney and being a part of the original Mickey Mouse Club<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n

Also a singer and a robust performer, Funicello was often portrayed as the good girl in cinema and became a crucial part of imagery and visuals from the 1960s.<\/p>\n\n

She was also known for her heartbreaking battle with multiple sclerosis, something that she opened up about in public and felt strongly about.<\/p>\n\n

Funicello had an eventful life, yet there are things that her fans may not know about her.\u00a0Here are more details about her life, from her early career to her time as a beach star and the ups and downs she endured through the course of her life.<\/p>\n\n\u00a0\n\n

1. Annette Funicello started performing early\u00a0:<\/h3>\n\n\u00a0\n\n

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Annette was only 12 years old when she was offered a chance to be a part of Disney’s children’s TV show, The Mickey Mouse Club<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n

\u00a0<\/em>In fact, she was chosen by Walt Disney himself out of 200 kids at the audition.<\/p>\n\n

Funicello became a huge part of the show, dancing and singing as she donned the traditional Mickey Mouse ears for her sketches.<\/p>\n\n

Funicello was easy to like and appealed to all kinds of viewers for her charm and persona.<\/p>\n\n\u00a0\n\n

2. Annette Funicello was a Disney star\u00a0:<\/h3>\n\n\u00a0\n\n

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It’s undeniable that Annette Funicello’s image was largely connected to her role on\u00a0The Mickey Mouse Club<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n

she minced no words when she stated that the goofy-looking Mickey Mouse ears and Disney became a huge part of her history. “I have said countless times, ‘I owe everything to those ears,’ and I mean it,”<\/em> she explained.<\/p>\n\n

She added that she really didn’t know that those ears would be the reason for her to connect with countless kids in different parts of the world. “To have enjoyed such an honor I am eternally grateful,” <\/em>the actress wrote.<\/p>\n\n\u00a0\n\n

3. Walt Disney gave her a role on ‘Zorro’ as a birthday present\u00a0:<\/h3>\n\n\u00a0\n\n

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Walt Disney knew that Annette counted herself as a huge fan of Zorro<\/strong><\/em>, the Disney-produced Western series starring Guy Williams.<\/p>\n\n

When she turned 16, Annette found herself as a guest star on her favorite show. It was reportedly a birthday present from Mr. Disney. She played\u00a0Anita Cabrillo<\/strong> in three episodes, and later appeared as\u00a0Constancia de la Torre<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\u00a0\n\n

4. Annette Funicello rapidly rose to popularity\u00a0:<\/h3>\n\n\u00a0\n\n

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Annette Funicello quickly became a crowd favorite during her time as a Mouskeeter, her on-screen popularity helped her bag her own series in 1958, titled\u00a0Annette<\/strong><\/em>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n

It had a total of 19 episodes, and Funicello played the role of a charming orphan girl who moves to the city from the country, adjusting to her new life with her relatives and learning the ways of her new world.<\/p>\n\n\u00a0\n\n

5. She was the first woman to have a Top 10 rock ‘n’ roll hit\u00a0:<\/h3>\n\n\u00a0\n\n

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Annette Funicello was talented in more ways than one, She was also lauded for her singing skills.<\/p>\n\n

She sang a song for one of\u00a0Annette<\/em>‘s\u00a0<\/em>episodes\u00a0<\/em>called “How Will I Know My Love?”\u00a0<\/em>and delivered many\u00a0popular singles, such as “Tall Paul,” “Train of Love, “O Dio Mio,”\u00a0<\/em>and “It’s Really Love.”<\/p>\n\n

She continued to record singles, many of them written by The Sherman Brothers, the songwriters behind movie classics like\u00a0Mary Poppins<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n

One of their biggest collaborations would be “Tall Paul,” which rocketed to No. 7 in 1959. It was the first female-fronted rock ‘n’ roll single to crack the Top 10.<\/p>\n\n\u00a0\n\n

6. Annette Funicello’s film debut\u00a0:<\/h3>\n\n\u00a0\n\n

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Annette Funicello\u00a0made her film debut in\u00a0The Shaggy Dog<\/em>\u00a0(1959) for Disney, and managed to deliver a commercial hit even there.<\/p>\n\n

She found it a lot of fun to be associated with her first feature film, even though her part in it wasn’t groundbreaking or major.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\u00a0\n\n

7. Paul Anka wrote “Puppy Love” about her\u00a0:<\/h3>\n\n\u00a0\n\n

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Singer and songwriter Paul Anka<\/strong> was quite taken with\u00a0Annette Funicello, and he didn’t exactly keep it a secret. Turns out, she felt the same way about him.<\/p>\n\n

However, the two couldn’t actually find time for each other, as they were occupied with work.<\/p>\n\n

And yet, it is undeniable that the two had a history and absolutely courted each other.<\/p>\n\n

When NPR asked Funicello years later about it, she explained that the pair once had a conversation about their relationship, and Anka told her that it was a pity that everyone referred to their romance as “puppy love”<\/strong> and didn’t understand how it really felt. He was then inspired to make the song “puppy love”<\/strong> that ended up becoming a popular hit.<\/p>\n\n\u00a0\n\n

8. Annette Funicello was the star of many beach films\u00a0:<\/h3>\n\n\u00a0\n\n

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Walt Disney was approached by people from American International Pictures to get Annette Funicello to be a part of a beach film.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

Her first beach movie was\u00a0Beach Party<\/strong><\/em> in 1963, in which she worked with Frankie Avalon. The two would make more beach films together.<\/p>\n\n\u00a0\n\n

9. Annette Funicello fell in love with her agent\u00a0:<\/h3>\n\n\u00a0\n\n

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Annette Funicello ended up falling for her agent, Jack Gilardi, and married him in 1965.<\/p>\n\n

The pair met while working on a set of the movie Babes in Toyland<\/strong><\/em> and ended up falling for each other.<\/p>\n\n

Gilardi was Funicello’s manager and agent for many years until they decided to get divorced in 1981.<\/p>\n\n

After her marriage ended, the actress found love again when she met a racehorse trainer named Glen Holt<\/strong>. The couple were together until she passed away.<\/p>\n\n\u00a0\n\n

10. Annette Funicello had multiple sclerosis\u00a0:<\/h3>\n\n\u00a0\n\n

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In the late 1980s, Annette Funicello was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, an illness that would have a major impact on her life and which she would endure for over 25 years.<\/p>\n\n

She didn’t reveal her illness until 1992, when she realized it was important to issue a public announcement.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

Funicello’s condition was rather severe, and she eventually started using a wheelchair to get around. Her husband, Glen Holt<\/strong>, later revealed that he’d assured her that he’d always help her with anything she needed.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\u00a0\n\n

11.\u00a0 Annette Funicello survived a fire\u00a0:<\/h3>\n\n\u00a0\n\n

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In March 2011, Annette Funicello and her family went through a scary experience when their California house caught fire.<\/p>\n\n

The actress showed symptoms of smoke inhalation, and she was rushed to a hospital where she was treated.<\/p>\n\n

She was 68 at the time of the incident, and it was believed that she, Holt, and a nurse escaped from the burning house after it caught fire.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

Thankfully, no one suffered serious injuries, and everyone was believed to be stable. The fire began in the morning, and it took firefighters around a half-hour to extinguish the blaze completely.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\u00a0\n\n

12. Annette Funicello’s health failed in her later years\u00a0:<\/h3>\n\n\u00a0\n\n

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Unfortunately for Annette Funicello, life got harder for her in her twilight years. Her illness worsened, and her symptoms became more intense. She needed full-time help to get by, and it was difficult for her to manage her daily activities alone.<\/p>\n\n

\u00a0She was fed through a tube and had to be taken care of 24\/7.\u00a0Funicello and her husband were optimists. Glen Holt always believed that he’d see his wife get better one day and also fought to get her access to experimental treatment options to reduce the severity of her symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\u00a0\n\n

13. Annette Funicello left behind a rich legacy\u00a0:<\/h3>\n\n\u00a0\n\n

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When Annette passed away in April 2013 at the age of 70, her death was mourned by many across the world who remembered her for the unique person she was.<\/p>\n\n

Disney’s chairman,\u00a0Bob Iger<\/strong>, paid a tribute to the actress and said that she’ll forever be a huge part of the Disney family.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n

He added that Funicello will always be celebrated as one of Disney’s most talented stars, one who managed to inspire a whole generation with her talent and unique personality.<\/p>\n\n

Frankie Avalon<\/strong> also remembered his former co-star and said that the country had lost one of its sweethearts and that he felt lucky to have been friends with the actress and work with her on so many projects.<\/p>\n\n

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