Actress Annette Funicello, best known as a child performer on the original “Mickey Mouse Club” and for her beach movies with Frankie Avalon, died on Monday. She was 70.
She died from from MS. Which she had for a very long time, and the past few years she was drifting in and out of consciousness. This is a very sad day for the MS community, she's a hero to us for the way she bravely faced it down.
@msgirl lots of <3's !! My bubbi has been fighting ms for years and is the strongest most amazing woman I know. I have all the respect in the world for the ms community
She was so sick and really suffered those last years. She was my uncles first crush...and adorable in those 60's beach movies...I hope she's at peace...
I have a close friend with MS and I know this will be tough for her. I watched all of the Frankie and Annette movies when I was little. Does anyone know why she died in Bakersfield of all places? I remember that terrible pap picture of her in the wheelchair. So sad.
What a brave, brave woman and an inspiration to the rest of us. Heartbroken for her devoted husband, who really did define "commitment" and "til death do us part." Blessings....
Annette was my first celebrity crush at a tender age, and conducted herself with dignity until the end. RIP, Annette, and, as BF said, say hello to Uncle Walt for us!
She was Walt's favorite Mouseketeer. If you google photos of her, she was totally adorable when she was a pre-teen and teen in the MM Club, and I could be totally wrong but I think she was a pin up for teen boys. Think a Betty Grable Jr for the pimple-faced crowd.
MIC See you real soon Key Why? Because we love you! Mouse!
RIP dear lady! She was my dear daddies first crush. I sure hope he is getting to see her sing and dance today. Her days of pain are finally over and may she be blessed.
I told my husband she'd passed and he said she was his first crush when he was a little kid, and then he got very quiet. Annette seemed to be beautiful inside and out. I hope she rests in peace.
RIP Annette..may they always have the " a net full of jello" dedication inside the muppett vision in Hollywood studios in Dianey World. I was not born during the Mickey Mouse Club days or the beach movie days but I do remember her fro the "Back to the Beach Movie".
My friend's mother has MS and it is a terrible fight everyday!
Thank you, Annette.
ReplyDeleteMay you rest in peace.
(And say hey to Uncle Walt for the rest of us)
She had some very difficult final years. Hope she is at peace now.
ReplyDeleteAww :( RIP
ReplyDeleteI loved her beach movies when I was little. She was adorable.
RIP Annette, now I will have the Mickey Mouse Club song stuck in my head.
ReplyDeleteNoooooooooooooooo!!!!!! I loved her. My favorite was Beach Blanket Bingo.
ReplyDelete@Patricia. The kids look at me like I'm complete lunatic when I start singing that.
DeleteBless her heart. RIP.
ReplyDeleteThat sucks! I loved watching Babes in Toyland as a kid. The original, not the shitty remake.
ReplyDeleteSkippy peanut butter commercials through the 80's.
ReplyDeleteWhat a day for death.....
I remember watching Micky Mouse Club with her on it when I was a child. She's taking a good part of my childhood with her. RIP.
ReplyDeleteShe died from from MS. Which she had for a very long time, and the past few years she was drifting in and out of consciousness. This is a very sad day for the MS community, she's a hero to us for the way she bravely faced it down.
ReplyDelete@msgirl lots of <3's !! My bubbi has been fighting ms for years and is the strongest most amazing woman I know. I have all the respect in the world for the ms community
DeleteShe was so sick and really suffered those last years. She was my uncles first crush...and adorable in those 60's beach movies...I hope she's at peace...
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet fresh faced girl she played. Wasn't she one of the big "It" girls of her time? Rest In Peace Annette.
ReplyDeleteRIP Annette.
ReplyDeleteAnyone recall how the despicable National Enquirer outted her as a drunk and Annette felt she had to reveal that she had MS?
Oh yes. It was awful.
DeleteM-I-C u later, Annette. R.I.P.
Oh no... :( She was proof that you could be a former child star without living your life in the tabloids or being a total skank. RIP Annette.
ReplyDeleteOh, and my favorite movie of hers has to be "Back to the Beach". Loved it!
RIP, Annette. :(
ReplyDelete@Reesie, I never heard that story - how awful!!
@Meanie Reese: I remember that. Really rude.
ReplyDeleteI have a close friend with MS and I know this will be tough for her. I watched all of the Frankie and Annette movies when I was little. Does anyone know why she died in Bakersfield of all places? I remember that terrible pap picture of her in the wheelchair. So sad.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteThe last decent female Muskateer , RIP, Annette.
^ "mouseketeer"
DeleteIve never heard anyone say a bad word about her. Rip.
ReplyDeleteMeanie - I remember that. So sad.
ReplyDeleteCalifblondy - I read that their house in Encino burned down last year, so they relocated to Bakersfield.
What a brave, brave woman and an inspiration to the rest of us. Heartbroken for her devoted husband, who really did define "commitment" and "til death do us part." Blessings....
ReplyDeleteBless. I loved Annette in all those crazy beach movies as well as her Disney movies. RIP.
ReplyDeleteThanks Alicia - we are VERY TOUGH indeed! A great group of people.
ReplyDeleteAwwww...RIP Annette. XOXO
ReplyDeleteI'm betting that at the Pearly Gates of Heaven, Annette gets in before Thatcher.
ReplyDeleteRIP--she was a classy lady who would never smack those she worked with.
Annette Funicello, Roger Ebert and Maggie Thatcher. That is the most surreal trio of deaths ever
ReplyDeleteRIP Annette, I loved her on the Mickey Mouse Club, as did every boy I knew. The sweetheart of Disney.
ReplyDeleteI know she fought hard to beat MS,I hope she's dancing!
Annette was my first celebrity crush at a tender age, and conducted herself with dignity until the end. RIP, Annette, and, as BF said, say hello to Uncle Walt for us!
ReplyDeleteShe was Walt's favorite Mouseketeer. If you google photos of her, she was totally adorable when she was a pre-teen and teen in the MM Club, and I could be totally wrong but I think she was a pin up for teen boys. Think a Betty Grable Jr for the pimple-faced crowd.
ReplyDeleteOh no. Rest in peace.
ReplyDeleteMIC See you real soon Key Why? Because we love you! Mouse!
ReplyDeleteRIP dear lady! She was my dear daddies first crush. I sure hope he is getting to see her sing and dance today. Her days of pain are finally over and may she be blessed.
My thoughts are with her family.
I told my husband she'd passed and he said she was his first crush when he was a little kid, and then he got very quiet. Annette seemed to be beautiful inside and out. I hope she rests in peace.
ReplyDeleteMy uncle lost his fight with MS as well..She's shaking her wild bikini on a beach in heaven...You go Annette!
ReplyDeleteRIP Annette.
ReplyDeleteRIP Annette..may they always have the " a net full of jello" dedication inside the muppett vision in Hollywood studios in Dianey World. I was not born during the Mickey Mouse Club days or the beach movie days but I do remember her fro the "Back to the Beach Movie".
ReplyDeleteMy friend's mother has MS and it is a terrible fight everyday!