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Mickey Mouse Club favourite who appeared with Frankie Avalon in 60s Beach Party musicals

Annette Funicello, who has died of complications from multiple sclerosis aged 70, was instantly associated with two names: Mickey Mouse and Frankie Avalon, both of whom were squeaky clean. As a child, Funicello was one of the first Mouseketeers on the original Mickey Mouse Club, the hugely popular Walt Disney children's television programme. In her early 20s, Funicello co-starred with the pop singer Avalon in five "Beach Party" musicals, in which they played wholesome "teenage" sweethearts called Dee Dee and Frankie, always testing each other's fidelity.

Born in Utica, New York, Funicello took ballet dancing lessons as a child to overcome shyness. In 1955, some years after her family had moved to southern California, the 12-year-old was chosen by Disney himself from 200 children auditioning for the first season of the Mickey Mouse Club. From 1955 to 1957, she danced, sang...

Annette Funicello, who died today at 70, had not been the bubbly, energetic entertainer that fans remembered her as for quite some time. In October, Funicello's husband, Glen Holt, allowed Canada's CTV W5 News into their home to shed light on the toll that multiple sclerosis had taken on his wife after nearly 25 years. She had stopped being able to walk eight years beforehand and hadn't been able to speak for nearly three years. "I'm sorry that she's this way," said Holt, 81. "I would love to have her back dancing and singing and doing everything she always loved to do. But she can't do it."  Holt, a former horse breeder, was Funicello's second husband....

Former child star was hand-picked by Walt Disney and spoke openly about the degenerative effects of multiple sclerosis

Annette Funicello, who became a child star as a perky, cute-as-a-button Mouseketeer on The Mickey Mouse Club in the 1950s, then teamed up with Frankie Avalon on a string of 1960s fun-in-the-sun movies with names like Beach Blanket Bingo and Bikini Beach, died Monday. She was 70.

She died at Mercy Southwest Hospital in Bakersfield, California, of complications from multiple sclerosis, the Walt Disney Co said.

Funicello stunned fans and friends in 1992 with the announcement about her ailment. Yet she was cheerful and upbeat, grappling with the disease with a courage that contrasted with her lightweight teen image of old.

"She will forever hold a place in our hearts as one of Walt Disney's brightest stars, delighting an entire generation of baby boomers with her jubilant personality and endless talent," said Bob Iger,...

Former child star Annette Funicello has died at the age of 70, reports "Extra."

The actress, who is best remembered for her time as a Mouseketeer on "The Mickey Mouse Club" from 1955 to 1957, died from complications related to multiple sclerosis, which she was diagnosed with more than 20 years ago.

Funicello first lost the ability to walk in 2004, and later lost the ability to speak in 2009. Family members told "Extra" that they were by her side when she was taken off life support, after being in a Ms coma for years.

The former actress was the original Disney star, getting her start as a Mouseketeer and staring in Disney films including, "The Shaggy Dog" and "Babes in Toyland," before transitioning into a teen idol. In the early 1960s Funicello starred in a series of "Beach Party" movies co-starring Frankie Avalon, that included "Beach Party," "Muscle Beach Party," "Pajama Beach Party," "Beach Blanket...

The legendary singer and actress Annette Funicello has died on April 8, following complications with her multiple sclerosis. So sad!

Famous singer and actress Annette Funicello has died at the age 70 on April 8. At the age of 12, Annette rose to fame as one of Disney’s original “Mousekeeters.” She died in a Bakersfield hospital following a long battle with multiple sclerosis. Such sad news.

Annette Funicello: Dead From Multiple Sclerosis

Annette died on April 8, reports TMZ.

Annette was famous for being a singer, a dancer and for having large breasts. She starred in many films through her decades long career, including The Misadventures of Merlin Jones, Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine and Pajama Party.

She had spoken out in the past and said that she thought of Walt Disney as a second father.

She was married twice, and has three children. She married Jack Gilardi in 1965 and had three kids called Gina,...

Annette Funicello, the ultimate Girl Next Door to a generation of Baby Boomers who first fell in love with her on the original 1955-'59 incarnation of The Mickey Mouse Club - died Monday after a long battle with multiple sclerosis. She was 70. Her family told Extra that Funicello passed away from complications of her illness, and they were by her side when she was taken off life support. Funicello had been in an Ms coma for years, Extra reported. With her brunette curls and expressive brown eyes, "Annette," as she was simply known, grew up on the nation's TV screens...

Annette Funicello -- the darling of "The Mickey Mouse Club" and star of many '60s beach movies -- has died at age 70.In 1992, Annette went public with the news she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, which robbed her of her ability to walk and eventually talk. Extra reports she died in a Bakersfield hospital after being in a coma due to Ms.Annette had three children with her first husband Jack Gilardi, and married her second husband Glen Holt in 1986. Holt was her primary caregiver throughout her battle with Ms, and their life was featured on CTV's W5 last year. Check out the powerful documentary here.Annette's daughter Gina Gilardi just released this statement: "She's on her toes dancing in heaven... no more Ms. My brothers and I were there, holding her sweet hands when she left us."See what her famous fans had to say on Twitter:Al...