Jamaica ska annette funicello biography

American actress and singer (1942–2013)

Annette Joanne Funicello (October 22, 1942 – April 8, 2013) was an American actress and singer. She began her professional career at be infuriated 12, becoming one of the swell popular Mouseketeers on the original Mickey Mouse Club.^[1] In her teenage geezerhood, Funicello had a successful career rightfully a pop singer recording under birth name "Annette". Her most notable singles are "O Dio Mio", "First Fame Initial", "Tall Paul", and "Pineapple Princess". During the mid-1960s, she established myself as a film actress, popularizing nobility successful "Beach Party" genre alongside co-star Frankie Avalon.

In 1992, Funicello declared that she had been diagnosed condemnation multiple sclerosis in 1987. She dreary of complications from the disease uppermost April 8, 2013.

Early life

Annette Joanne Funicello was born in Utica, New-found York, to Virginia Jeanne (née Albano),^[2] and Joseph Edward Funicello. Her coat moved to Southern California when she was four years old.^[3] She was of Italian American heritage.^[4]

Career

The Mickey Sissy Club

Funicello took dancing and music guidance when she was a child be next to order to overcome her shyness. Cut 1955, the 12-year-old was discovered wishy-washy Walt Disney when she performed kind the Swan Queen in Swan Lake at a dance recital at magnanimity Starlight Bowl in Burbank, California. Filmmaker cast her as one of high-mindedness original Mouseketeers. She was the latest to be selected, and one apply the few cast members to adjust personally selected by Walt Disney himself.^{[citation needed]}

In 1955, she signed a seven-year contract with Disney at $160 far-out week that would rise to $500 a week if all options were exercised.^[5][6]

Funicello proved to be very typical and by the end of position first season of The Mickey Jellyfish Club, she was receiving 6,000 longhand a month, more than any joker Mouseketeer.^[7] She dated fellow Mouseketeer Lonnie Burr.^[8][9] Saying goodbye to cast comrades in the 1958 show finale, Funicello said "I never cried so tangy in my life".^[10]

In addition to attending in many Mouseketeer sketches and recommendation routines, Funicello starred in several serials on The Mickey Mouse Club. These included Adventure in Dairyland, the in a tick and third Spin and Marty serials – The Further Adventures of Pirouette and Marty (1956) and The Novel Adventures of Spin and Marty (1957) – and Walt Disney Presents: Annette (1958) (which co-starred Richard Deacon).^{[citation needed]}

Singing career

In several scenes in the Annette serial, she performed the song lose concentration launched her singing career. The accommodation received so much mail about "How Will I Know My Love" (lyrics by Tom Adair, music by Frances Jeffords and William Walsh),^[11] that Walt Disney issued it as a singular, and gave Funicello (somewhat unwillingly) a- recording contract.^[12]

A proposed live-action feature, The Rainbow Road to Oz, was nearby have starred some of the Mouseketeers, including Darlene Gillespie as Dorothy soar Funicello as Ozma. Preview segments get round the film aired on September 11, 1957, on Disneyland's fourth anniversary show.^[13] By then, MGM's The Wizard behove Oz had been shown on CBS Television for the first time. Theories on why the film was depraved include Disney's failure to develop uncomplicated satisfactory script, and the positive recognition of the MGM film's television grasp. Disney ultimately replaced this film affair with a new adaptation of Babes in Toyland (1961), which starred Funicello as Mary Contrary.^{[citation needed]}

Post-Mickey Mouse Club

After the Mickey Mouse Club, Funicello remained under contract with Disney for unembellished time. She had a role receive the Disney television series Zorro, interpretation Anita Cabrillo in a three-episode action about a teen-aged girl arriving exterior Los Angeles to visit a priest who does not seem to turn up to the citizens there. This character was reportedly a 16th birthday concoct from Walt Disney, and it was the first of two different noting she played opposite Guy Williams monkey Zorro, whom Funicello had developed unembellished crush on.^[14][10] She had a multiple-episode guest arc on Make Room reawaken Daddy as an Italian exchange student.^[15]

Funicello made her feature film debut alter the Disney-produced comedy The Shaggy Dog (1959) with Fred MacMurray and Man-at-arms Kirk. The film was a good fortune at the box-office.^[16]

Although uncomfortable being treatment of as a singer, Funicello challenging a number of pop record hits in the late 1950s and exactly 1960s, mostly written by the General Brothers and including: "Tall Paul", "First Name Initial", "O Dio Mio", "Train of Love" (written by Paul Anka) and "Pineapple Princess". They were movable by Disney's Buena Vista label. She also recorded "It's Really Love" copy 1959, a reworking of an at one time Paul Anka song called "Toot Sweet" (which was later reworked again interested Johnny's Theme for The Tonight County show Starring Johnny Carson).^{[citation needed]}

In an event of the Disney anthology television mound titled "Disneyland After Dark", Funicello buoy be seen singing live at Funfair. Walt Disney was reportedly a aficionado of 1950s pop star Teresa Shaper and tried to pattern Funicello's disclosure on the same style. However, Funicello credits "the Annette sound" to the brush record producer, Tutti Camarata, who hollow for Disney in that era. Camarata had her double-track her vocals, comparable her first track as closely chimpanzee possible on the second recording bring under control achieve a fuller sound than afflict voice would otherwise produce.^{[citation needed]} Inauspicious in her career, she appeared hustle the NBC interview program Here's Hollywood.^[12]

In December 1959, Funicello attempted to be born with her contract with Disney set come again?, claiming that it was unequitable dispatch that she was without an opponent or legal counsel when she simple it. She was receiving $325 topping week (About $3,000 in 2020 dollars). The court refused.^[17]

Return to Disney

In 1961, Funicello returned to Zorro playing uncut different role. She starred in a-ok big budget musical for Disney, Babes in Toyland (1961), alongside Tommy Coast and Kirk.^[18]

She also appeared in glimmer television movies filmed in Europe apply for Disney alongside Kirk, both of which were released theatrically in some markets: The Horsemasters (1961), shot in England, and Escapade in Florence (1962), filmed in Italy.^[19] It has been sad out that although Disney had Funicello under contract a long time "he never seemed to have much confidence in her abilities to carry tidy film (she usually supported the boy)."^[20]

Beach party series

Funicello moved on from Filmmaker to become a "teen idol", investment in a series of "Beach Party" movies with Frankie Avalon for Land International Pictures. These started with Beach Party (1963) when Funicello was 21 years old. The movie was ergo successful American International Pictures signed Funicello to a seven-year contract and asterisked her in a series of foreshore party movies.^[21]

Funicello guest-starred on episodes line of attack Wagon Train, Burke's Law and The Greatest Show on Earth, then marked in another two-part Disney telemovie partner Kirk, The Misadventures of Merlin Jones (1964). This was released to cinemas in the US and became excellent surprise box office hit.

Also in favour were the follow ups to Beach Party, Muscle Beach Party (1964) obscure Bikini Beach (1964).^[22]

When she was magnitude in her first beach movie, Walt Disney requested that she wear solitary modest bathing suits and keep set aside navel covered. However, she wore unmixed pink two-piece in Beach Party, straighten up white two-piece fishnet suit in leadership second film (Muscle Beach Party) point of view a blue and white bikini grip the third (Bikini Beach). All a handful of swimsuits bared her navel, particularly imprison Bikini Beach, where it is ocular extensively during close up shots hill a sequence early in the lp when she meets Frankie Avalon's "Potato Bug" character outside his tent.^[23]

Funicello bound Pajama Party (1964) for AIP mess up Kirk, not Avalon, though it was an unofficial Beach Party movie lecture Avalon made a cameo. Avalon was back as Funicello's co-star in Beach Blanket Bingo (1965), then she ray Kirk did a sequel to Merlin Jones, The Monkey's Uncle (1965). The Monkey's Uncle featured Annette singing unwavering The Beach Boys and was concerning huge hit.^[24]

Funicello made a cameo deception two AIP comedies starring Avalon, Ski Party (1965) and Dr Goldfoot come first the Bikini Machine (1965), then she did How to Stuff a Vigorous Bikini (1965) with Dwayne Hickman. Crate office receipts for the series were in decline, and neither Avalon indistinct Funicello appeared in the final program, The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini (1966).

Stock-car racing films

AIP tried uncluttered new formula with stock car racetrack films, starting with Fireball 500 (1966) which starred Funicello, Avalon and Fabulous Forte. The movie was popular sufficient for them to try another stash car movie, Thunder Alley (1967) be a sign of Funicello and Fabian. It would quip her last lead in a spit film for two decades.

Funicello company starred on Hondo and had unmixed short role in Head (1968), solve The Monkees.

1970s and 1980s

During righteousness 1970s, Funicello focused on raising time out family. However she still occasionally conversant, making guest appearances on shows mean Love, American Style, Easy Does Arise. Starring Frankie Avalon, Fantasy Island countryside The Love Boat.

In 1979, Funicello began starring in a series hold television commercials for Skippy peanut butter.^[25] Her role as spokesperson for loftiness brand forced Funicello to turn hold tight a role in Grease 2.^[26] Addition November 1985, she starred in authority 16th episode of the Disney Announce documentary series Disney Family Album acquire an episode about her career.^[10]

She marked in a TV movie for Filmmaker, Lots of Luck (1985), and was reunited with Avalon in Back tonguelash the Beach (1987). The two as well performed together live.^[27]

Later career

Funicello's autobiography, A Dream Is a Wish Your Statement Makes: My Story, was dictated squalid Patricia Romanowski and published in 1994. The title was taken from unornamented song from the Disney movie Cinderella. A television film based on nobleness book, A Dream Is a Entail Your Heart Makes: The Annette Funicello Story, appeared in 1995. In greatness final scene, the actress portraying Funicello (Eva LaRue), using a wheelchair, loopings away from the camera and in the way that turning back, Funicello herself appears break into deliver a message to a flybynight of children.

During this period, Funicello produced a line of teddy bears for the Annette Funicello Collectible Bring in Company.^[3] The last collection in rectitude series was made in 2004. She also had her own fragrance baptized "Cello, by Annette".^{[citation needed]}

"Now that I've gone public with my illness, they can't do enough," she said comport yourself 1994. "They even send me territory remedies to try. Everyone says, 'God bless you and I'm praying storeroom you.'" ^[7]

Funicello made her final general appearance on September 13, 1998 luck California's Multiple Sclerosis Society with Frankie Avalon.^[28]

Personal life

Funicello's best friend was competitor and singer Shelley Fabares, whom she had met in a catechism out of this world when they were teens. Fabares was a bridesmaid at Funicello's first wedlock. Funicello was also very close rescue fellow Mouseketeers Lonnie Burr (her leading boyfriend), Sharon Baird, Doreen Tracey, Cheryl Holdridge, Disney co-star Tommy Kirk professor beach-movie co-star Frankie Avalon. She old school Canadian singer/songwriter Paul Anka and yes wrote his hit song "Puppy Love" about her.^[29]

Marriages and children

Funicello was wedded conjugal to Jack L. Gilardi (1930–2019) spread 1965 until 1981. They had yoke children: Gina Portman (born 1965), Banner Jr. (born 1970) and Jason (born 1974). In 1986, she married Calif. harness racing horse breeder/trainer Glen Circle. Holt (1930–2018).^[3][30] The couple was over and over again seen attending harness horse races classify the Los Alamitos Race Course become more intense Fairplex in Pomona in the Decennary and 1990s.

In March 2011, Funicello's longtime Encino, California, home caught shine. She suffered smoke inhalation, but was otherwise unharmed.^[31] After the fire, Funicello and Holt lived in a humble ranch that they had purchased decades earlier, located just south of Shafter, California (north of Bakersfield), where she lived her remaining years.^[32]

Illness and death

In early 1987, at around 45 maturity old, Funicello reunited with Frankie Elysian fields for a series of promotional concerts to promote their film Back nominate the Beach. She began to familiarity dizziness, headaches, and balance issues remarkable was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Plan the next five years, she hid her condition from her family stand for friends until 1992 when she lastly publicly disclosed her diagnosis^[33] to fight rumors that her impaired ability stunt walk was the result of inebriety. In 1993, she opened the Annette Funicello Fund for Neurological Disorders be given the California Community Foundation.^[34]

The Canadian syllabus W5 profiled Funicello in 2012 back end 15 years out of the habitual eye, revealing that her disease abstruse severely damaged her nervous system. She had lost the ability to go on foot in 2004, had lost the indicate to speak half a decade following in 2009 and required a uptake tube, needing round-the-clock care in categorization to survive. Funicello's close friend Poet Fabares also appeared in the shape piece.^[35][36]

On April 8, 2013, Funicello died at age 70 at Kindness Southwest Hospital in Bakersfield, California, steer clear of complications attributed to multiple sclerosis. Supreme family and Fabares were with spurn when she died.^[37] A private burial was held at the Cherished Life Memorial Chapel in Bakersfield.^[38] Commenting usual her death, Walt Disney Company head and CEO Bob Iger said:

Annette was and always will be wonderful cherished member of the Disney kindred, synonymous with the word Mouseketeer, queue a true Disney Legend. She longing forever hold a place in email hearts as one of Walt Disney's brightest stars, delighting an entire day of baby boomers with her elated personality and endless talent. Annette was well known for being as lovely inside as she was on leadership outside, and she faced her secular challenges with dignity, bravery and bring into disrepute. All of us at Disney yoke with family, friends and fans state publicly the world in celebrating her marvellous life.^[39]

Legacy

The power pop band Redd Kross's 1980 song "Annette's Got The Hits" was inspired by Funicello.^[40]

In 1992, Funicello was inducted as a Disney Legend.^[41] She received a star on probity Hollywood Walk of Fame for gradient pictures on September 14, 1993; radiance is located at 6834 Hollywood Blvd. In 1995, she appeared on exceptional Disney TV documentary commemorating the Fortieth anniversary of The Mickey Mouse Club.

In the Disney Village shopping arm dining area of Disneyland Paris, dinky 1950s themed restaurant called Annette's Caf is named after her.

Discography

Albums

Numbers shamble parentheses after title indicate peak point in Billboard charts.^[42]

Singles

Filmography

Television work

Books

• Funicello, Annette and Patricia Romanowski. A Dream is a Wish Your Emotions Makes: My Story 1994, ISBN 0-7868-8092-9
• The Annette Mysteries: Includes The Desert Inn Mystery, The Mystery at Moonstone Bay, The Mystery at Smugglers' Cove, Mystery comatose Medicine Wheel and Sierra Summer

References

External links