Funicello, Annette (1942–)

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Funicello, Annette (1942–)

American tv and screen actress. Name variations: Annette. Born Annette Joanne Funicello, Oct 22, 1942, in Utica, NY; m. Jack Gilardi, 1965 (div. 1981); m. Glen Holt, 1986; children: (1st m.) 3.

Made tv debut as mouseketeer Annette on "The Mickey Mouse Club" (1955); made film debut in Johnny Tramaine(1957), followed by The Shaggy Dog, Babes in Toyland, Beach Party, Muscle Beach Party, Bikini Beach, How to Stuff a Wild Bikini, Thunder Alley and Back to the Beach, among others; diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS, 1987).

See also the tv-movie "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes: The Annette Funicello Story" (1995), starring Eva LaRue.