has died. Annette Funicello was hand-picked by Walt Disney at age 12 to become a Mouseketeer after he saw her dance in a production of “Swan Lake.”
She had been in poor health for years due to multiple sclerosis and died at a hospital in Bakersfield at age 70.
As a teenager, Annette proved to be among the most popular and talented kids on “The Mickey Mouse Club,” and went on to make movies such as “Beach Blanket Bingo” and “The Monkey’s Uncle” in the ’60s and ’70s.
Among the original Mouseketeers paying tribute to Annette Funicello today is Lonnie Burr, who joins KCRW’s Steve Chiotakis with this remembrance.
Here’s an episode of “The Mickey Mouse Club” with Annette Funicello: