Apr 09, 20 remembering annette funicello, americas mouseketeer handpicked by walt disney to be one of the original mouseketeers, annette funicello was americas girl next door. Funicello began her professional career as a child performer at the age of twelve. Annette funicello, who died from complications of multiple sclerosis this week, turned to a controversial alternative treatment near the end of her life in which the veins of her neck were widened to improve blood flow. Former mouseketeer and iconic movie star annette funicello stunned her fans when she announced in 1992 she had multiple sclerosis. Beloved disney star annette funicello announced she was battling multiple sclerosis in 1992. Annettes discussed her diagnosis with ms publicly in 1992. The annette funicello story 1995 costarring her good friend, shelley fabares. Her life with ms complete was filmed six months before her death and showed the brutal effects that ppms inflicted on her. Apr 11, 20 annette funicello, the disney mouseketeer and also frankies beach blanket sweetheart, passed away this week at the age of 70, and the headlines are saying she died of complications from ms. In 1993, she started the annette funicello fund for neurological disorders at the california community foundation. On april 8, 20, annette funicello, one of disneys most popular 20th century icons, passed away after a 25 year struggle with multiple sclerosis ms.
Move over, nancy drew, theres a new sleuth in town. Annette shares he highs and lows and the book is not all fluff as some would believe. The disease can also cause bladder and bowel dysfunction, memory and attention. She lives each day with the hope that there will be a cure for ms. In 1992, funicello announced that she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis back in 1987. Funicello won americas heart on television in the mickey mouse. April 8, 2017 marked the fourth anniversary of the death of annette funicello, a mid20 th century disney icon who died at the age of 70 after a twentyfive year battle with ms. Former mouseketeer and iconic movie star annette funicello. I absolutely love annette funicello and am so glad we had such a fabulous role model as children and young women. Go from annette funicello part 1 to part 2 go back to famous people with ms dear friends, life in spite of ms is a participant in the amazon services llc associates program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to. Annette funicellos desperate lastditch ms treatment. Funicello was a respected advocate for multiple sclerosis awareness and research, a disease she lived with since her.
Annette funicello battling new health crisis americas sweetheart annette funicello is facing two devastating new health crises shes losing her vision and her voice. She felt it necessary to go public to combat rumors that her impaired ability to walk was the result of alcoholism. April 8, 2018, marked the 5th anniversary of her demise. Remembering annette funicello, americas mouseketeer. Annettes career as an actress, singer and dancer was followed by millions of fans around the world. The annette funicello story, 1995 after going public with her ms diagnosis, funicello released a memoir recounting her life and career. Annette funicello personal property frozen artist signed book.
Our history annette first noticed her ms symptoms in 1987 when she was making the movie back to the beach, a friendly spoof of her early sandandsurf. Mid oct 2012 passed april 8th 20 youtube the gruesome case of the papin sisters duration. The annette funicello research fund for neurological diseases is dedicated to funding research into the cause, treatment, and cure of multiple sclerosis and other neurological diseases. Ms symptoms often begin with vision problems, fatigue, numbness and tingling, dizziness, and balance problems. But in 1987 she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and the latter part of the book is a moving account of her attempt to come to terms with the debilitating. A television film based on the book, a dream is a wish your heart makes. In 1992, she reentered public life to share her battle with multiple sclerosis. Annette funicello battling new health crisis multiple sclerosis. Consisting of a book, a website, apparel, and an iphone app these elements work together to bring more attention to the disease, teach people, and create a strong community. All of the funds collected through the annette funicello multiple sclerosis group are put to good use in researching ms as much as possible and performing clinical trials. May 01, 1994 i mainly picked up this book to read about how annette funicello lived and delt with her ms. W5 takes an exclusive, indepth look at the effects multiple sclerosis has had on americas sweetheart, annette funicello, since being forced to retire from public life nearly 15 yrs ago.
Apr 09, 20 but when the show told the story of annette funicellos twoandahalf decade battle with a particularly nasty type of multiple sclerosis, the network found itself balancing heartbreaking story. Apr 08, 20 annette funicello, who first gained fame as a 12yearold mousekeeter on disneys the mickey mouse club in the 1950s and then starred opposite frankie avalon in a series of musical beach. Although she was diagnosed with chronic progressive ms today we call it. Seven years ago, i was diagnosed with multiple sclerosisan often debilitating neurological disorder that causes vision problems, muscle weakness and poor coordination. She was hesitant to disclose her illness because she was afraid people wouldnt. Unbeknownst to annette at that time, this was ultimately to be her final role. She rose to prominence as one of the most popular mouseketeers on the original mickey mouse club. I just know that if you use facebook and know anyone else with multiple sclerosis you may have seen posts stating that march is multiple sclerosis awareness month.
In this touching memoir, annette funicello tells us that, despite it all, life is more perfect than shed ever dreamed it might be and once again proves to be americas sweetheart. For those of you born after 1957, hers might be a faintly familiar celebrity name among several who went public with their ms diagnoses such as richard cohen, teri garr, jack osborne, alan and david osmond, richard pryor, ann romney, jamielynn sigler, clay walker, and montel williams. In 1995, she appeared briefly in a television docudrama based on her book. She doesnt want to be treated like an invalid or have people feel pity for her.
Annette shares her flaws as well as her wonderful life. Annette funicello ms, multiple sclerosis, and research. She hid her condition for five years before making a formal announcement. Though he kept his multiple sclerosis diagnosis quiet for 15 years, he now speaks freely about his experience with the disease at public appearances. Annette funicello feared people wouldnt love her after. Severe ms left annette funicello unable to walk, speak today show. Annette funicello feared people wouldnt love her after ms diagnosis, claims mouseketeer mouseketeer annette funicello kept shocking secret annette funicello became americas sweetheart when she. Posts about annette funicello written by knightmist. She confided her fear to him that people might think she was drunk. The annette funicello ms funds supplied by the nonprofit organization set up in 1993 have enhanced the lives of many. Annette funicello and her courageous battle with ms. I had no idea things got so bad for annette funicello with multiple sclerosis. Annette joanne funicello october 22, 1942 april 8, 20 was an american actress and singer. Annette s career as an actress, singer and dancer was followed by millions of fans around the world.
After battling multiple sclerosis for decades, annette funicello died today from complications of the disease. Severe ms left annette funicello unable to walk, speak. Its everyones favorite mouseketeer, annette funicello. She died monday, april 8, 20, at age 70 from complications of the disease. When walt disneys mickey mouse club debuted on october 3, 1955, the world fell in love with annette funicello, the mouseketeer whose shy smile captivated the shows young viewers. She was afraid that her appearance could be interpreted as drunkenness and so instead decided to discuss her struggle with the disease publicly. Celebrities with multiple sclerosis picture famous people. Im awaiting a confirmation diagnosis for ms, but even before this discovery i adored you. The annette funicello research fund for neurological diseases is dedicated to funding grant research into the cause, treatment and cure of multiple sclerosis and other neurological diseases. The annette mysteries collections the desert inn mystery. The october 2012 canadian documentary titled annette funicello.
Annette funicello loses battle with multiple sclerosis. In the final scene, the actress portraying funicello eva larue, using a wheelchair, turns away from the camera turning back, it is funicello herself, who delivered a message to a group of children. Sep 17, 2017 it is important to point out that ppms doesnt necessarily affect people as severely as it did ms. Apr 08, 20 in 1993, funicello founded the annette funicello fund for neurological disorders. This group is known as the annette funicello research fund for neurological diseases and is managed by.
At that point, she had begun to suffer from dizziness and difficulty controlling the movements of her limbs. Annette funicello ms diagnosis in 1987, frankie avalon and annette funicello teamed up once again to film back to the beach, a movie in which they would play the role of parents to two rebellious teens. Annette funicello, beloved 1950s disney mouseketeer and 1960s movie star, died april 8th at the age of 70 from complications of multiple sclerosis. After going public with her ms diagnosis, funicello released a memoir recounting her life and career. I took a lot of comfort in knowing that she herself claimed to burry her head in the sand after the diagnosis and deal with it as i liked this book, but man do i really not know all of the actorscelebrities that she refers to throughout most of the book.
Apr 08, 20 annette funicello, an iconic former child star from disneys mickey mouse club in the 1950s, has died at the age of 70 from complications of chronic progressive multiple sclerosis, a disease she had been battling for over two decades. Peterson even shared funicello may have wanted to keep her ms diagnosis a secret to avoid hurting her fans. In 1992, funicello announced that she was suffering from multiple sclerosis. Apr 08, 20 after battling multiple sclerosis for decades, annette funicello died today from complications of the disease. Annette joanne funicello october 22, 1942 april 8, 20 was an american actress and. This book was a walk down memory lane for me and im thrilled to have it. She died monday at age 70 from complications of the disease. According to extra, funicello who went public with her ms diagnosis over two.
The annette funicello research fund for neurological diseases. A tip of the mouse ears to annette funicello, 194220. Courageous annette has battled ms for years, trying to live as normal a life as possible. Rip annette funicello april 9th, 20 by laina turner when my mom was diagnosed with ms the only two public figures who has come out about the disease at that time were richard pryor and annette funicello. Receiving a star on the hollywood walk of fame in 1993, annette was eventually wheelchairridden and went into complete seclusion. As a teenager, she transitioned to a successful career as a singer with the pop singles o dio mio, tall paul and. Annette funicello from mickey mouse to peewee herman. Stream adfree or purchase cds and mp3s now on amazon. For the final ten years of her life she couldnt walk and for the final three years couldnt talk. Annette funicello ms, multiple sclerosis, and research funds. After she outgrew her ears, her fans followed her acting and singing career as well as her personal life as a wife and mother. Annette funicello was the only mouseketeer chosen by walt, and she ended up being one of the.
More important, i started the annette funicello research fund for neurological diseases, which will help finance research into ms and related illnesses. Apr 09, 20 doctors diagnosed funicello with multiple sclerosis, a degenerative neurological disease, in 1987, but kept her failing health from her friends and family. That doesnt mean that ms actually killed her, says dr. In addition to being an actress, wife and mother to three children, ms. Sure, she can sing, she can act, she can dancebut can she solve annette and the desert inn mystery, annette and the mystery at smugglers cove, annette and the mystery at moonstone bay, and annette and the mystery at medicine wheel. Yet she was cheerful and upbeat, grappling with the disease with a courage. Within a year into her second marriage, annette was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. It was there, at the age of 12, that she was discovered by walt disney. Annette s life was filmed as a television movie with a dream is a wish your heart makes. I grew up watching the mickey mouse club weekdays after school, and her passing resonates with me on so many levels. Annette funicello and her courageous battle with ms bottom. What is the experience of reliving your past to write this book been like. He immediately chose her to be one of the original mouseketeers. After annette was diagnosed with ms, together they founded the.