Who is Annette Funicello? See Net-worth, Quote, Awards, Fact, Wiki

Annette Joanne Funicello Wiki Biography

Annette Joanne Funicello was an actress and a singer, born on 22nd October 1942 in Utica, New York State USA, and rose to stardom as one of the most popular Mouseketeers of the original ’’Mickey Mouse Club“, and continued her career as a successful singer with singles such as ’’Tall Paul“ and ’’Pineapple Princess“. She also had a notable acting career, popularizing the ’’Beach Party“ genre in the mid- ’60s. Annette passed away in 2013.

Have you ever wondered how rich Annette Funicello was? According to sources, it has been estimated that Funicello’s overall net worth was $15 million, accumulated thanks to a successful career in both acting and singing.

Annette Funicello Net Worth $15 Million

Born to Italian Americans in New York, Annette grew up in Los Angeles as her parents moved there when she was four years old. Funicello drew public attention as a child, when she appeared in Walt Disney’s production of ’’Swan Lake“ after which she was invited to audition for ’’The Mickey Mouse Club“ children’s show. She was accepted and quickly became its most popular cast member, first appearing on the show in October 1955, at the age of 13. This turned out to be her big entrance to the entertainment industry, as she continued her career under contract to Disney even after leaving the show. She was next seen on TV shows like ’’Zorro“(1957) and ’’The Nine Lives of Elfego Baca“(1958). In addition to this, Funicello starred in several Disney feature films, such as ’’The Shaggy Dog“(1959), ’’Babes in Toyland“(1961), ’’The Misadventures of Merlin Jones“(1964) and ’’The Monkey’s Uncle“(1965). As a young woman, Annette also gained popularity for starring in a series of beach party films next to Frankie Avalon. including ’’Beach Party“(1963), ’’Muscle Beach Party“(1964), ’’Bikini Beach“(1964), ’’Beach Blanket Bingo“(1965) and ’’How to Stuff a Wild Bikini“(1965), all contributing to her net worth .

It was in this period of time that Funicello also launched her singing career. She recorded several Top 40 pop singles such as ’’First Name Initial“, ’’Tall Paul“, ’’How Will I Know My Love“ and ’’Pineapple Princess“.

In her later career, Annette re-established her cooperation with Avalon to co-produce and star in Paramount’s ’’Back to the Beach“(1987). Two years later, the duo started a nostalgic concert tour, performing the hit singles from the ’60s.

When it comes to her private life, Funicello married twice. Her first marriage was to Jack Gilardi from 1965 to 1981, with whom she had three children. In 1986, Annette married Glen Holt, and the two resided in Encino, a small neighborhood outside San Fernando Valley. In 1992, Funicello disclosed she had been fighting multiple sclerosis since 1987. This is one of the reasons she founded the Annette Funicello Teddy Bear Company to assist in fundraising against such neurological disorders. She died at the age of 70 at Mercy Southwest Hospital. on 8th April 2013, in Bakersfield, California.



Full Name Annette Funicello
Net Worth $15 Million
Date Of Birth October 22, 1942
Died April 8, 2013, Bakersfield, California, United States
Place Of Birth Utica, New York, U.S.
Height 5′ 3″ (1.6 m)
Profession Actress, Soundtrack, Writer
Nationality American
Spouse Glen Holt (m. 1986–2013), Jack Gilardi (m. 1965–1981)
Children Gina Portman, Jason Gilardi, Jack Gilardi Jr.
Parents Joseph Funicello, Virginia Jeanne Funicello
Siblings Michael Funicello, Joey Funicello
IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002088/
Movies Beach Party, Beach Blanket Bingo, Muscle Beach Party, Bikini Beach, Back to the Beach, How to Stuff a Wild Bikini, Babes in Toyland, The Shaggy Dog, Pajama Party, Ski Party, Thunder Alley, The Monkey’s Uncle, Fireball 500, The Misadventures of Merlin Jones, Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine, The H…
TV Shows The Mickey Mouse Club, The Danny Thomas Show, Walt Disney Presents: Annette, Spin and Marty, Adventure in Dairyland, Make Room for Granddaddy, The Further Adventures of Spin and Marty, Easy Does It… Starring Frankie Avalon, The New Adventures of Spin and Marty, The Music Shop
Trademark
1 Her sweet smile.
2 Beach Party Movies
3 Mickey Mouse Club Mouseketeer
4 Disney movies
Quote
1 The Disney studio wasn’t like other studios. It was just like home – it always had a small-town, family atmosphere.
Fact
1 Her funeral was conducted in a private ceremony at Cherished Memories Memorial Chapel in Bakersfield, California.
2 She was cremated. Her ashes were given to her family.
3 When asked in a 20/20 interview how she got the role as a mouseketeer on the Mickey Mouse Club program, she replied: “I was the ethnic one. Everybody else looked like I wanted to look my entire life: blue eyed and freckle faced”.
4 She was 17 years old at the time the Sweetheart of the Valley Mayors honor was given to her. It came about when “Television’s Singing Troubadour, Jimmie Jackson” arranged for her to be given the designation of the “Sweetheart of the San Fernando Valley Mayors” at the May 2, 1957, grand opening of his new Tambour restaurant (tambour is African for “Drum”) in Tarzana. Jackson was a longtime friend of Annette’s parents Joe and Virginia, and wanted to do something special for their daughter in connection with his restaurant’s opening. Jackson called together some of his old friends and former guests from his Hollywood television show, “Memory Lane” who were now “Honorary” mayors of various small towns in the San Fernando Valley. Covering the event was the “Valley News and Green Sheet”–now “The Valley News”–and the Los Angeles Times. Annette was escorted by film and television performer, J.P. Sloane. Annette would also appear with Jackson and Sloane five years later in a television special titled, An Evening at the Inn (1962).
5 Died four days after film critic Roger Ebert. Both were unable to eat, drink and talk for their last years. They were also born in 1942 and died aged 70.
6 Annette still lives in her first house a few miles from where she grew up. She has a collectable bear business, a line of perfume and she started the Annette Funicello Fund for Neurological Disorders. [2006]
7 Her home suffered major fire damage and wheelchair-bound Annette and her husband were hospitalized and treated for smoke inhalation. [March 2011]
8 She spent her final years mostly confined to a wheelchair that was specially designed by her horse-trainer husband with a seat from a harness-racing sulky.
9 Her biggest hit single was “Tall Paul” (#7 US Pop 1959). She had later success with “Pineapple Princess” which peaked at #11 US Pop, in the summer of 1960.
10 Sister of Michael Funicello and Joey Funicello.
11 When she began working for the Disney studio, she suggested to her employer that she change her Italian family name of Funicello to something more “American”, as was often done in those days. Walt Disney vehemently argued against this idea, saying that her own name was actually an asset because it was so unique that no one who heard it would ever be able to forget it. He convinced the young actress to retain it.
12 Paul Anka wrote the song “Puppy Love” about his romance with her.
13 Is portrayed by Eva LaRue in A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes: The Annette Funicello Story (1995).
14 In 1977, Annette played the Blue Fairy in Disneylands “Main Street Electrical Parade”
15 When she was cast in her first beach movie, Walt Disney asked her to not wear a bikini and instead wear a one-piece swimsuit because she had an image to uphold. She agreed.
16 Her favorite TV series was Zorro (1957). For her birthday one year, Walt Disney (who knew she was a fan of the show) arranged to have her guest star on one episode.
17 When she made the various beach pictures for American International Pictures (AIP), she was still technically under contract to Disney, doing the AIP films on a loan-out basis, something of which Walt Disney always emphatically reminded her.
18 Daughter of Joe Funicello and Virginia Funicello, mother of Gina Portman, Jack Gilardi Jr. and Jason Gilardi, mother-in-law of John Portman.
19 Her son, Jason Gilardi, is the drummer for the rock band Caroline’s Spine, which was once signed to the Disney-owned label Hollywood Records. He also appears as himself in her biopic, A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes: The Annette Funicello Story (1995).
20 Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1987.
21 Underwent brain surgery to slow down the tremors which result from her MS. Is recovering at home. [November 1999]

Actress

Title Year Status Character
A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes: The Annette Funicello Story 1995 TV Movie Annette Funicello
Back to the Beach 1987 Annette
Growing Pains 1986 TV Series Mrs. Hinkley
Lots of Luck 1985 TV Movie Julie Maris
The Love Boat 1978-1982 TV Series Kate Ladell / Roberta Roberts
Fantasy Island 1979-1981 TV Series Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Drake / Mary Ann Carlin / Edna Kamberley
Frankie and Annette: The Second Time Around 1978 TV Movie Annette
Easy Does It… Starring Frankie Avalon 1976 TV Series Special Guest Star
Love, American Style 1971 TV Series Millie (segment “Love and the Tuba”)
Head 1968 Minnie
Hondo 1967 TV Series Anne Williams / Anne
Thunder Alley 1967 Francie Madsen
Fireball 500 1966 Jane Harris
Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine 1965 Girl in Dungeon
How to Stuff a Wild Bikini 1965 Dee Dee
Ski Party 1965 Prof. Sonya Roberts (uncredited)
The Monkey’s Uncle 1965 Jennifer
Beach Blanket Bingo 1965 Dee Dee
Burke’s Law 1963-1965 TV Series Anna Najensky / Dorrie Marsh
Pajama Party 1964 Connie
Bikini Beach 1964 Dee Dee
Muscle Beach Party 1964 Dee Dee
The Greatest Show on Earth 1964 TV Series Melanie Keller
The Misadventures of Merlin Jones 1964 Jennifer (as Annette)
Wagon Train 1963 TV Series Rose Pulaski
Beach Party 1963 Dolores
Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color 1959-1962 TV Series Annette Aliotto / Dinah Wilcox / Constancia de la Torre / …
Babes in Toyland 1961 Mary Contrary (as Annette)
Zorro 1959-1961 TV Series Anita Cabrillo Constancia de la Torre
Make Room for Daddy 1959 TV Series Gina Minelli
The Shaggy Dog 1959 Allison D’Allessio
Annette 1958 TV Series Annette McCloud
The New Adventures of Spin and Marty 1957 TV Series Annette
Further Adventures of Spin and Marty 1956 TV Series Annette

Soundtrack

Title Year Status Character
Back to the Beach Boys 2012 TV Series short performer – 1 episode
California’s Golden Parks 2009 TV Series documentary performer – 1 episode
The Boys: The Sherman Brothers’ Story 2009 Documentary performer: “Tall Paul”, “Wild Willie”, “Pineapple Princess”, “Strummin’ Song”, “The Monkey’s Uncle”
Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The Early Years (1955-1970) 2000 TV Movie documentary performer: “Beach Party”
Full House 1991 TV Series performer – 1 episode
Good Morning, Vietnam 1987 performer: “Beach Blanket Bingo”
Back to the Beach 1987 performer: “As Beauty Does”, “Jamaica Ska”
The Best of Bandstand: The Superstars 1987 Video short performer: “Tall Paul”
DTV: Golden Oldies 1984 Video performer: “Pineapple Princess”, “Tall Paul”
Disney Dimanche 1979 TV Series performer – 1 episode
Good Old Days Part II 1978 TV Special performer: “You’ve Got Personality”, “Breaking Up is Hard to Do”, “I’m Leaving it All Up To You”, “I Want to Hold Your Hand”, “My Boyfriend’s Back”
Thunder Alley 1967 performer: “When You Get What You Want”, “What’s A Girl To Do”
Fireball 500 1966 performer: “Step Right Up”
How to Stuff a Wild Bikini 1965 performer: “Better Be Ready”, “The Perfect Boy”, “If It’s Gonna Happen” – uncredited
The Monkey’s Uncle 1965 performer: “The Monkey’s Uncle”
Beach Blanket Bingo 1965 performer: “Beach Blanket Bingo”, “I Think You Think”, “I’ll Never Change Him” – uncredited
Pajama Party 1964 performer: “It’s That Kind of Day”, “There Has to Be a Reason”, “Pajama Party”, “Stuffed Animal”
Primitive Love 1964 performer: “Date Night in Hawaii” – as Annette / performer: “Date Night”
Bikini Beach 1964 performer: “Because You’re You”, “This Time It’s Love”
Muscle Beach Party 1964 performer: “Surfer’s Holiday”, “A Girl Needs a Boy”
Celebrity Party 1963 TV Movie performer: “Promise Me Anything Give Me Love”
Beach Party 1963 performer: “Beach Party”, “Promise Me Anything Give Me Love”, “Treat Him Nicely”
Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color 1962 TV Series performer – 1 episode
Babes in Toyland 1961 performer: “Just A Whisper Away”, “I Can’t Do The Sum”, “Go To Sleep”, “Toyland”, “Workshop Song”, “Just A Toy”
The Parent Trap 1961 performer: “The Parent Trap”
Make Room for Daddy 1959 TV Series performer – 2 episodes

Writer

Title Year Status Character
A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes: The Annette Funicello Story 1995 TV Movie book “A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes”

Producer

Title Year Status Character
Back to the Beach 1987 co-executive producer

Thanks

Title Year Status Character
Teen Beach Movie 2013 TV Movie in memory of Disney Legend: the world’s most beloved beach movie star
Edición Especial Coleccionista 2013 TV Series in memory of – 1 episode
Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine 1965 special thanks

Self

Title Year Status Character
Biography 1996 TV Series documentary Herself
Tom Snyder 1994 TV Series Herself
Sally Jessy Raphael 1994 TV Series Herself
Entertainment Tonight 1984-1993 TV Series Herself
Vicki! 1992-1993 TV Series Herself
The Oprah Winfrey Show 1992 TV Series Herself
20/20 1992 TV Series documentary Herself
Good Morning America 1979-1992 TV Series Herself
Idols 1991 TV Movie documentary Herself
One on One with John Tesh 1991 TV Series Herself
The Best of Disney: 50 Years of Magic 1991 TV Movie documentary Herself
Full House 1991 TV Series Herself
The Joan Rivers Show 1990 TV Series Herself
The All New Mickey Mouse Club 1990 TV Series Herself
U.S.A. Today: The Television Series 1989 TV Series Herself
Live with Kelly and Michael 1989 TV Series Herself
Troop Beverly Hills 1989 Herself
The 6th Annual American Cinema Awards 1989 TV Special Herself
Christmas at Pee Wee’s Playhouse 1988 TV Movie Herself
Mickey’s 60th Birthday 1988 TV Movie Herself
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson 1967-1987 TV Series Herself / Herself – Guest
Today 1987 TV Series Herself
Friday Night 1987 TV Series Herself
Attitudes 1987 TV Series Herself
Fame, Fortune and Romance 1987 TV Series Herself
The Disney Family Album 1985 TV Series documentary Herself
Disneyland’s 30th Anniversary Celebration 1985 TV Movie documentary Herself
Nashville Now 1984 TV Series Herself
Hour Magazine 1980-1982 TV Series Herself
The John Davidson Show 1980-1982 TV Series Herself
The 33rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards 1981 TV Special Herself – Presenter: Outstanding Directing / Writing in a Comedy Series
Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color 1955-1980 TV Series Herself / Herself – Performer / Herself – Mouseketeer / …
Men Who Rate a 10 1980 TV Special Herself
Kraft Salutes Disneyland’s 25th Anniversary 1980 TV Special Herself
The Arthur Godfrey Special 1979 TV Movie Herself
Dinah! 1975-1979 TV Series Herself / Herself – Guest
Good Old Days Part II 1978 TV Special Herself – Co-Host
Mickey’s 50 1978 Documentary Herself
ABC’s Silver Anniversary Celebration 1978 TV Special Herself
ABC 25th Anniversary 1978 TV Movie Herself
Circus of the Stars #2 1977 TV Special Herself (uncredited)
Good Old Days 1977 TV Movie Herself
American Bandstand’s 25th Anniversary 1977 TV Special Herself
The New Mickey Mouse Club 1977 TV Series Herself
The Captain and Tennille 1976 TV Series Herself
The Mike Douglas Show 1964-1976 TV Series Herself – Actress / Herself / Herself – Singer / …
Tomorrow Coast to Coast 1975 TV Series Herself
Walt Disney: A Golden Anniversary Salute 1973 TV Special Herself
The Wizard of Odds 1973 TV Series Herself
Dinah’s Place 1973 TV Series Herself
The Mouse Factory 1972-1973 TV Series Herself
American Bandstand’s 20th Anniversary 1973 TV Movie Herself
The John Byner Comedy Hour 1972 TV Series Herself
The Grand Opening of Walt Disney World 1971 TV Movie documentary Herself
The Merv Griffin Show 1970 TV Series Herself
It Takes Two 1969 TV Series Panelist
The Woody Woodbury Show 1967 TV Series Herself
The Hollywood Palace 1967 TV Series Herself
Everybody’s Talking 1967 TV Series Herself
Malibu U. 1967 TV Series Herself
Dateline: Hollywood 1967 TV Series Herself
The Hollywood Squares 1967 TV Series Herself
The Pat Boone Show 1967 TV Series Herself
The Ed Sullivan Show 1966 TV Series Singer
Hullabaloo 1965 TV Series Herself – Co-Host
The Bob Hope Show 1964 TV Series Herself
The Bob Hope Thanksgiving Special 1964 TV Special Herself
The Tennessee Ernie Ford Hour 1964 TV Special Herself
Juke Box Jury 1960-1964 TV Series Herself – Panellist
Celebrity Party 1963 TV Movie Herself
New American Bandstand 1965 1959-1963 TV Series Herself / Herself – Musical Guest
Fractured Flickers 1963 TV Series Herself
The 15th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards 1963 TV Special Herself (as Annette)
The Tonight Show 1962 TV Series Herself
An Evening at the Inn 1962 TV Movie Herself
Here’s Hollywood 1961 TV Series Herself
The 33rd Annual Academy Awards 1961 TV Special Herself – Accepting Juvenile Award for Hayley Mills
The Dick Clark Show 1959-1960 TV Series Herself
About Faces 1960 TV Series Herself
Gala Day at Disneyland 1960 Short Herself
It Could Be You 1959 TV Series Herself
The Juke Box Jury 1959 TV Series Herself
The KPIX Dance Party 1959 TV Series Herself – Guest
The Mickey Mouse Club 1955-1958 TV Series Herself
Adventure in Dairyland 1956 TV Series Herself
3D Jamboree 1956 Short Herself

Archive Footage

Title Year Status Character
My Music: Summer, Surf & Beach Music We Love 2016 TV Movie Herself
Entertainment Tonight 2008-2015 TV Series Herself
The 86th Annual Academy Awards 2014 TV Special Herself – Actress (In Memoriam)
The 56th Annual Grammy Awards 2014 TV Special Herself – Actress / Singer / Mouseketeer (In Memoriam)
20th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards 2014 TV Special Herself – In Memoriam
The 65th Primetime Emmy Awards 2013 TV Special Herself – Actor (In Memoriam)
Plages des 60’s 2010 TV Mini-Series documentary Dee Dee
The Age of Believing: The Disney Live Action Classics 2008 TV Movie documentary Mary Contrary
Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project 2007 Documentary DeeDee
Disneyland: The First 50 Magical Years 2005 Documentary short Herself (uncredited)
The Mickey Mouse Club Story 1995 TV Special documentary Herself
The Best of Bandstand: The Superstars 1987 Video short Herself (As Annette)
The Walt Disney Comedy and Magic Revue 1985 Video short Mary Contrary
DTV: Golden Oldies 1984 Video Herself
Elfego Baca: Six Gun Law 1966 Chiquita

Won Awards

Year Award Ceremony Nomination Movie
1993 Star on the Walk of Fame Walk of Fame Motion Picture Awarded on September 14, 1993 at 6834 Hollywood Blvd.

Nominated Awards

Year Award Ceremony Nomination Movie
1965 Golden Laurel Laurel Awards Musical Performance, Female Muscle Beach Party (1964)

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