Mickey Mouse Club Icon Annette Funicello Dies

Actress-singer-Mickey Mouse Club icon Annette Funicello has died from complications related to multiple sclerosis. She was 70.

Disney confirmed her passing Monday on Twitter.

In 1955, a then-12-year-old Funicello was cast as one of Disney’s Mouseketeers (she was reportedly handpicked by Walt himself.) She later attained teen idol status alongside Frankie Avalon in the “Beach Party” movie franchise.

Funicello went public with her MS diagnosis in 1992.

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