Annette Funicello Quotes

United States, Actress
October 22, 1942 – April, 8, 2013.

Annette Joanne Funicello (October 22, 1942 – April 8, 2013) was an American actress and singer. Funicello began her professional career as a child performer at the age of twelve. She rose to prominence as one of the most popular Mouseketeers on the original Mickey Mouse Club. As a teenager, she transitioned to a successful career as a singer with the pop singles "O Dio Mio", "Tall Paul" and "Pineapple Princess", as well as establishing herself as a film actress, popularizing the successful "Beach Party" genre alongside co-star Frankie Avalon during the mid-1960s.

Also known as Singer

Animation did not become the dominant form of children's television until the '60s.

Annette Funicello
- Children
The mere thought of divorce terrified me. To me, divorce symbolized failure.

Annette Funicello
- Failure
- Divorce

At the beginning of 1955 only about 60 percent of American homes had TVs.

Annette Funicello
- American
- Beginning
Then, as now, the Disney studio buzzed with activity. You had a strong impression of being at the center of something very exciting.

Annette Funicello
- Strong
- Disney
Whatever ambivalence I felt about my own career, Frankie more than made up for it with his ambition and tenacity.

Annette Funicello
- Up
- Career
- Ambition
I have always thought of Walt Disney as my second father.

Annette Funicello
- Father
- Disney
I've always found Mr. Disney to be somewhat of a shy person, a kid at heart.

Annette Funicello
- Heart
- Disney
In 1993 my birthday present was a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame.

Annette Funicello
- Present
- Star
- Birthday

When you are young and healthy, it never occurs to you that in a single second your whole life could change.

Annette Funicello
- Life
- Single
As I grew older, I came to feel more responsible for any hardship or trouble my career caused my family.

Annette Funicello
- Family
- Career
Most original viewers of the Mickey Mouse Club didn't face the crush of family and social problems children have today.

Annette Funicello
- Children
- Family
- Today
For me, the wheelchair symbolizes disability in a way a cane does not.

Annette Funicello
Of all the roles I've played, none has been as fulfilling as being a mother.

Annette Funicello
- Mother
Growing up in public is especially hard sometimes.

Annette Funicello
- Up
- Growing

To some, the '50s were a decade marked by the banal, the predictable.

Annette Funicello
Mickey Mouse... is always there-he's part of my life. That really is something not everyone can call their claim to fame.

Annette Funicello
- Life
Of the many guests we welcomed to the Mickey Mouse Club, my absolute favorites were the Lennon Sisters.

Annette Funicello
I still don't know precisely why The Mickey Mouse Club ended when it did.

Annette Funicello
- Why
Mr. Disney believed everyone was still a child deep inside.

Annette Funicello
- Deep
- Disney
As I travel across the country speaking about MS, perhaps I can offer others comfort and hope.

Annette Funicello
- Country
- Hope
- Travel

The original Mickey Mouse Club, established in the '30s, was designed to attract children to movie theaters.

Annette Funicello
- Children
- Movie
Watching television in those days was not the same experience as it is today. After years of listening to radio, we found the black-and-white images mesmerizing.

Annette Funicello
- Experience
- Today
- Black
Whatever dreams I have wished have come true.

Annette Funicello
- True
I was not prepared to live as a single parent.

Annette Funicello
- Live
- Single