Annette Funicello was an American actor and singer. She was best known as one of the original “Mouseketeers” on the ‘Mickey Mouse Club.’ As a teenager, she began her career in singing and became known for her hit songs ‘Tall Paul’ and ‘Pineapple Princess.’ Born and raised in Utica, to Italian immigrant parents, Annette was a shy child. She wished to build a career in the entertainment industry and soon took to dancing and acting. In the mid-1950s, she appeared in several ‘Disney’ sketches as one of the “Mouseketeers” and gained significant fame. As an adult, Annette shredded her ‘Disney’ persona and appeared in a number of adult roles. She was best known as one of the first actors who initiated the “beach party” genre. She appeared in films such as ‘How to Stuff a Wild Bikini,’ ‘Pajama Party,’ and ‘Beach Party.’ She also continued to release her music albums from time to time. Annette was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1992 and passed away from the disease in 2013.