Remembering Annette Funicello

Iconic actress Annette Funicello has died.

The former Mouseketeer and beach baby died Monday at age 70 from Multiple Sclerosis-related complications, “a disease she battled for over 25 years,” said Disney in a statement.

"We are so sorry to lose Mother," her three children said. "She is no longer suffering anymore and is now dancing in heaven. We love and will miss her terribly."

She leaves behind Gina, Jack Jr. and Jason from her first marriage to Jack Gilardi.

Funicello was one of the original 1950’s “Mickey Mouse Club” members, hand-picked by Walt Disney himself when she was just 13.

In the 1960’s she began starring in “Beach Party” films. Funicello in a bikini singing alongside Frankie Avalon has become a classic American image. She appeared in "Beach Party" (1963), "Muscle Beach Party" (1964), "Bikini Beach" (1964), "Beach Blanket Bingo" (1965), and "How to Stuff a Wild Bikini" (1965).

"We have lost one of America's sweethearts for generations upon generations," Avalon said of her death. "I am fortunate enough to have been friends with Annette as well as appear in many films, TV and appearances with her. She will live on forever, I will miss her and the world will miss her."

Funicello was diagnosed in 1987 but kept her illness under wraps until 1992, when she established The Annette Funicello Research Fund for Neurological Diseases.

Richard Sherman, an Oscar-winning composer who worked with Funicello, said of the loss:

“Annette’s sweet, unassuming spirit, her love of people, and her capacity to exude kindness and good feelings to everyone she met was part of her beautiful charisma. Because the songs we wrote for her brought us to the attention of Walt, Bob and I always referred to Annette as our ‘lucky star.’ My wife, Elizabeth, joins me in sending a heartfelt aloha with much love to our ‘Pineapple Princess.’

Lori Loughlin, who co-starred with her in “Back to the Beach,” added:

“Annette Funicello was really a wonderful person. I enjoyed working with her immensely and found her to be kind and down-to-earth. She faced her illness with courage and never wanted anyone to have pity on her. I have a fond memory of having lunch at her home many years ago and when she opened the cabinet to get something, there were rows of Skippy peanut butter. She was truly the embodiment of the friendly, all-American girl that we all loved to watch in the beach movies.”