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Nancy Sinatra Honors Late Friend Annette Funicello on Her “Heavenly” Birthday
Los Angeles, CA – Nancy Sinatra recently took to social media to celebrate the life and legacy of her dear friend, Annette Funicello, on what would have been Funicello’s 83rd birthday. Sinatra’s heartfelt tribute featured a series of throwback photos showcasing their enduring friendship.
On Wednesday, October 22nd, Sinatra shared an Instagram post with several vintage snapshots, marking Funicello’s “heavenly” birthday. “Today is Annette Funicello’s birthday,” Sinatra, 85, wrote in her caption, reminiscing about their shared journey.
Sinatra recounted her initial introduction to Funicello, noting it was around the time Funicello was filming Babes in Toyland with Sinatra’s then-husband, Tommy Sands. Funicello played the role of Mary Contrary in the 1961 Disney film, opposite Sands’ Tom Piper.
“One day, I invited Mr. Disney to lunch at the Disney commissary to ask him for the part of Mary Quite Contrary,” Sinatra revealed. “He told me he envisioned Annette in the role, but invited me to visit the set.”
Sinatra added, “All these years later, I can’t remember if our first meeting was during that visit or through Jack Gilardi, who was our agent and later her husband, but she and I became great friends.”
The caption concluded with a poignant message: “Her illness and death were heartbreaking. I loved her dearly, and I miss her so much.
Happy heavenly birthday, Annie. 💙”
Remembering Annette Funicello
Annette Funicello passed away in April 2013 at the age of 70 due to complications from multiple sclerosis. Funicello, who gained national fame as a Mouseketeer on the original Mickey Mouse Club, also starred in a series of popular Beach Party films with Frankie Avalon in the 1960s.
It was during the 1987 filming of Back to the Beach that Funicello first noticed issues with her balance, which ultimately led to her MS diagnosis. She initially kept her condition private but went public in 1991, becoming a vocal advocate for MS research. Funicello passed away peacefully at Mercy Southwest Hospital in Bakersfield, California, on April 8, 2013.