A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes: The Annette Funicello Story
1995
120 minutes
Overview
This highly-rated television film covers the life of American movie/TV/pop music idol Annette Funicello. The movie starts with the move of her family from New York to California, where in 1955 shy Annette becomes one of the cast of The Mickey Mouse Club. The movie covers her child stardom, her teen idol years, her singing career with big hits like "Tall Paul", her romance with Paul Anka, her classic beach party films with Frankie Avalon, and her first marriage. It also shows her large comeback in the late 1980s and her second marriage, and the day when she found out she had multiple sclerosis.
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Top Cast
Eva LaRue
Annette Funicello
Len Cariou
Walt Disney
Frank Crudele
Joe Funicello
Rob Stewart
Jack Gilardi
David Lipper
Paul Anka
Don S. Davis
Glen Holt
Louis Ferreira
Young Frankie Avalon
Andrea Nemeth
Annette Funicello (age 12-15)
Frankie Avalon
Self
Annette Funicello
Self
Linda Lavin
Virginia Funicello
Ahnee Boyce
Gina Portman
Austin Basile
Jack Gilardi Jr.
Jay Brazeau
Uncle Pete
Victoria Brooks
Jill
Stephania Ciccone
Grandma Albano
Demetri Goritsas
Jimmie Dodd
Elysa Hogg
Annette Funicello (age 4)
Gary Jones
Production Assistant
Lorraine Landry
Young Shelley Fabares
Hrothgar Mathews
Plastic Surgeon
Alexandra Purvis
Heather
Claire Riley
Neurologist
Suzanne Ristic
Aunt Irene
Greg Rogers
Al Gilbert
Nina Roman
Fortune Teller
Domenico Sansalone
Young Joey
Michelle Skalnik
Cissy
Blair Slater
Jason Gilardi
Kavan Smith
Young Dick Clark
George Touliatos
Grandpa Albano
Scott Augustine
Mouseketeer
Kim Bailey
Mouseketeer
Talia Derksen
Mouseketeer
Laura Jenkins
Mouseketeer
Ben Newcombe
Mouseketeer
Kelli Stewart
Mouseketeer
Rene Tardle
Mouseketeer
Kimberly Wallace
Mouseketeer
Virginia Funicello
Self
Joe Funicello
Self
Glen Holt
Self
Gina Portman
Self
John Portman
Self
Jason Gilardi
Self
Jack Gilardi Jr.
Self
Jack Gilardi
Self
Dick Clark
Self (uncredited)
Shelley Fabares
Self (uncredited)