
A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes: The Annette Funicello Story
Watch Trailer
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.
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)
