Here Are The True Stories Of Disney’s Beloved Mouseketeers From “The Mickey Mouse Club”
The Disney star has evolved throughout the years, bringing us many of the celebrities we know and love today. It all started with the Mouseketeers. Check out these Mickey Mouse Club cast members from over the decades. Keep reading to find out what they're up to now, and learn some little-known facts about the show!
The Mickey Mouse Club Ran From 1955-1996
Walt Disney himself created The Mickey Mouse Club, a variety show, that aired all the way from 1955 to 1996. The first version of the show aired from 1955 to 1959 on ABC. While the cast of teens changed as the years went by, the originals are some of the most memorable of all Disney performers.
The original show first aired directly after American Bandstand and remains a favorite past time of kids growing up in the 1950s. The show was hosted by Jimmie Dodd, who was referred to as the Head Mouseketeer. It is said that he was a leader both on and offscreen and often encouraged the young audience to make good choices.
Roy Williams Suggested The Signature Mouse Ears
A staff artist at Disney named Roy Williams is the one who suggested the cast wear Mickey and Minnie Mouse ears. The Mickey Mouse Club itself was a variety show and consisted of both music and dance numbers with intermittent educational segments.
The cast was broken into two “teams” the red team and the white team. The red team was the kids who actually appeared on air and are the most famous of the Mouseketeers. The original cast consisted of Sharon Baird, Bobby Burgess, Lonnie Burr, Tommy Cole, Annette Funicello, Darlene Gillespie, Cubby O'Brien, Karen Pendleton, and Doreen Tracey.
Annette Funicello Then
Annette Funicello is one of the most famous Mouseketeers. She was discovered by Walt Disney himself. She quickly became a fan favorite. In addition to dance routines and various sketches, she also appeared in multiple serials on the show.
Annette became a star and appeared in many Disney projects over the years.
Annette Funicello Now
After The Mickey Mouse Club, Annette went on to have a successful singing and acting career. She appeared in Disney's Zorro series, as well as many other Disney productions. She passed away in 2013.
Johnny Crawford Then
Johnny Crawford was one of the original Mouseketeers but only appeared in the first season. He went on to star in the very popular television Western, Rifleman, for which he was nominated for an Emmy.
His older brother, Robert, was also an actor.
Johnny Crawford Now
As a young man, he became a teenage heartthrob with several pop music hits. He continued acting in both TV and film.
Sadly, he passed away in 2021.
Cubby O’Brien Then
Cubby O’Brien was one of the first stars of the Mouseketeers. He was personally chosen by Walt Disney himself to appear on the show.
He was placed on the first-string Red Team, and his solo performances focused on the drums. He remained on the show for all three seasons and went on to continue with live performances with the Mouseketeers after the show ended.
Cubby O'Brien Now
After touring, he joined the Lawrence Welk organization for a few years. After graduating from high school, he started touring with Spike Jones and was sometimes the on-camera drummer for CBS's The Carol Burnett Show.
Cubby has also regularly participated in reunions with his Mouseketeer co-stars throughout the years including the 50th anniversary in 2005. He also still actively plays the drums. Since the '80s his career has been around performing for Broadway productions but has since moved back to the West Coast.
Sharon Baird Then
Shannon Baird started acting as a young girl her first appearance onscreen was at age 9 in the film Bloodhounds of Broadway. She later appeared on various television programs including The Colgate Comedy Hour with Eddie Cantor and even a song-and-dance number with Dean Martin in Artists and Models. She was later selected as one of the first ever Mouseketeers.
She performed for all three seasons of the original show. Sharon’s specialty was dancing and more specifically tap dancing. She also sang and acted while on the show. After filming she went on to complete high school, although she briefly toured with the Mouseketeers. She finished college and graduated with a degree in mathematics and secretarial science.
Sharon Baird Now
Sharon Baird continued working in show business despite her math and sciences degree and even ended up marrying singer Dalton Lee Thomas, although the marriage only lasted five years. She also worked as a “puppet” on various children’s television shows throughout the 1970s.
Some of the shows she worked on include H.R. Pufnstuf, The Bugaloos, New Zoo Revue, Sigmund and the Sea Monsters, and Land of the Lost. For the 1970s version of Lord of the Rings directed by Ralph Bakshi, Sharon did rotoscoping (an animation technique) for the film and worked as a live-action model for hobbit Frodo Baggins.
Sharon’s Weirdest Role
In 1986, Sharon Baird starred as “Ratboy” in the film of the same name. You would never know it was her because she appeared under heavy makeup and was credited as S.L. Baird so no one knew it was a woman playing a young boy. The film was panned by critics and thought of as very strange although it had better luck overseas in countries like France.
The character of “Ratboy” has been ostracized from society for looking like a rat and forced to live near a dumpster when he is befriended by a kind woman. Since the strange role, Sharon has continued to make appearances with the Mouseketeers on occasion.
Tommy Cole Then
Before landing The Mickey Mouse Club, Tommy Cole was a singer in a Western swing band. His entire ensemble auditioned together for The Mickey Mouse Club, and Cole was the only one selected. His singing earned him a transfer to The Mickey Mouse Club's first-string Red-Team and he remained on the show for the final two seasons. After the show ended, he attended Hollywood Professional School and went on live performance tours with Mouseketeerseteers and continued singing for quite some time at teenage clubs, public events, and as an opening act for other performers.
Tommy Cole Now
He then went on to attend school at Pasadena City College and even did a short stint in the Air Force. However, after his experience, he decided he preferred to stay in show business. It was then that he found his true calling – makeup. He worked as a craft apprentice for ABC and eventually NBC and was later was nominated for multiple Emmy awards for films like Masquerade Party, Once Upon a Brothers Grimm, Right to Die, and Wings. He has won Emmy’s for his work on the films Backstairs at the White House and the TV special Gepetto in 2000.
60th Reunion
2015 was a big year for the Mouseketeers and it marked sixty years since The Mickey Mouse Club originally aired. Of course, Disney had to mark the occasion and had to assemble all of the living stars together again. Although all of the original cast is now approaching their elder years, they still performed a musical number!
There were various old and new clips shown of the cast, a discussion panel, and they even brought out various artifacts from the original show. It was probably the last time in history the cast will be able to get together and talk about one of the best Disney shows to have ever been filmed!
The Mouseketeers of the Future
The Micky Mouse Club saw two revivals of the show. The first was in 1977 and had modernized the show to fit the times. There was a disco recording of the theme song, and a more ethnically diverse of young cast members.
The sets were brightened yet more simple than the original black and white artwork in the original. However, the show only ran for one year. The series debuted on January 17, 1977, on 38 local television stations yet was discontinued by June. However, the show continued to be in syndication until 1979.
The All-New Mickey Mouse Club
Then again, in 1989, the show was revived for the second time. Running until 1995, this time, the goal was to create an entirely new Mickey Mouse Club geared towards contemporary audiences. Instead of wearing hats, they had letterman jackets, and the entire show was' 90s-themed.
The show was also updated to be called The All-New Mickey Mouse Club and featured children that would grow up to become some of the biggest stars in the entertainment industry. Although it was eventually canceled it was a great platform to help mold some of the stars of today.
Ryan Gosling Then
The adorable and now handsome Ryan Gosling began his career as a child star on the Disney Channel's Micky Mouse Club from 1993 to 1995. While on the show, he wasn't given very much air-time, which he didn't take to hard.
He noted that it was okay because "the show's producers realized that I wasn't really up to snuff in comparison to what some of the other kids were able to do." It still gave him a chance to get his name out there and helped to launch him into an incredibly successful career in show business.
Ryan Gosling Now
After his time on The Mickey Mouse Club, he went on to appear in other family television shows such as Are You Afraid of the Dark? Goosebumps, as well as some other independent films.
Then, in 2004, he made a major breakthrough with the film The Notebook and has since been on a roll with films such as Lars and the Real Girl, Blue Valentine, Crazy Stupid, Love, and more. He made his directorial debut with the 2014 film Lost River and has recently starred in critically acclaimed films such as The Big Short, and La La Land where he won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy in 2016.
Justin Timberlake Then
Before Justin Timberlake became the pop icon and actor that we all know today, he was on The Mickey Mouse Club. He was known to have a pitch-perfect falsetto voice which was clearly foreshadowing for the success of his future career. It was on The Mickey Mouse Club that he befriended Ryan Gosling and the two are still close to this day.
After The Mickey Mouse Club, Timberlake went on to become one of the youngest members and lead singers of the best-selling boy bands of all time NSYNC. The band lasted for 7 years until 2002 and won countless awards.
Justin Timberlake Now
After leaving NSYNC, Timberlake went on to have an incredible solo career, especially after adopting a more mature image and releasing singles such as "Rock Your Body" and "Cry Me A River" on his debut album. He then went on to release his second titled FutureSex/LoveSounds with songs such as "Sexy Back" and "My Love".
From 2008 to 2012, Timberlake began to focus on his acting career in films such as Bad Teacher, The Social Network, In Time, and Freinds With Benefits. In 2013, he released another album which became the best-selling album of the year in the United States. He has won countless awards and has been recognized as one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time twice.
Britney Spears Then
When The Mickey Mouse Club launched for a new generation nobody knew that the likes of Gosling, Timberlake, and this young lady would take over the worlds of music and movie. Britney Spears wasn't necessarily a vocal standout among the cast, but who could really compete with the likes of Christina Aguilera and her high E above C.
Still, Spears would go on to form a friendship with Justin Timberlake, whom she later dated. The show also proved to be the springboard Spears needed to become an international superstar. It took years for Britney to earn stardom but it was a meteoric rise once her star started to climb.
Britney Spears Now
Britney went on to become one of the biggest pop stars in the world with hits like "Baby One More Time" and "Oops... I Did It Again". After many years in the music industry, it was revealed that she was under a legal conservatorship and controlled by her father. Once the conservatorship ended, Britney released a tell-all memoir and has since retired from making music and performing.
Christina Aguilera Then
Aguilera was quickly known as the "little girl with the big voice" and watching her performances on The Mickey Mouse Club proves that this diva was primed for stardom from a young age. Watching old episodes of the TV show it's obvious Aguilera hadn't completely found her voice but was years ahead of her peers.
Aguilera was discovered when she appeared as a Star Search contestant in 1990. She appears on The Mickey Mouse Club from 1993 to 1995. Her career hit a feverish pitch after she was offered the chance to sing on a hit Disney movie, more on that in a second...
Christina Aguilera Now
Aguilera is a five-time Grammy Award winner who has sold nearly 50 million albums. She's so talented that Celine Dion called her "one of the most talented artists the world has ever seen and heard."
Aguilera's career skyrocketed after she hit the high E above middle C note for the song "Reflection" in the hit Disney movie Mulan. Aguilera continues to release new music and appeared as a judge on the hit NBC singing competition The Voice, where she became the first female winning judge in the show's history. Aguilera even released, Mi Reflejo, a Spanish speaking album that won a Latin Grammy Award for the best female pop vocal album.
JC Chasez Then
Justin. Justin. Justin. When we talk about 'NSync and The Mickey Mouse Club it's typically Timberlake who makes headlines. However, JC Chasez, another member of Timberlake's famous boy band, also got his start on the popular Disney TV series. Chasez was born in 1976 and at five-years-old his mom handed him over to her former foster parents Roy and Karen Chasez, who promptly adopted the soon-to-be-famous singer. Chasez was raised as a Mennonite and spent his days dancing as a child. In 1989, his mother, Karen, noticed a small ad in the Washington Post that called on young dancers and singers for The Mickey Mouse Club. Chasez was cast as a performer in the fourth season and stayed until the show's cancellation in 1996.
JC Chasez Now
Chasez and Timberlake joined 'NSync in 1995 and became popular in Europe in 1996. The group skyrocketed to fame in 1998 with the released of their debut album "*NSync" which sold 11 million copies. After NSync announced a Justin Timberlake-led hiatus, Chasez pursued a solo career and started working with various other artists.
He is credited with writing and producing for music acts such as Basement Jaxx, David Archuleta, Matthew Morrison, and Girls Aloud. Chasez continued to pursue his love of dance, starring as a judge on short-lived America's Best Dance Crew. He continues to write and produce new music for himself and other artists.
Keri Russell Then
Keri Russell landed her first TV role on the Mickey Mouse Club from 1991 to 1994. During those seasons she performed with the likes of Ryan Gosling, Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, and many other future stars. Russell didn't wait for the show to end before building her future stardom.
In 1993 she appeared alongside Rick Moranis in the hit movie Honey, I Blew Up The Kid and followed it up with a role as Mr. Feeny's niece in a 1993 appearance on Boy Meets World. In the years that followed, Russell would prove that she knows exactly how to command a TV audience.
Keri Russell Now
Keri Russell's big break came in 1998 when she accepted the title role in the WB Network hit series, Felicity. Russell would go on to win a Golden Globe for that role in 1999. In an odd moment, the show's ratings dropped unexpectedly at the start of season two.
It's believed that Russell cutting off her trademark curly hair led to a lack of trust among viewers. Russell bounced around to various TV and movie roles after Felicity ended. In 2013, she starred in the superb FX series The Americans, where she plays a deep undercover KGB spy living as an American in the early 1980s.
Tony Lucca Then
Lucca knew he wanted to be a performer from a very young age. At 3-years-old he began singing and by nine he was a child model. Lucca and his cousin, Cole Garlak, started performing in Detroit-area bands when Lucca was only 12-years-old.
Lucca got his big break at 14-years-old when he went to audition for the Disney movie Newsies but soon discovered it was actually a role on The Mickey Mouse Club. Lucca moved to Orlando, Florida, with his mother and lived in an apartment complex with other castmates after selected to appear on the show. He remained for four seasons.
Tony Lucca Now
Tony Lucca may not be as well-known as his former co-stars on The Mickey Mouse Club but he did find some success for one season on Malibu Shores, the Aaron Spelling created TV show in which he co-starred with his former girlfriend, Keri Russell. Following a few smaller roles, he began to release his own music. In 2012, he placed third-place on the hit TV show The Voice.
During his performances, he was reunited with former Mickey Mouse Club co-star, Christina Aguilera. Lucca's songs have been featured on various TV shows, including Felicity, Friday Night Lights, and Brothers & Sisters, among others. On July 7, 2007, Lucca married single mom Rachel and promptly adopted her son, Liam. They also have a daughter, Sparrow Jane Lucca who was born in 2009.
