Inside Annette Funicello's Home Where Hero Husband Took Care of Her Every Need for 27 Years & Her 3

Publish date: 2024-05-17

Annette Funicello | Annette Funicello and Glen Holt | Source: Getty Images/facebook.com/AnnetteFund

Glen Holt truly and unconditionally loved his wife, Annette Funicello, as was evident in the way he would always take care of her.

Funicello was an actress who the world fell in love with when she appeared in Walt Disney's "Mickey Mouse Club" in 1935. Years later, Funicello's husband Holt also fell in love with the actress and spent the rest of her life with her.

Annette Funicello on the set of "Spin and Marty" in 1955 | Source: Getty Images

Holt first met Funicello when he was an owner and trainer of racehorses. When the two met, Funicello was around 16 or 17 years old. Holt recalled:

"She had a horse that she boarded at Hollywood Park Racetrack, where my horses ran. I would see her there often with her parents. We'd always say hello, and I'd chat with her mom and dad."

Holt also remembered the two did not meet again for several years until after they had both gotten married and divorced. He noted that the actress started visiting the track again after she got a divorce. Holt was her personal trainer at the track.

Annette Funicello sitting by a swimming pool in 1960 | Source: Getty Images

Funicello had been married to her first husband, Jack Gilardi, a Hollywood agent, and together they had three children Gina, Jack Jr, and Jason.

When Funicello married Gilardi, she became a stay-at-home mom and settled down in a large traditional ranch house in the hills of Encino, California. The pair got divorced after 17 years of marriage.

Holt had also been married to his first wife, Helen Rose, and they had four children together Michael Holt, Debbie Hanson, Philip Holt, and Sharla Johnson.

When Holt and Funicello met after they had both divorced, they became friends. Holt later asked the actress out, and they got married in 1986.

After the couple got married, Encino became their main home, while Holt's ranch was their second home, where they would escape for the weekend or spend time away from their life in Los Angeles, where their primary residence was.

Holt's ranch was then sold to developers after Funicello died. When it was set to be demolished, Holt went with his son Michael to take a final look at it. Something beautiful happened on this day as Holt's eye caught something on the rooftop of the house Michael and his siblings grew up in.

Holt thought what he saw was a chicken, but then it tumbled off the rooftop and into the driveway, which he found strange as it wasn't a windy day. Holt chose to go and see what it was and found an inflatable, heart-shaped balloon that read, "I love you."

The rancher felt that this was a message from his wife as he recalled giving Funicello a similar balloon years ago. Holt took the balloon and hung it in his living room for over three years. He then thought of sending it back to Funicello in heaven.

Holt made a small video at his ranch holding and releasing three purple balloons, two star-shaped blue and white balloons, and a heart-shaped balloon. The rancher sent the heart-shaped balloon back to his wife in heaven before he died on February 12, 2018.

Living in the Encino Home

Before Funicello shared the Encino home with Holt, it was her childhood home, which held many fond memories. The actress took several photos inside this home throughout her lifetime.

In 1960, the actress was photographed at home eating crisps from a bowl. Funicello was in the kitchen, which had cabinets on the wall and cardboard installed on the white kitchen surface.

The "Bikini Beach" star looked so at home in a short black skirt and a patterned blouse. Her hair was partly held in a low bun while the rest of it rested as a fringe on her forehead.

Annette Funicello at the Encino Home in 1960 | Source: Getty Images

Another photo of the actress was taken on a "Dreaming Desk" in her bedroom. On the wall right next to the desk were family pictures, including that of Funicello's brothers and father.

On top of the desk were a reading lamp, award trophies, and gift cards. The actress was sitting at the table reading what looked like a letter. She was in the same attire as the one she had wore while her picture was taken in the kitchen.

This house holds so many good memories for Funicello as another photo was taken where the actress was spending time with her mother in the kitchen. Funicello was all smiles and looked stunning in a white dress with thin straps and high heels. Her hair was held in her signature style.

The movie star was leaning on her mother, who was in sandals, white trousers, and a checked shirt. The actress's mother was preparing a meal as she had pots on the stove. The kitchen looked elegant in tiles and high and low cabinets with silver knobs.

When the actress died, her treasures, such as Mickey Mouse Club Ears, which she had painted in blonde, were sold in an auction.

Another stunning photo was taken in the Encino home, which showcased the love Funicello's family had for each other. In this picture, the actress's brother Michael was playing the piano as their mother, Virginia, and siblings Funicello and Joey sang along.

The room the family was in when Michael was playing the black antique piano had a beautiful flowery curtain with vintage houses. The family looked happy and were having fun at that moment.

In 1992, Funicello and her lifelong friend Sharon Baird visited the actress at the Encino home to celebrate the launch of The Annette Funicello Collectible Bear. The two jubilant girls took a picture holding the bears. Behind them were picture frames of the actress's family on a wide table.

At the Encino home, Funicello also posed for a photo with her brother Michael. In the post shared on Facebook, Michael was Funicello's date when they attended the Emmy Awards on September 13, 1983.

The two looked amazing, with the actress dressed in a beige gown with glitters shaped like a flower. The dress looked gorgeous on Funicello as it accentuated her thin waist. Michael looked all gentlemanly in a brown tuxedo.

The actress and her brother took the photo in the part of the house with gold-colored furniture, a green patterned wallpaper, and a glimpse of art on the wall.

Funicello and Holt moved into this Encino home after they got married. The actress was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a degenerative nerve disorder, barely a year after the two tied the knot. "She was so happy after we got married. So was I," Holt recalled.

The couple did not tell anyone after the actress was diagnosed, but they had to tell actor Frankie Avalon as he had a scheduled national concert tour with Funicello coming up. Holt told Avalon so that he could look out for the actress while she was on stage during the tour.

Avalon kept the pair's secret safe, but this tour became the last of Funicello's public appearances. The "Beach Party" actress started to become unsteady on her feet, and soon the media noticed and began saying she was "inebriated."

At this point, the couple decided to go public with Funicello's diagnosis, and they received tremendous love and support from fans, celebrities, and friends. Their home also overflowed with bouquets, plants, and cards from well-wishers.

A card received from Frank Sinatra contained his number and read, "If you need anything, call me." Funicello, who was no longer able to complete certain tasks, also received help from loved ones. Her husband revealed that her life was filled with daily activities:

"If she wants to go shopping, we do that. If not, we just go for a drive. I want her to be able to be outside and feel the sunshine, breathe the air, and see people who still come up to her to say hello."

Holt took great care of his wife. He told her that whatever she needed, he would do it. He described his wife sweetly, saying she would look at him with her big brown eyes:

"I just tell her you are my baby, and you want to go to the ranch today, baby, and go for a ride, huh? We'll go out and take a look around, okay, a big nice look…."

Funicello used to be a jovial person before the condition took a great toll on her body. Her daughter Gina said that once in the 80s, she came back home from a high school dance with a friend and was surprised to hear loud music from her bedroom.

She revealed that when she opened her bedroom door, she found her mother sitting at her desk with a fake microphone at hand, singing at the top of her lungs "The Best of Times" by Styx. Gina added that they all laughed until they cried.

Holt also revealed that a few years before Funicello died, she had lost her bubbly and energetic self. As per the actress's husband, she had not been able to speak for nearly three years and had stopped being able to walk eight years before she passed away. A devastated Holt said:

"I'm sorry that she's this way. I would love to have her back dancing and singing and doing everything she always loved to do. But she can't do it."

Several pictures shared on Facebook show the actress's life throughout her years alive. On her 40th birthday, Funicello had a birthday party to which a few of her famous friends were invited.

On October 21, 1992, the day before her 50th birthday Funicello was honored as a Disney legend. She celebrated the milestone with friends and family at her Encino home.

The actress is also pictured with her son in the entry hall of their Encino home. The hall has brown and black antique furniture on the sides of the wall. The wall is also decorated with family photos and a mirror. This hall leads to a wide brown double door.

Funicello has also taken a picture in this house, standing at a doorway with her walking stick in hand. The doorway has a huge decorative bottle on the side.

The Encino home has also set aside a place that displays the actress treasured memories, including a gift from "Peanuts" creator Charles M. Schulz and a photo of Avalon and Funicello on the "Ed Sullivan Show."

Another beautiful photo of the "Pajama Party" actress shows her living room, where she stands beside a decorated Christmas tree and is reaching for one of its bells. The living room has light yellow sheers and maroon curtains on the wide windows.

Funicello also hosted her son in the Encino house in her older years. In one picture, the actress is lying on a blue sofa while her youngest son Jason is looking at her as they smile and engage in a conversation. This room also has two armchairs and antique decorations of dolls.

The actress had several good and bad memories in this house, which served her from childhood to adulthood. She died on April 8, 2013.

What Happened with the Encino Home?

The Encino home, which Funicello owned for more than 40 years, sustained fire on March 10, 2011. The actress, Holt, and a healthcare worker were in the house. The healthcare worker was the first to detect the smoke.

The caregiver informed Holt, who discovered that the house was on fire when he heard a loud pop coming from the recreation room that was filled with smoke. His first thought was to get his wife out of the house. He recalled:

"I got her out of bed, put her in the wheelchair, and headed down the hall to go out the garage or the front door—but by that time, the smoke was thick and hot, and it was heading straight for us."

Holt noted that he chose to stay calm and headed to the bedroom. He did not want to scare Funicello, and he also knew if he collapsed, she would be helpless. Holt managed to open the patio door in the bedroom that led outside the house.

He picked up his wife with super strength, placed her in a wheelchair, and took her over the fence into a neighbor's yard. Everyone got out safely, but the fire completely destroyed the house.

The things his wife cherished, including her Disney and entertainment career memorabilia, were lost, and so were two personal letters from Walt Disney. In the end, the 3,3376 square foot house was sold as a tear-down for $714,250.

What Happened with Funicello's Things after Her Death?

The Walt Disney Company replaced some of the things Funicello lost in the fire. When the actress died, her treasures, such as Mickey Mouse Club Ears, which she had painted in blonde, were sold in an auction.

The auction also included the sale of Weber's signature airline chair, closet, and floor lamps, which were worth an estimated price of $60,000 and $80,000.

Another item on sale was the Mickey and Minnie animated window displays from the 1933 animated film "Old King Cole," which were expected to sell between $50,000 and $ 75,000 each.

Annette Funicello in California, Los Angeles in 1960 | Source: Getty Images

In the auction, early original drawings by animator Ub Iwerks from the first two Mickey Mouse cartoons, Steamboat Willie and Plane Crazy, were estimated to be sold for $4,000 to $6,000.

A Babes in Toyland prop soldier from the 1961 film was sold for between $18,000 and $20,000 in the auction.

Additionally, a highly rare premiere program for Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs, signed by Walt Disney and over 50 members of the studio staff, was valued at $5,000 to $10,000.

Other personal property of the actress, such as a candy dish, was also put on sale on WorthPoint. Some of her personal photographs were also sold on WorthPoint, including a picture of Funicello at her kitchen sink preparing a salad in the Encino home.

Funicello and Holt remained deeply in love until her last day alive. Her husband said that he didn't "regret it by one iota" that they got married despite having to take care of the actress when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

Four years after Funicello died, Holt also passed away. The two have left behind a legacy as the Annette Funicello Research Fund For Neurological Diseases continues to fund research into the cause, treatment, and cure of multiple sclerosis.

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