The world of Disney is a dense and heavily populated place. Whilst many people think of the classic animated movies, such as The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast as soon as the topic is brought up, there are also plenty who tuned in during their childhood to Disney Channel’s The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, which helped launch the careers of some of the biggest names on the planet today. Would we have half the pop stars and actors we have today without the series? We’re not quite sure!
Whether they’re one of the original Mouseketeers, or joined the Disney Club in the later years, we’ve decided to take a look back through the archives and pick out 25 of the most prominent Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Kids. So, where are they now?
Some of them are riding their waves of success all the way to the bank, whilst others have fallen to the wayside, enjoying a more “normal” type of life following their Disney stints. A handful have even gone on to become some of the most recognizable names in the world of show business.
Whatever the case may be, their stories make for hugely interesting ones. Here are 25 Mickey Mouse Club Kids Who Really Grew Up.
25 From Mickey To The Notebook
We start things off with one of the most recognizable former Disney Club Kids; Ryan Gosling! The actor has made a huge name for himself in films such as The Notebook, Drive, and the film that earned him an Oscar nomination, La La Land.
What many don’t realize is that this wasn’t his first Oscar nomination. That actually came for 2006’s Half Nelson, which made him the first person born in the 1980s to be nomination for the Best Actor category at the Academy Awards. Gosling of course kickstarted his career with a recurring role in The Mickey Mouse Club back in 1993, becoming close friends with his fellow Club Kid, Justin Timberlake. Making such a huge success of himself, we imagine he’s not looked back since!
24 It’s A Fact
It was all the way back in 1977 when Julie Piekarski caught her big break working as a Mouseketeer for Disney. Since that point, she’s gone on to work in a number of different projects, proving that you can have a lengthy career in show business without necessarily being constantly in the spotlight.
The star is best known for her work on The Facts Of Life, where she played fan-favorite Sue Ann Weaver.
Whilst her workload hasn’t been quite as hectic as some of the other people we’ll be talking about in this list, she did make a brief return to the big screen in 2016 movie, The Importance of Doubting Tom. We’d love to see her make a proper comeback in the near future!
23 The Princess Of Pop
Oh baby, baby! Where do we start with Britney? Known across the globe whenever just her first name is mentioned, she’s the Princess of Pop and one of the biggest-selling artists of all time. Recently finishing up one of the most successful Las Vegas runs a performer has ever seen, she’s now set to tour with the brilliant Vegas show, infusing some of her classic hits with her most recent releases.
Britney is somebody who has been through a lot, much of which has been heavily publicized and reported on in the tabloid media. Now though, she seems ready to take on the world for many years to come. Her music is as infectious as ever, and she’s shown that she’s more than capable of putting on a good show. Long may her reign as Pop Princess continue!
22 Broadway Bound
As the child of immigrants from the Philippines, Deedee Magno Hall is somebody who’s had to fight for success every step of her life. Fortunately, through her talents and a bit of good luck, she took on one of the roles in Disney’s The All-New Mickey Mouse Club in 1988, launching her career from a young age.
We saw her pick up some brilliant roles in the future.
Hall would find her feet in the world of musical theater a little later on in her career, landing the role of Kim in Broadway’s Miss Saigon before reprising the role for a national tour. She’d go on to work as Nessarose on the first nationwide Wicked tour, and joined the ensemble for If/Then in October 2015. She’s not let television fall by the wayside though, and currently voices the character Pearl on Cartoon Network show, Steven Universe.
21 A One-Woman Show
Lindsey Alley may be best recognized thanks to her role on Disney between 1989-1996, but she’s somebody who landed her first gig playing Patsy in 1988’s Ernest Saves Christmas. Though she had early success, more recent years have been pretty quiet for the star, but it may be something that comes down to personal choice.
After the Mickey Mouse Club, Alley would go on to gain a Bachelor of Arts in Theater with Honors.
The stage is then where she would go on to make her name, even appearing in her own one-woman play, Look, Ma… No Ears! She’d then appear in the world premiere of the musical Having It All, receiving an Ovation Award nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Alley even scored a guest appearance in How I Met Your Mother in 2013, which is likely where you last saw her on the small screen!
20 An Original Mouseketeer
Don Grady got his start in television as part of the original group of Mouseketeers, and wouldn’t let the opportunity go to waste. Always admitting that music was his first love, and that he fell into acting rather than chasing a career in it, he would play beloved character Robbie in long-running television sitcom My Three Sons.
Following the sitcom’s end, Grady would go on to pursue a musical career.
He worked on music for Blake Edwards comedy flick Switch, as well as the theme song for The Phil Donahue Show. His talents were undeniable, and in the fall of 2008, Grady released a collection of songs written about the baby boomers generation, aptly titled Boomer: JazRokPop. Grady unfortunately passed away in June 2012, following a battle with cancer.
19 Very In Sync
You may have thought Justin Timberlake was the only member of *NSYNC that started his career as part of The Mickey Mouse Club, but that’s definitely not the case! JC Chasez himself kicked off his time in the spotlight on the Disney show, and has certainly not wasted his opportunity to make a success out of himself.
Not only working musically with *NSYNC, Chasez would go on to write and produce music for acts including Basement Jaxx, Girls Aloud, and former Glee star Matthew Morrison. He’d even try his hand as part of a judging panel on television, joining Randy Jackson’s America’s Best Dance Crew and remaining on the panel for all seven seasons of the series.
We most recently heard from Chasez when he appeared alongside 3OH!3 on the title track of the Blues Traveler record Blow Up the Moon; let’s hope a comeback is imminent!
18 A Voice To Remember
Sherry Alberoni first worked her way onto television as part of the Mickey Mouse Club’s second season, aged just 9 and using the stage name Allen. Obviously incredibly popular behind-the-scenes, Alberoni would go on to claim roles via a number of different outlets, with her voice now likely more recognizable than her face!
The world of voice acting is a road well traveled for former Disney Kids.
The star would voice Alexandra Cabot in the popular Josie and the Pussycats TV series back in the early 1970s, reviving the character in 1973’s The New Scooby-Doo Movies. Retiring in the 80s, we last heard her in 1984’s Mighty Orbots, where she played Bo. In live-action, her last performance was as Francie in 1976’s Sisters of Death.
17 This Is The Voice
Tony Lucca is another former Disney Kid who flirted with the idea of acting following his time on The Mickey Mouse Club, but who decided that going down the musical route was a better option for him. So much so, that he even competed on the second season of NBC’s singing competition talent show The Voice in 2012, finishing as second runner-up.
Following his stint on the show, Lucca would sign to Adam Levine’s record label, 222 Records. Unfortunately, following the release of a six-song EP that deal would come to an end. Lucca hinted at a bit of a bitter break-up between him and the label, saying on his Patreon account that the time he had under the deal and the end of the relationship was “basic record business 101.”
16 A Triple Threat
Rhona Bennett was actually a part of The All-New Mickey Mouse Club, and would use the platform as a catapult into voiceover work, industrial films, music, professional theatre and television. Best known for her recurring role on The Jamie Foxx Show, she’s also a member of R&B group En Vogue.
She’s certainly more than just a triple threat!
News surrounding Bennett has been pretty quiet for almost a decade now, though she did release a couple of singles in recent years; Letting You Go in 2010, and Take Me There in 2016. Her work on both television and the big screen has also been lacking, but we’d love to see her make a resurgence some time soon. She has far too much talent to let go to waste!
15 The Western Star
Johnny Crawford made his first live performance before American audiences as a Mouseketeer, and rose to fame following his time in popular Western series The Rifleman, which aired on ABC between 1958 and 1963. He was just 12-years-old when he took up the role of Mark McCain, but it was a performance that would set the young actor up for life.
Now 72-years-old, Crawford resides in Los Angeles following a slew of major projects that have seen him pick up a huge number of acting credits. He’s also flirted with a career in music, releasing a number of singles and albums, though never really breaking into the mainstream.
Still active and refusing retirement, Crawford is set to return to the screen in Bill Tilghman and the Outlaws, which is currently in pre-production. We can’t wait to watch!
14 More Than Felicity
First appearing on television aged 15 as part of The All-New Mickey Mouse Club variety show, Keri Russell would ensure that she held onto the spotlight right to this very day. Now best known for taking on the titular role of Felicity Porter in the aptly-titled Felicity, the actress would pick up a Golden Globe Award for her performance before moving onto the big screen.
It’s there that she’s made huge waves.
Recent filmography includes a role in 2014’s Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and 2016’s Free State of Jones. But let’s not forget her huge success on the small screen, playing Elizabeth Jennings in hit series The Americans. It’s fair to say that she’s one of the most successful former Disney Kids on our list!
13 The Survivor
Lisa Whelchel first rose to prominence as a Mouseketeer on The New Mickey Mouse Club, but is perhaps best known for playing Blair Warner for nine years on The Facts of Life. Not only working in television, she claimed a Grammy Award nomination in 2009 thanks to her Christian album, and has since been a regular speaker at Women of Faith Christian conferences.
There are plenty of strings to her bow!
If you recognize Whelchel from somewhere else completely, it’s likely because you’re a fan of CBS reality competition series Survivor. She played during the Philippines season, tying for second place before being awarded the fan-favorite vote and $100,000. Though many have called for her to make a return in an All-Stars season or something similar, she’s yet to make a return to the show! Watch this space…
12 The Marvel
The 1990s revival of The Mickey Mouse Club saw a whole host of talented youngsters come together to breathe new life into the series, with Dale Godboldo standing out from the crowd. So much so in fact, that he would go on to star in a number of high profile movies and television shows, including the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Thor, and more recent Ryan Murphy series The People v. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story.
It was in 2016 that Godboldo also filmed a role in a TV show called My Thai Life, but the series has been in pre-production for some time. So much so, that many are wondering if the pilot episode failed to make enough of a splash to be given the go ahead for a full series. A shame, as Godboldo is certainly a talented man!
11 Continuing What She Loves
Nikki DeLoach is a woman who seems to have always known she wanted a career in the spotlight. Modeling from a young age, she would spend a summer in her younger years alongside her mother in New York City pursuing modeling jobs. She’d them go on to become part of a Performing Arts group for a number of years, before joining the All-New Mickey Mouse Club in 1993.
During her time there, she would spend a few years dating previous list entry JC Chasez, but when the show was eventually canceled, she returned home before moving to Los Angeles with her grandmother, pursuing a career in acting. Fortunately for her fans, she’s made quite the success of herself, appearing in some brilliantly compelling short films as well as big screen releases. There was even a guest appearance from her in Grey’s Anatomy back in 2015!
10 The Advocate
Paul Petersen is somebody who started his career in the spotlight at the tender age of 10, working as a Mouseketeer on the Mickey Mouse Club before moving on to play Jeff Stone for almost a decade in family sitcom, The Donna Reed Show. It was a series that effortlessly worked its way into American pop culture history, cementing Petersen’s names amongst some of the greatest to have ever lived.
Not only working in television, Petersen would go on to release a number of songs, and even write 16 novels as well as an autobiography. He’s even used his star to do good and raise awareness around mental health, with a focus on those who work as child actors and have to transition into adult life. A great man by all accounts.
9 A Sudden Career Turn
Annette Funicello is another tragic star to have come from Disney’s Mickey Mouse Club ranks, passing away back in 2013 following complications with her disease multiple sclerosis. Her life wasn’t all doom and gloom however, with the star enjoying a successful career and even helping to popularize the Beach Party music genre alongside Frankie Avalon.
She never thought of herself as a singer, but found success in becoming one!
Funicello would actually remain under contract at Disney for some time following her role as a Mouseketeer, starring in television shows such as Zorro and The Horsemasters. There were even some Disney-produced movies under her belt, including The Shaggy Dog and The Misadventures of Merlin Jones. An incredibly talented woman, she’ll always be someone that’s missed.
8 The Dancer
Selected as one of the original Mouseketeers all the way back in 1955, Bobby Burgess would enjoy his brush with celebrity so much that he would go on to guest star on The Donna Reed Show, before returning to as “normal” a lifestyle as he could in his teen years. The world of show business isn’t one he ever fully escaped however, as he returned to ABC’s The Lawrence Welk Show following a win of a Calcutta dance contest alongside dance partner Barbara Boylan.
To this day, Burgess still enjoys dancing when touring with Elaine Balden, and owns his own dance studio where he instructs younger students. Unafraid to let his star shine, but in a completely different way to many of his fellow Disney Club Kids, he’s someone that has always seemed to give back to the community, and escaped scandal.
7 The Songwriter
Back to a youngster who would use their Disney platform to launch a musical career here, as Matt Morris proved you don’t have to be front-and-center to make it big in the industry. Writing and producing for a number of huge artists including fellow Disney Club Kids Justin Timberlake, and Christina Aguilera, Morris would also lend his talents to material for the likes of Kelly Clarkson, Mary J. Blige, and even pop icon herself, Cher.
Openly gay, Morris married Sean Michael Morris in California, and used the love he has for his husband as inspiration for the aptly-titled track Love on his debut album. He even changed his name to Teo Bishop in 2012 for religious reasons, but would change his name back to Matthew in 2014.
6 The Englishwoman
Doreen Tracey was actually born in London, England, and began learning to sing and dance from an early age thanks to her father’s dance studio in Hollywood, California. Though her first professional work came in the form of a role in The Farmer Takes A Wife (1953), she would pick up a job on the Mickey Mouse Club aged 12, appearing for all three seasons of the show.
Though she wasn’t very prominent and in the spotlight in her later years, her two-year battle with cancer was well publicized. Sad news came on January 10, 2018, when it was revealed Tracey had passed away due to pneumonia. Still, she’ll forever live on in our hearts as one of the most entertaining Mouseketeers the world has seen!
