One of the original Disney Mouseketeers, Doreen Tracey, has died at 74 after a two year battle with cancer.
A Disney publicist confirmed this morning she passed away on Wednesday after developing pneumonia.
Tracey, who described herself as the ‘black sheep’ of The Mickey Mouse Show, died on Wednesday at a hospital in Thousand Oaks, California.
One of the original Disney Mouseketeers, Doreen Tracey, has died at 74 after a two year battle with cancer
Tracey famously posed nude wearing just a pair of Mickey Mouse ears for Gallery magazine in 1976 – which led to her being axed by Disney executives.
Born in London on April 3, 1943, Tracey arrived in the US at the age of just four.
She learned to sing and dance at a studio her father opened in Hollywood.
Tracey had her first taste of celebrity at 12 as one of the child stars of The Mickey Mouse Club – which aired between 1955 and 1959.
The show was revamped in the early 1990s, launching several stellar careers – Britney Spears and Ryan Gosling both began their careers on the show.
But after a racy magazine shoot she was forced to leave the show and end her affiliation with Disney.
Tracey, who described herself as the ‘black sheep’ of The Mickey Mouse Show, died on Wednesday at a hospital in Thousand Oaks, California
She later admitted she regretted her decision. In an interview with The Times she said: ‘You get caught up in your own ego, not paying attention, not seeing the full repercussions.’
Tracey eventually reconciled with the show bosses and became a regular at Mouseketeer reunions even celebrating the show’s 60th Anniversary in 2015.
In the 60s Tracey formed a rock group called Doreen and the Invaders and toured Vietnam in 1968, entertaining US soldiers away from home.
After The Mickey Mouse Club ended, Tracey appeared as a guest star in American TV shows before her career took a left turn and she became a publicist for avant-garde musician Frank Zappa.
Doreen is survived by son Bradley and grandchildren Gavin and Autumn.
Tracey famously posed nude wearing just a pair of Mickey Mouse ears for Gallery magazine in 1976 – which led to her being axed by Disney executives