Original Mickey Mouse Club Mouseketeer Bonni Lou Kern died of natural causes Monday in Wooster, Ohio, at 79, TMZ reported.
Born in 1941, the ’50s TV star etched herself into Disney history after her name was used in the first episode of “The Wonder Mouseketeers!” The installment, titled “Save Bonni Lou Kern!,” saw her fellow Mouseketeers trying to rescue her from a fishing net.
From there, Kern starred alongside fellow Mouseketeers such as Annette Funicello, Judy Harriet and Eileen Diamond and appeared in the film “Save the Wonder Mouseketeers!”
During her storied Disney career as a child star, Kern was reportedly given the Mousecar Award — the highest award the House of Mouse gives out — as well as the key to Fantasy Land, according to TMZ.
Later, Kern worked as a muppeteer on “The Muppet Show,” “The Great Muppet Caper” and “The Muppets: A Celebration of 30 Years,” among many others.
She changed her name to Bonni Carr after marrying Harold “Bud” Carr in the late ’60s in Hawaii and is survived by three daughters, six grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
On Tuesday, Kern’s daughter Allyson Struzan posted a moving Facebook tribute to her mom, captioned “You will be missed by all.”





