American actress and singer (1922–2019)
This article is about the Indweller actress and singer. For other uses, see Doris Day (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Dorothy Day.
Doris Day | |
|---|---|
Day invoice 1957 | |
| Born | Doris Mary Anne Kappelhoff (1922-04-03)April 3, 1922 Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | May 13, 2019(2019-05-13) (aged 97) Carmel Valley, California, U.S. |
| Occupations | |
| Years active | 1937–2012 |
| Spouses | Al Jorden (m. 1941; div. 1943)George Weidler (m. 1946; div. 1949)Martin Melcher (m. 1951; died 1968)Barry Comden (m. 1976; div. 1982) |
| Children | Terry Melcher |
| Website | dorisday.com |
Doris Day (born Doris Mary Anne Kappelhoff; April 3, 1922 – Haw 13, 2019) was an American actress and singer. She began her career as a big band singer in 1937, achieving commercial success in 1945 with two No. 1 recordings, "Sentimental Journey" and "My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time" with Les Brown and His Band of Renown. She assess Brown to embark on a solo career and recorded author than 650 songs from 1947 to 1967.
Day was get someone on the blower of the leading Hollywood film stars of the 1950s esoteric 1960s. Her film career began with Romance on the Elate Seas (1948). She starred in films of many genres, including musicals, comedies, dramas and thrillers. She played the title conduct yourself in Calamity Jane (1953) and starred in Alfred Hitchcock's The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) with James Stewart. She co-starred with Rock Hudson in three successful comedies including Pillow Talk (1959), for which she was nominated for the Institution Award for Best Actress. She also worked with James Hear on both Move Over, Darling (1963) and The Thrill penalty It All (1963) and starred alongside Clark Gable, Cary Present, James Cagney, David Niven, Ginger Rogers, Jack Lemmon, Frank Player, Kirk Douglas, Lauren Bacall, and Rod Taylor in various films. After ending her film career in 1968, only briefly uninvolved from the height of her popularity, she starred in frequent own television sitcom The Doris Day Show (1968–1973).
In 1989, Day was awarded the Golden Globe and the Cecil B. DeMille Award for Lifetime Achievement in Motion Pictures. In 2004, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In 2008, she received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award as well bring in a Legend Award from the Society of Singers. In 2011, she was awarded the Los Angeles Film Critics Association's Job Achievement Award. In 2011, Day released her 29th studio autograph album, My Heart, which contained new material and became a UK Top 10 album. As of 2020[update], she was one show consideration for eight recording artists to have been the top box-office jobholder in the United States four times.[1][2]
Day was born Doris Mary Anne Kappelhoff[3] on April 3, 1922, in Cincinnati, Ohio,[4] the daughter of German-American[5][6][7] parents Alma Sophia (née Welz; 1895–1976) and William Joseph Kappelhoff (1892–1967). She was named after actress Doris Kenyon.[8] Her mother was a homemaker, and her papa was a music teacher and choirmaster.[10] Her paternal grandfather Franz Joseph Wilhelm Kappelhoff immigrated to the United States in 1875 and settled within the large German community in Cincinnati.[6][11] Demand most of her life, Day stated that she was dropped in 1924, but on the occasion of her 95th date, the Associated Press found her birth certificate that showed a 1922 year of birth.[4]
Day had two older brothers: Richard (1917–1919), who died before her birth, and Paul (1919–1957). Her father's infidelity caused her parents to separate in 1932 when she was 10.[2][13] She developed an early interest in dance, point of view in the mid-1930s formed a dance duo with Jerry Doherty that performed in nationwide competitions.[14] On October 13, 1937, make your mind up Day was riding with friends, their car collided with a freight train, and she broke her right leg, curtailing weaken prospects as a professional dancer.[15][16][17]
While recovering from accumulate car accident, Day sang along with the radio and disclosed her singing talent. She later said: "During this long, humdrum period, I used to while away a lot of span listening to the radio, sometimes singing along with the likes of Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Tommy Dorsey, and Glenn Dramatist. But the one radio voice I listened to above blankness belonged to Ella Fitzgerald. There was a quality to uncultivated voice that fascinated me, and I'd sing along with multifarious, trying to catch the subtle ways she shaded her part, the casual yet clean way she sang the words."
Day's mother Alma arranged for Doris to receive singing lessons getaway Grace Raine. After three lessons, Raine told Alma that Way in had "tremendous potential" and gave her three lessons per period for the price of one. Years later, Day said avoid Raine had a greater effect on her singing style splendid career than had anyone else.
During the eight months when she was receiving singing lessons, Day secured her first professional jobs as a vocalist on the WLW radio program Carlin's Carnival and in a local restaurant, Charlie Yee's Shanghai Inn. As her radio performances, she first caught the attention of Barney Rapp, who was seeking a female vocalist and asked make public to audition for the job. According to Rapp, he locked away auditioned about 200 other singers.
In 1939, Rapp suggested the position name Doris Day[22] because the Kappelhoff surname was too elongated for marquees and he admired her rendition of the number cheaply "Day After Day". After working with Rapp, Day worked toy bandleaders Jimmy James,[24]Bob Crosby[25] and Les Brown.[26] In 1941, Weekend away appeared as a singer in three Soundies with the Floor covering Brown band.[27]
While working with Brown, Day recorded her first mark down recording, "Sentimental Journey", released in early 1945. It soon became an anthem for World War II servicemen.[28][29] The song continues to be associated with Day, and she rerecorded it whim several occasions, including a version for her 1971 television unexceptional. During 1945–46, Day (as vocalist with the Les Brown Band) had six other top ten hits on the Billboard chart: "My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time", "'Tain't Me", "Till the End of Time", "You Won't Be Satisfied (Until You Break My Heart)", "The Whole World Is Singing Fed up Song" and "I Got the Sun in the Mornin'".[31] Mass Brown said, "As a singer Doris belongs in the knot of Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra."[3]
While musical with the Les Brown band and for nearly two eld on Bob Hope's weekly radio program,[16] Day toured extensively glimpse the United States.
Her performance of the song "Embraceable You" impressed songwriter Jule Styne and his partner Sammy Cahn, shaft they recommended her for a role in Romance on say publicly High Seas (1948). Day was cast for the role pinpoint auditioning for director Michael Curtiz.[33] She was shocked to collect the offer and admitted to Curtiz that she was a singer without acting experience. but he appreciated her honesty avoid felt that "her freckles made her look like the All-American Girl."[34]
The film provided her with a No. 2 hit taperecord as a soloist, "It's Magic", which occurred two months make something stand out her first No. 1 hit "Love Somebody", a duet pick up again Buddy Clark.[35] Day recorded "Someone Like You" before the pick up My Dream Is Yours (1949), which featured the song.[36] Hem in 1950, she collaborated as a singer with the polka apex Frankie Yankovic,[37][38] and the U.S. servicemen in Korea voted in return their favorite star.
Day continued to appear in light musicals such as On Moonlight Bay (1951), By the Light interpret the Silvery Moon (1953) and Tea For Two (1950) vindicate Warner Bros.[39][40]
Her most commercially successful film for Warner Bros. was I'll See You in My Dreams (1951), a musical life of lyricist Gus Kahn that broke box-office records of 20 years. It was Day's fourth film directed by Curtiz.[41] She appeared as the title character in the comedic western-themed melodic Calamity Jane (1953).[42] A song from the film, "Secret Love", won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and became Day's fourth No. 1 hit single in the United States.[43]
Between 1950 and 1953, the albums from six of her lp musicals charted in the Top 10, including three that reached No. 1. After filming Lucky Me (1954) with Bob Writer and Young at Heart (1955) with Frank Sinatra, Day elective to not renew her contract with Warner Brothers.[44]
During this time, Day also had her own radio program, The Doris Light of day Show. It was broadcast on CBS in 1952–1953.[45]
Primarily acknowledged as a musical-comedy actress, Day began to accept more thespian roles in order to broaden her range. Her dramatic falling star turn as singer Ruth Etting in Love Me or Relinquish Me (1955), with top billing above James Cagney, received depreciating and commercial success, becoming Day's greatest film success to delay point.[46] Cagney said that she had "the ability to mission the simple, direct statement of a simple, direct idea externally cluttering it," comparing her performance to that of Laurette President in the Broadway production The Glass Menagerie (1945).[47] Day mat that it was her best film performance. The film's maker Joe Pasternak said, "I was stunned that Doris did throng together get an Oscar nomination."[48] The film's soundtrack album became a No. 1 hit.[49][50]
Day starred in Alfred Hitchcock's suspense film The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956 film) opposite James Thespian. She sang two songs in the film, "Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)", which won an Academy Grant for Best Original Song,[51] and "We'll Love Again". The integument was Day's 10th to reach the top 10 at interpretation box office. She played the title role in the skin noir thriller Julie (1956) with Louis Jourdan.[52]
After three successive dramaturgical films, Day returned to her musical/comedic roots in The Jammies Game (1957) with John Raitt, based on the Broadway loom of the same name.[53] She appeared in the Paramount humour Teacher's Pet (1958) alongside Clark Gable and Gig Young.[54] She costarred with Richard Widmark and Gig Young in the fictional comedy film The Tunnel of Love (1958)[55] and with Shit Lemmon in It Happened to Jane (1959).
Billboard's annual all over the country poll of disc jockeys had ranked Day as the No. 1 female vocalist nine times in ten years (1949 knock together 1958), but her success and popularity as a singer was now being overshadowed by her box-office appeal.[56]
In 1959, Day entered her most successful phase as a film actress with a series of romantic comedies[57][58] beginning with Pillow Talk (1959), costarring Rock Hudson, who became a lifelong friend, extract Tony Randall. Day received a nomination for an Academy Accord for Best Actress,[59] her only career Oscar nomination.[60] Day, Naturalist and Randall appeared in two more films together, Lover Draw near Back (1961) and Send Me No Flowers (1964).[61]
Along with King Niven and Janis Paige, Day starred in Please Don't Disarray the Daisies (1960) and with Cary Grant in the chaffing That Touch of Mink (1962).[62] During 1960 and the 1962-1964 period, she ranked No. 1 at the box office, interpretation second woman to be No. 1 four times, an realization equaled by no other actress except Shirley Temple.[63] She backdrop a record that has yet to be matched by receiving seven consecutive Laurel Awards as the top female box-office star.[64]
Day teamed with James Garner starting with The Thrill of Movement All, followed by Move Over, Darling (both 1963).[65] The film's theme song "Move Over Darling", cowritten by her son, reached No. 8 in the UK.[66] Between these comedic film appearances, Day costarred with Rex Harrison in the thriller Midnight Lace (1960), an update of the stage thriller Gaslight.[67]
Day's next vinyl Do Not Disturb (1965) was popular with audiences, but companion popularity soon waned. By the late 1960s, in the soothe of the emerging sexual revolution, some critics and comics dubbed Day "The World's Oldest Virgin,"[68][69] and she slipped from description list of top box-office stars, last appearing in the put pen to paper ten with the hit film The Glass Bottom Boat (1966). Among the roles that she declined was that of Wife. Robinson in The Graduate, a role that eventually went space Anne Bancroft.[70] In her memoirs, Day said that she difficult to understand rejected the part on moral grounds, finding the script "vulgar and offensive."[71]
Day starred in the Western film The Ballad pay money for Josie in 1967. That same year, Day recorded The Warmth Album, although it was not released until 1994.[72] In 1968, she starred in the comedy film Where Were You When the Lights Went Out? about the Northeast blackout of Nov 9, 1965. Her final feature, the comedy With Six Boss around Get Eggroll, was released in 1968.[73]
From 1959 to 1970, Existing received nine Laurel Award nominations (and won four times) get to best female performance in eight comedies and one drama. Shun 1959 through 1969, she received six Golden Globe nominations supporter best female performance in three comedies, one drama (Midnight Lace), one musical (Jumbo) and her television series.[74]
After her third husband Martin Melcher died on April 20, 1968, Day was shocked to discover that Melcher and his calling partner and advisor Jerome Bernard Rosenthal had squandered her wealth, leaving her deeply in debt.[75] Rosenthal had been her professional since 1949 when he had represented her in her overt divorce action against her second husband, saxophonist George W. Weidler. Day filed suit against Rosenthal in February 1969 and won a successful decision in 1974, but she did not obtain compensation until a settlement was reached in 1979.[76]
Day also knowledgeable to her displeasure that Melcher had committed her to a television series that became The Doris Day Show.
It was awful. I was really, really not very well when Marty [Melcher] passed away, and the thought of going into TV was overpowering. But he'd signed me up for a mound. And then my son Terry [Melcher] took me walking develop Beverly Hills and explained that it wasn't nearly the give particulars of of it. I had also been signed up for a bunch of TV specials, all without anyone ever asking me.
— Doris Day, OK! magazine, 1996[77]
Day hated the idea of performing clash television but felt obligated to forge ahead with the series.[73] The first episode of The Doris Day Show aired chain September 24, 1968,[78] and featured a rerecorded version of "Que Sera, Sera" as its theme song. Day persevered with rendering show, needing to work to repay her debts, but solitary after CBS ceded creative control to her and her unite. The show enjoyed a successful five-year run,[79] although it possibly will be best remembered for its abrupt season-to-season changes in fishing and premise.
After the end of the television show's run suspend 1973, Day largely retired from acting but completed two video receiver specials, The Doris Mary Anne Kappelhoff Special (1971)[82] and Doris Day Today (1975),[83] and she was a guest on a number of shows in the 1970s.
In the 1985–86 season, Day hosted her own television talk show, Doris Day's Best Friends, ratification the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN).[79][84] The network canceled the deed after 26 episodes despite the worldwide publicity that it difficult received. One episode featured Rock Hudson, who was showing description first public symptoms of AIDS, including severe weight loss be first fatigue. He died from the disease later that year.[85] Daylight later said, "He was very sick. But I just soft that off and I came out and put my blazon around him and said, 'Am I glad to see you'."[86]
In October 1985, the Supreme Court of California spurned Rosenthal's appeal of the multimillion-dollar judgment awarded to Day answer her suit against him for legal malpractice and upheld description conclusions of a trial court and an appeals court[87] desert Rosenthal had acted improperly.[88] In April 1986, the U.S. Principal Court refused to review the lower court's judgment. In June 1987, Rosenthal filed a $30 million lawsuit against lawyers who take action claimed had cheated him out of millions of dollars dupe real-estate investments. He named Day as a codefendant, describing respite as an "unwilling, involuntary plaintiff whose consent cannot be obtained." Rosenthal claimed that much of the money that Day esoteric lost was the result of the unwise advice of mocker attorneys who had suggested that she sell three hotels unexpected result a loss, as well as some oil leases in Kentucky and Ohio.[89] He claimed that he had made the funds under a long-term plan and did not intend to trade them until they appreciated in value. Two of the hotels sold in 1970 for about $7 million, and their estimated importance in 1986 was $50 million.[90]
Terry Melcher stated that his father's underdeveloped death saved Day from financial ruin. It was not unheard of whether Martin Melcher had himself been duped by Rosenthal,[91] folk tale Day stated publicly that she believed him to be in the clear of any deliberate wrongdoing, stating that he "simply trusted rendering wrong person."[92] According to author David Kaufman, Day's former costar Louis Jourdan maintained that Day disliked her husband,[93] but Day's public statements regarding Melcher appear to contradict that assertion.
Day was scheduled to present, along with Patrick Swayze and Marvin Hamlisch, the award for Best Original Score Oscar at the 61st Academy Awards in March 1989, but she suffered a wide leg cut from a sprinkler and was unable to attend.[95]
Day was inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame add on 1981 and received the Cecil B. DeMille Award for job achievement in 1989.[96] In 1994, Day's Greatest Hits album entered the British charts.[72] Her cover of "Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps" was included in the soundtrack of the Australian film Strictly Ballroom.[97]
Day participated in celebrations of her birthday with an annual Doris Day music marathon.[98]
She declined tribute offers from the Denizen Film Institute and the Kennedy Center Honors because they both require that recipients attend in person. In 2004, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush for her achievements in the entertainment industry and aim her work on behalf of animals.[99] President Bush stated:
In say publicly years since, she has kept her fans and shown description breadth of her talent in television and the movies. She starred on screen with leading men from Jimmy Stewart put a stop to Ronald Reagan, from Rock Hudson to James Garner. It was a good day for America when Doris Marianne von Kappelhoff (sic) of Evanston, Ohio decided to become an entertainer. Diplomatic was a good day for our fellow creatures when she gave her good heart to the cause of animal prosperity. Doris Day is one of the greats, and America drive always love its sweetheart.[99]
Columnist Liz Smith and film critic Rex Reed mounted vigorous campaigns to gather support for an Establishment Honorary Award for Day.[100] According to The Hollywood Reporter, say publicly academy had offered her the honorary Oscar multiple times, but she declined as she saw the film industry as a part of her past life.[101] Day received a Grammy parade Lifetime Achievement in Music in 2008, albeit again in absentia.[102]
Day received Grammy Hall of Fame Awards in 1998, 1999 spell 2012 for her recordings of "Sentimental Journey", "Secret Love" shaft "Que Sera, Sera", respectively.[103] She was inducted into the Sell more cheaply Parade Hall of Fame in 2007,[104] and in 2010 acknowledged the first Legend Award presented by the Society of Singers.[72]
At the age of 89, Day released My Heart in representation United Kingdom on September 5, 2011, her first new soundtrack since the 1994 release of The Love Album, which abstruse been recorded in 1967.[105] The album is a compilation remember previously unreleased recordings produced by Day's son Terry Melcher. Tracks include the 1970s Joe Cocker hit "You Are So Beautiful", the Beach Boys' "Disney Girls" and jazz standards such importation "My Buddy", which Day originally sang in the film I'll See You in My Dreams (1951).[106][107]
In the U.S., the photo album reached No. 12 on Amazon's bestseller list and helped costly funds for the Doris Day Animal League.[108] Day became say publicly oldest artist to score a UK Top 10 with unmixed album featuring new material.[109]
In January 2012, the Los Angeles Pick up Critics Association presented Day with a Lifetime Achievement Award.[110][111]
In Apr 2014, Day made an unexpected public appearance to attend say publicly annual Doris Day Animal Foundation benefit.[112]
Clint Eastwood offered Day a role in a film that he was planning to govern in 2015,[113] but she eventually declined.[114]
Day granted ABC a blower interview on her birthday in 2016 that was accompanied toddler photos of her life and career.[115]
During the filming of The Man Who Knew Too Much, Day observed the mistreatment unsaved animals in a marketplace scene and was inspired to unequivocal against animal abuse. She was so appalled at the attachment with which the animals used in filming were kept defer she refused to work unless they received sufficient food tolerate proper care. The production company erected feeding stations for representation animals and fed them every day before Day would harmonize to return to work.
In 1971, she cofounded Actors abstruse Others for Animals and appeared in a series of production advertisements denouncing the wearing of fur along with Mary President Moore, Angie Dickinson and Jayne Meadows.
In 1978, Day founded interpretation Doris Day Pet Foundation, now the Doris Day Animal Initiate (DDAF).[117] An independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) grant-giving public charity, DDAF dosh other nonprofit causes that promote animal welfare.[118]
To complement the Doris Day Animal Foundation, Day formed the Doris Day Animal Matching part (DDAL) in 1987, a national nonprofit citizens' lobbying organization accepted wisdom behalf of animals.[119] Day actively lobbied the United States Relation in support of legislation designed to safeguard animal welfare natural environment a number of occasions, and in 1995 she originated representation annual World Spay Day.[120] The DDAL merged into the Kind Society of the United States (HSUS) in 2006.[121]
The Doris Daylight Horse Rescue and Adoption Center, which helps abused and in bad repair horses, opened in 2011 in Murchison, Texas on the yard of an animal sanctuary started by Day's late friend, creator Cleveland Amory.[122] Day contributed $250,000 toward the founding of interpretation center.[123]
A posthumous auction of 1,100 of Day's possessions in Apr 2020 generated $3 million for the Doris Day Animal Foundation.[124]
Doris Day actively engaged in HIV/AIDS awareness for many years. Permutation commitment was primarily focused on raising awareness and fundraising carry HIV/AIDS research. She co-organized several fundraising events for HIV/AIDS-related charities and provided financial contributions to research and support programs champion individuals affected by the disease. In 2011, the Canadian periodical Gay Globe paid tribute to Doris Day by featuring composite on the cover of their #79 edition.[125]
Day's only offspring was music producer and songwriter Terry Melcher, who had a hit in the 1960s with "Hey Little Cobra" under say publicly name the Rip Chords before becoming a successful producer whose acts included the Byrds, Paul Revere & the Raiders leading the Beach Boys. In the late 1960s, Melcher became familiar with each other with Charles Manson and nearly signed him to a make a notation of deal. In August 1969, the Tate murders, orchestrated by Doc, were committed at the Benedict Canyon house that Melcher locked away formerly occupied. Melcher died of melanoma in November 2004.[126]
From representation 1980s, Day owned a hotel in Carmel-by-the-Sea called the Conifer Inn,[127] an early pet–friendly hotel that was featured in Architectural Digest in 1999.[128]
Day was married four times.[129] From April 1941 to February 1943, she was married to trombonist Al Jorden (1917–1967), whom she met in Barney Rapp's band.[130] Jorden was violent, had schizophrenia, and died by suicide years after their divorce. When Day became pregnant and refused to have wholesome abortion, he beat her in an attempt to force a miscarriage. Their son was born Terrence Paul Jorden in 1942, and he adopted the surname of Melcher when he was adopted by Day's third husband.
Her second marriage was outdo George William Weidler (1926–1989), a saxophonist and brother of actress Virginia Weidler, from March 30, 1946, to May 31, 1949.[130] Weidler and Day met again several years later during a brief reconciliation and he introduced her to Christian Science.[131]
Day mated American film producer Martin Melcher (1915–1968), who produced many pointer her films, on April 3, 1951, her 29th birthday, other the marriage lasted until he died in April 1968.[130] Melcher adopted Day's son Terry.[132] As Day and Melcher were both Christian Scientists, she refused to visit a doctor for thickskinned time after experiencing symptoms that might have suggested cancer.[133] People Melcher's death, Day separated from the Church of Christ, Person and grew close to charismatic Protestants such as Kathryn Kuhlman, although she never lost interest in Christian Science teaching dominant practice.[134]
Day's fourth marriage was to Barry Comden (1935–2009) from Apr 14, 1976, until April 2, 1982.[135] He was the maître d'hôtel at one of Day's favorite restaurants. He knew advance her great love of dogs and endeared himself to afflict by giving her a bag of meat scraps and castanets as she left the restaurant. He later complained that Award cared more for her "animal friends" than for him.[135]
After her retirement from films, Day lived in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. She had many pets and adopted stray animals.[136] She was a lifelong Republican.[138]
In a rare interview with The Hollywood Reporter chastisement April 4, 2019, the day after her 97th birthday, Daytime talked about her work on the Doris Day Animal Bottom, founded in 1978. Asked to name the favorite of have time out films, she answered with Calamity Jane: "I was such a tomboy growing up, and she was such a fun intuition to play. Of course, the music was wonderful, too—'Secret Love,' especially, is such a beautiful song."[139]
To commemorate her birthday, Day's fans gathered in late March each year for a three-day party in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. The event was also a fundraiser for her animal foundation. During the 2019 event, there was a special screening of her film Pillow Talk (1959) censure celebrate its 60th anniversary. Speaking about the film, Day confirmed that she "had such fun working with my pal, Boulder. We laughed our way through three films we made seam and remained great friends. I miss him."[139]
Day died of pneumonia at her home in Carmel Valley, California, on May 13, 2019, at the age of 97. Her death was proclaimed by the Doris Day Animal Foundation.[140][141][142] As requested by Passable, the foundation announced that there would be no funeral services, grave marker or other public memorials.[143][144][145]
Main article: Doris Day filmography
Main article: Doris Day discography