Legendary singer, Hollywood legend and animal rights advocate Doris Day died early this morning at her Carmel Valley home, surrounded by a few close friends. She celebrated her 97th birthday on April 3.
Day had been in excellent physical health for her age, until recently contracting a serious case of pneumonia, which sources said resulted in her death.
Day was born Doris Mary Ann Von Kappelhoff, on April 3, 1922 in Cincinnati, Ohio. She began her professional singing career at 15, and had her first hit, “Sentimental Journey,” with Les Brown’s band. The song, “Que Sera Sera” became her signature tune, and one of her biggest hits. It was introduced in 1956 the Alfred Hitchcock film “The Man Who Knew Too Much,” which starred Day, alongside Jimmy Stewart. Since Day made it a hit, it has been covered by numerous artists, including Natalie Cole and Mandy Gonzalez, who recorded it just last year for her album “Fearless.” Much of her music is still popular today. Day’s 2011 release of “My Heart,” a compilation of songs never before released, went to No. 1 in the United Kingdom.
Always stylish, she was a bit of an “It girl” with a “girl-next-door” image, which came through on the silver screen. During her three decades of work in film – 39 in all – she starred in nearly every genre, not just as a singer and dancer, but as an actress with great comic timing, a natural talent for interpreting a role, and a gift for evoking emotion. Many of the films have been viewed by multiple generations.
She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2004, and a Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2008. Though she never won an Oscar, she was nominated for one in 1959 for her work in “Pillow Talk,” one of three romantic comedies she starred in with Rock Hudson. Other leading men she starred with included industry giants, like Rex Harrison, Cary Grant, Tony Curtis, Clark Gable and James Cagney, among many others.
For the last 30 years, her main job was promoting the welfare of animals. When she joined the grassroots organization, Actors and Others for Animals, in the 1970s, she literally went door to door to rescue pets in distress. She then started her own organization, the Doris Day Animal League, and later the Doris Day Animal Foundation. The League became a lobbying group on behalf of animal rights, and is now a part of the Humane Society of the United States. She was compelled to fight animal testing and to advocate for spay and neuter education and outreach programs in the U.S. Her early Spay Day program had become an international event, with World Spay Day providing thousands of free or reduced-cost spay and neuter surgeries in 75 countries. Day’s passionate work on behalf of dogs, cats, horses, sea lions, raptors and other animals in need of rescue, veterinary care and adoption will continue. The Doris Day Animal Foundation is committed to continuing its work as a grant-giving organization, funding smaller animal welfare nonprofits across the country.
Days’ wishes were that she have no funeral or memorial service, and no grave marker. Friends and fans wishing to remember her may visit dorisdayanimalfoundation.org.
