Doris Day

Winner of the Cecil B. DeMille Award and a Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement, and nominated for multiple Golden Globes and an Academy Award, Doris Day is one of the most popular actresses to ever grace the big screen. She was also the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2004.

She was born Doris Mary Ann Kappelhoff on April 3, 1922 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her mother was Alma Sophia Welz, and her father was William von Kappelhoff. She had two older brothers, Richard and Paul. Even though they were Roman Catholic, her parents divorced when she was a child because of her father's infidelities. She dreamed of being a dancer, but damage to her legs from a car accident made that impossible.

Her stage name, Day, was adopted when she was working for bandleader, Barney Rapp. The first song she sang for him was "Day After Day," and it was his suggestion that she take that as her last name. She went on to work with other bandleaders as her career as a singer was getting started. Her first hit was "Sentimental Journey" in 1945.

Soon, her music career helped launch her into a film career. Her first film role was in "Romance on the High Seas." She believed her best film performance was in "Love Me or Leave Me" which co-starred James Cagney. Day starred in a number of good films in the fifties and sixties including "The Man Who Knew Too Much," "Please Don't Eat the Daisies," "Pillow Talk," and "The Thrill of it All." She was paired with popular leading men such as Clark Gable, James Stewart, Cary Grant, and Jack Lemmon. She was the top female American star from 1960-1965, and audiences loved her. Her last feature film was "With Six You Get Eggroll," which was released in 1968.

Doris Day was married four times. Her first husband was trombonist Al Jorden. Her second was saxophonist George Weidler. She was then married to Martin Melcher, which turned out to be her longest marriage. Finally, she married Barry Comden, but the relationship ended in divorce. She had one son, Terry Melcher, who was adopted by Martin Melcher, but fathered by Al Jorden, her first husband. Not only did Melcher abuse her son, he also left her in financial shambles upon his death. Melcher either worked with business partner, Jerry Rosenthal, to steal her vast earnings, or was an unwitting participant. No one will ever know for sure.

Before Melcher died, he had, without Day's consent, committed her to a television show. She had no interest, but ended up doing it anyway due to the fact that there was a contract and a commitment. The show was successful, and she continued it for five years. She also made two television specials during the run of her daily show.

Unlike most in Hollywood, she is a staunch Republican and told the press that she voted for George W. Bush in 2000. When she could not attend the presentation in which she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom because of her fear of flying, she called President Bush herself to let him know why she would not be there.

Of Day's many accomplishments, many would see her work for animal rights to be the most important. She co-founded "Actors and Others for Animals" in 1971. She also denounced the wearing of fur. In addition, she started "Spay Day USA," which is now being managed by The Humane Society of the United States. In 2006, the Humane Society merged with "The Doris Day Animal League." She became an advocate for animal rights during the filming of "The Man Who Knew Too Much" when she saw how the animals in the movie were being treated.