Day, Doris (1924–)

American singer and actress. Born Doris von Kappelhoff in Cincinnati, Ohio, April 3, 1924; m. Al Jorden (trombone player), Mar 1941 (div. 1943); m. George Weidler (saxophone player and brother of Virginia Weidler), 1946 (div. 1949); m. Marty Melcher (producer-manager), April 3, 1951 (died 1968); m. restaurateur Barry Comden (div. 1981); children: (1st m.) Terry Melcher (1942–2004).

One of the most popular film stars of 1950s, began career as a band singer for Bob Crosby; toured with Les Brown's band, introducing song "Sentimental Journey" which became a million seller (1943); replaced Betty Hutton in film Romance on the High Seas (1945); embarked on a series of 14 movies for Warner Bros. and was labeled Hollywood's girl-next-door, even though she'd occasionally take on dramatic roles in such films as Young Man with a Horn (1950), Love Me or Leave Me (1955), and The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956), which also produced the Oscar-winning song "Que Sera, Sera"; was also a leading moneymaker for Columbia Records for over 4 years; saw film career peak (1960s) while starring in a series of sophisticated bedroom farces opposite such co-stars as Rock Hudson and James Garner; married her agent Marty Melcher (1951), who managed her earnings; at time of his death (1968), learned that $20 million had been squandered, leaving her heavily in debt, and that she was committed to a tv series, "The Doris Day Show" (1968–73); left show business (1981), devoting herself to the animal-rights movement; other films include Tea for Two (1950), Lullaby of Broadway (1951), On Moonlight Bay (1951), By the Light of the Silvery Moon (1953), Calamity Jane (1953), Young at Heart (1955), The Pajama Game (1957), Teacher's Pet (1958), Please Don't Eat the Daisies (1960), Midnight Lace (1960) and Send Me No Flowers (1964). Nominated for Academy Award for Pillow Talk (1959).

See also autobiography (with A.E. Hotchner) Doris Day: Her Own Story (Morrow, 1976); and Women in World History.