Doris Day Passes Away At 97

Remembering The Iconic Actress Of The Silver Screen

Doris Day, the beautiful and sunny blond actress/singer who was one of Hollywood’s biggest stars in the 1950s and ’60s and a symbol of wholesome American womanhood, died Monday, May 13 in her Carmel Valley, CA home. She was 97.

The news was confirmed by the Doris Day Animal Foundation, which stated that Day “had been in excellent physical health for her age” but had recently contracted pneumonia.

Despite her wholesome image, Day did a lot of comedies that were sexy and daring for their time, and her personal life was turbulent, with four marriages and a notorious lawsuit.

Day teamed with Rock Hudson in “Pillow Talk” and other romantic comedies including “Lover Come Back” and “Send Me No Flowers.” Her other significant screen roles included the Alfred Hitchcock thriller “The Man Who Knew Too Much” which co-starred James Stewart and featured Day’s Oscar-winning song “Que Sera Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be”).

Later in her life, Day’s love for animals led her to become an animal rights advocate. In 1987, Day “founded one of the first national animal protection organizations dedicated to legislative remedies for the worst animal abuse,” said the league’s executive director, Sara Amundson. Her work made her an icon in the animal protection world.

By: Maytinee Kramer