Doris Day, an icon of the Golden Age of Hollywood, left an enduring legacy as both a celebrated actress and a compassionate animal rights advocate. Passing away in 2019 at the age of 97, Day’s legacy includes nearly 30 films and over 650 songs released between 1947 and 1967. Known for her roles in classics like Pillow Talk and The Man Who Knew Too Much, she was honored with awards such as the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her remarkable contributions to entertainment.
Beyond her career, Day was known for her humility, love of animals, and compassionate spirit. She devoted much of her life to animal advocacy, founding the Doris Day Animal Foundation and speaking out against animal cruelty. Her hit songs “Sentimental Journey,” “Secret Love,” and “Que Sera Sera” remain timeless, each earning a place in the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Upon her passing from pneumonia at her home in Carmel Valley, California, Day’s foundation announced that she had requested no public funeral or memorial. Her friend and manager, Bob Bashara, explained that Day struggled with the concept of death, often avoiding any discussions about funerals or even the care of her pets after her passing. According to Bashara, Day’s discomfort with death extended to an inability to bear the thought of her animals suffering. Reflecting her wishes, she was cremated, and her ashes were scattered without any marker or public memorial.
Day’s personal life was both complex and private. She married four times and had one son, Terry Melcher, who passed away in 2004. Raised in the Catholic faith, she later practiced Christian Science during her marriage to producer Martin Melcher but drifted from organized religion after his death in 1968. Despite this, Day maintained a strong spiritual belief, often crediting her voice as a gift from God.
Though she retired from acting in the early ’70s, Day briefly returned to television in the mid-1980s with her show, Doris Day’s Best Friends, where she could showcase her love for animals. Known for her down-to-earth personality, Day remained humble and was always “the little girl from Cincinnati,” according to Bashara. Her estate was ultimately donated to charity, and her memory lives on through her work, her fans, and her compassionate contributions to animal welfare.