Doris Day Artistfacts

April 3, 1922 - May 13, 2019
Doris Day was born into a middle-class family in Evanston, a suburb of Cincinnati. Her parents, both of German descent, were first-generation Americans. Her father, Frederick Wilhelm (William), was a music teacher specializing in piano and violin. He also served as an organist and choral master at St. Mark's Catholic Church. Doris' mother, Alma Sophia Welz, shared a love for country and western music and later worked in the family bakery.
At 15, a devastating car accident shattered Doris' leg, abruptly ending her dreams of becoming a professional dancer. Confined to bed for 14 months, she found solace in listening to Ella Fitzgerald's music. This period of enforced rest ignited her passion for singing.

Recognizing her talent, Doris's voice coach, Grace Raine, offered her three lessons a week for the price of one, believing in her potential even during her early years.
Doris's first professional singing job was at Charlie Yee's Shanghai Inn in Cincinnati, where she earned just $5 per performance.
Doris Day became a voice of comfort during World War II with the song "Sentimental Journey." Her performance with Les Brown's orchestra provided returning soldiers with a melody that symbolized homecoming and hope.
Doris Day landed her first film role in Romance on the High Seas (1948) after Judy Garland dropped out, propelling her into a 20-year career as a Hollywood star.
Between 1960 and 1964, Doris Day was the top box-office star in America four times, a feat achieved by only one other actress, Shirley Temple.
Her comedic timing was impeccable, thanks in part to her musical background. Day once turned a mundane scene of carrying eggs in The Thrill of It All into a comedic masterpiece of small calamities.
Doris Day was married four times. After her third husband, Martin Melcher, passed away, Doris discovered he and his business partner had squandered her entire fortune, leaving her in debt. This led her to take on a television series, The Doris Day Show, to recover financially.
She had a balanced approach to nutrition but allowed herself occasional indulgences. Rocky Road ice cream was one of her favorite treats.
Doris Day's deep love for animals was a cornerstone of her later life. She established the Doris Day Animal Foundation, reflecting her lifelong commitment to animal welfare. (Source Trivial Biographies).

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