Doris Day
“America's wholesome sweetheart, a gifted singer and comedienne who topped both charts and box office.”
Day's path turned in 1945 when, singing with Les Brown's band, she recorded 'Sentimental Journey,' a wartime smash that made her a star vocalist. The success paved the way for her 1948 film debut and a decade as one of Hollywood's top box-office attractions.
Cincinnati Beginnings
Born Doris Kappelhoff to German-American parents in Cincinnati, Day first pursued dance until a car accident redirected her toward singing. She honed her craft with local bands before joining Les Brown's orchestra.
Singer to Movie Star
Her 1945 hit 'Sentimental Journey' made her a star vocalist, and a 1948 film debut launched a major screen career. Through the 1950s she headlined musicals and became a top box-office draw.
Comedy Queen and Animal Advocate
Day reigned over sophisticated sex comedies like 'Pillow Talk' before moving to her own TV series. In later life she became a dedicated animal-welfare advocate, working for the cause until her death in 2019.
Career Timeline
- 1922Born in Cincinnati, Ohio
- 1940Joins Les Brown's big band as vocalist
- 1945Records the hit 'Sentimental Journey'
- 1948Film debut in 'Romance on the High Seas'
- 1953Stars in the musical 'Calamity Jane'
- 1956Sings 'Que Sera, Sera' in a Hitchcock film
- 1959Headlines the comedy 'Pillow Talk'
- 1962Top female box-office star in America
- 1968Launches 'The Doris Day Show' on TV
- 1989Receives Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award
- 2019Dies in Carmel Valley, California, at 97
Biggest Hits
- She took the stage name 'Day' after bandleader Barney Rapp deemed 'Kappelhoff' too long for marquees.
- Her recording of 'Que Sera, Sera' won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1956.
The Moment You Remember
Her warm, unforced rendition of <em>Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)</em>, introduced in Hitchcock's <em>The Man Who Knew Too Much</em>, became her signature song and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
Portrait: Universal Pictures (studio publicity) · Public domain (PD-US-no notice) · via Wikimedia Commons