Doris Day: Why She Left Hollywood

New Biography Looks At The Bittersweet Life Of America's Sweetheart

(CBS)  When life seemed so much simpler in America - a half century or so ago - Doris Day was America's sweetheart, the beloved "girl next door" and a huge recording and movie star.

"Doris Day is, to this day, the number one female box office star of all time, she's the only one who was number one for four years in a row," David A. Kaufman, author of a new biography about the star, told Sunday Morning correspondent Jerry Bowen. "That was never true of Elizabeth Taylor, Greta Garbo, Katherine Hepburn, of anyone else!"

In the 1950s and 60s it was hard to find a movie magazine without her beaming face on the cover.

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Photos: Doris Day

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And her leading men came from the "A-list" of the day, says Kaufman, whose new unauthorized biography "Doris Day, The Untold Story Of The Girl Next Door," was released in June.

"Well, famously Rock Hudson, Cary Grant, James Cagney, Jimmy Stewart," said Kaufman.

Add Frank Sinatra, Kirk Douglas and Jack Lemmon to the list, too.

But Doris Day's reality, like that of that long ago America, was more complex and in some ways darker than the bubbling, everything's coming up roses public image.

At the end of her career she not only left Hollywood. She stopped being Doris Day.

For nearly 30 years now she's lived near Carmel, California. She's an avid animal rights advocate nursing strays back to health on her small ranch. And she's known as "Clara" to most friends - a nickname given to her early in her career.

She's rarely seen in public and rarely heard except for one day each year.

On her birthday a local radio station plays the songs she made famous...and Doris and her alter ego, Clara call in to say thanks.

"Well, her first big hit was 'Sentimental Journey' which she recorded at the very end of the Second World War," Kaufman said. "And it became very popular for that reason with the, with the soldiers abroad who wanted to come home and with their wives here who wanted them home."

It was 1939 when a 17-year-old Doris Kappelhoff of Cincinnati, Ohio began her singing career with the big bands of that era. Her stage name became Day and she was off on the ride of her life.

But for all the success that would follow in song and film, she never found what she wanted most.

"The only thing she ever really wanted was to have a happy marriage and a happy family life," Kaufman said. "And it's the one thing she never had. She was married four times, but she was ultimately not happy with any of her husbands."

By the time she'd won acclaim for her first film, "Romance On The High Seas" in 1948, Day had been married and divorced twice and left with a baby boy. Her first husband beat her. Her second abandoned her.

At age 25 her search for Mr. Right had gone very wrong. But her film career was taking off. And her films were giving a boost to her recordings.

"'It's Magic,' which is in her first film, 'Romance On The High Seas' and then after that the next biggest song is 'Secret Love' from 'Calamity Jane.' And after that comes 'Que Sera, Sera,' which ends up being the biggest of all, of her entire career," said Kaufman.

Cabaret singer Mary Cleere Haran created a one woman show dedicated to the songs of Doris Day.

"She had a lovely lullaby quality to her voice and I think everybody responds to that. And I think it's universal" said Haran.

Haran also wrote and produced a PBS documentary "Sentimental Journey." Now 17 years old, it features a rare interview in which Day reflected on her two decades of filmmaking - 39 films in all - and the one she liked most.

"'Calamity Jane' (was) probably my favorite movie," Day said in the interview. "Because that's the real me. But when I was a little girl I'd stumble. I loved climbing trees and you know skating and doing all the things that the boys did. Yet I loved dolls."

Her most popular film may have been "Pillow Talk," the first of three movies she did with Rock Hudson when both stars were number one at the box office.

Their on screen chemistry was matched by a lifelong off screen friendship. Founded in part, said Kaufmann, on the secret lives they shared, which included her troubled marriages and his homosexuality.

"I think, without ever discussing it, that they could relate to being basically the opposite to what their images suggested," said Kaufman. "For example the girl next door was not above having affairs...at least according to her alleged lovers...baseball player Maury Wills - which she denied - and Mickey Mantle, about which she was silent.

Behind-the-scenes for 17 years of her life was Marty Melcher, agent and husband number three. He tightly managed her career as their marriage quickly became a business relationship.

Day made the money and by accident or design Marty squandered it all. When Melcher died, Day learned her $23 million dollar fortune was actually a $400,000 debt.

The Doris Day show, a situation comedy, saved her. It ran for five years on CBS and paid her legal bills as she fought her late husband's business partners to recover her losses. Eventually she won some of it back:

"I just knew that justice would prevail," Day said at the time. "I've known it all along."

By the early 1970s her career was largely over and her fourth marriage was failing. Despite offers she never took on another TV show until 1985 when she agreed to a cable show devoted to pets. It was called "Doris Day's Best Friends."

The appearance of her human best friend was sad and shocking.

Rock Hudson, gaunt and ghostly pale and gravely ill with AIDS was Day's guest. The illness had opened the door on his secret homosexuality. Hudson died two and a half months after appearing with Day. And she began her retreat from the public eye.

"She looks like Doris Day - a little older, but Doris Day. She still looks great," said actress Kay Ballard, a long-time friend and occasional visitor to Day's Carmel Valley retreat. "She spends time making food for the animals. It's so funny, she has them on a vegetarian diet, and you know she really, she just adores her animals.'

Ballard was a regular on the old Doris Day show. She says her old friend doesn't always answer her phone calls - sometimes doesn't even answer the door. Most days she just wants to be left alone.

"I just think the disappointment she's had in marriages is what turned her off of people and turned her to animals," said Ballard. "And they never disappoint you."

Life may not have been perfect for the girl next door. There were quite a few bumps along the road.

But for Doris Kappelhoff from Cincinnati, Ohio, it's been a pretty amazing journey.

[NilaMae]

I always thought Doris Day had the most beautiful figure. And a gorgeous voice.

And she was totally enjoyable in her movies; I never tire of watching them. Like THE PAJAMA GAME. ("There once was a man, who loved a wo-man!")

She could "steam" with anger like nobody else!

Thank you, Doris, for giving us so much entertainment.

[TVJeff]

Doris Day starred in the film version of "Please Don't Eat the Daisies," which was based on a book by Jean Kerr, wife of Walter Kerr, who was a longtime legitimate theater critic at The New York Times. Patricia Crowley played the same role on TV.

That said, my parents really enjoyed her music and darn near wore out two of her record albums. I thought she was terrific, too, and I was only a child at the time.

I remember her appearing on "The Tonight Show" back in the '70s when McLean Stevenson, who co-starred with her on her sitcom, was guest host(apparently she didn't want to do the show unless only he hosted, not Carson). I'd never heard her be so candid before. It was wonderful. I understand her reticence to come out in public these days. Animals can be more accepting and loving and are sometimes better company than people can be. Thanks, Doris Mary Anne Kappelhoff, for giving us all those great songs and movies and your work on TV. What a great talent.

[WGregory1]

I loved her movies and her music. I watched her TV show as a kid, but I have to say, I just don't have any recollection of it much. They kept changing it from year to year, i.e., one year she was a widow living in the country with her father and kids, the next she'd be a single gal in the city. And I read her autobiography several years and remember wishing that I hadn't. But, yes, a sad life behind the Hollywood glamour. By the mid 60s, when movies were changing and becoming more realistic and gritty, she had become typecast. And Marty Melchor was still negotiating her contracts and signing her up for not-very-good movies like The Glass Bottom Boat.

So, yes, she fell out of favor but she was not as someone above so unkindly put it "washed up." However, I've read many times over the years that Mike Nichols wanted her for the part of Mrs. Robinson in the graduate (which Anne Bancroft would play) and that she turned it down b/c it ran counter to her image. One wonders if her movie career might've been extended if she had played that part. I always wanted her to make a comeback or show up on something.

[boxerdogs11]

I grew up in the 60's watching all Doris Day's movies and her weekly tv show. I always wanted to be like her. She is one celebrity I would LOVE to sit down with and talk to. I, also am such a dog lover and cannot stand to see any animals mistreated. Thank you Doris for all the many many hours of entertainment you gave us through the years. I wish you peace and happiness. God bless you always.

[hadtocomment]

My hope is that Doris Day will spend some time reading the comments from those who adore her~ I grew up on Doris Day movies, and to this day, our greatest memories are watching the old movies together...my mother, my two daughters ages 21 & 25 and myself. Doris, your character reached generations of families and you brought so much pleasure into our homes. :)

We too are animal lovers and as I type this, I am listening to hundreds of wild birds who gather in our trees after feeding on the seed we have left for them for over 20 years. We share our home (but at times feel like our pets are sharing 'their' home with us) with two dogs, five cats-all strays-, fish and 18 nests of barn swallows! Our family admires your dedication to animals-who never cease to bring smiles to our faces.

I'm sure you have your plans in place for you animal rescue and pet foundation, but if you are ever looking for an animal loving family train and trust with your operation of love, please consider us.

We wish you happiness and peace,
The San Julian Family

[Texas_5]

I have always loved Doris Day. I wish her well and good health. I have always wanted a wife like her. Doris-Clara is a classy woman.

[sunday_morning_fan1234]

I have been a sunday morning fan for a very very long time. I am so very happy you did the story with doris day. I remember watching doris day and she made me smile. When she smiled, I smiled. As a black child of the sixties,it is what I remember the most. She was so very endearing and funny and nice. Her movies with and tv show put joy in my heart and her singing told me what singing in perfect pitch was about. her voice was so soothing and calm, she reminded me of a teacher. That Que Sera song (also done by Sly and the family stone back then) was my favorite song. Doris Day has always made me feel good. She was the whole package and the tv show was like icing on the cake. We could see her every week and that gigantic dog I wanted to play with so much. thanks for the memory. Sunday morning you always made me smile too.

[karensev]

Doris Day''s great career speaks for itself. She now has been voted the best actress of all time, so I think that speaks volumes about her talent.
I do agree with jmeyer1954, because this book by Mr. Kaufman is a disgrace to the lady''s legacy. There have been several "unauthorized" books regarding Ms. Day, all of which she has stated she wants no part of because they are demeaning uninformed versions of her life.
Mr. Kaufman has no clue of the identity of the lady he writes about. He attempts to psychoanalyze why she left Hollywood and why she likes to be called, "Clara." Ms. Day, unlike what the pundits write, is not in hiding, not disassociating herself from Doris Day (the star), and is not a recluse. She is however, very private and works hard every day for her animal foundation and taking care of her own four leggers. Do not be fooled by what you read or hear. Just know she is enjoying her life doing what she loves doing.

[jmeyer1954]

Shame on you Charles for letting this "unauthorized" papparazzi segment regarding Doris Day slip through your editing. Not your style. She has spent your life quietly and unassuming since leaving Hollywood. Why don''t you focus on the greater good that she has done towards animal rights instead? Wouldn''t that be your time better spent?

[tmittelstaed]

Doris was out of that old Hollywood guard of a chaste public face and behind the scenes all the private vice you could want. It''s a different world today, celebrities have no private life. It''s no wonder she withdrew from Hollywood, she saw the handwriting on the wall and knew what was coming.
I think the important question is, do we get a better product from Hollywood today than we did a half century ago when most things were hidden? Certainly, we get a much more realistic product. But it does seem to me that the actors have, with few exceptions, become nothing more than generic names and faces, and the stories today have exchanged cornball formula for crappy formula.

[whiskyrocker]

Doris Day: Why she left hollywood?
Because she was washed up.

[roscoezzz]

Mt favorite film of Doris Day is "Love Me or Leave Me" 1955, with the great James Cagney. I think it is her best work as a dramatic actress and a singer. I think she deserves a Kennedy Center Honor.

[gmond]

She looks like she has gas.

[radman5000]

Doris wasnt all that hot, Rock Hudson dumped her for Gomer Pyle USMC

[whiskyrocker]

I heard Rock Hudson gave her up for Jim Nabors.

[sociald63]

doris day was HOT when she was younger

[jcr103]

Why she left Hollywood? Because people were sick of her corny movies.

[skbrownie]

I always loved her and my sister used to mock me and say that "Life isn''t a Doris Day movie!" Even though my sister was right about some things, I still like to go to that place where life was just good.... even for just a minute or 2.

[credibility2]

Doris Day was the darling of the screen and although unfulfilled in her personal life, she sadly chose to remain in the limelight of Hollywood and kept going through husbands in search of what probably never existed for her; insecure men continue to resent and detest successful women because they are threatened by them and often feel emasculated. Turning to animals as a substitute for fulfillment is tragic. Animals die, as do humans, and cause pain as well. Animals, however, are very poor substitutes for human love and companionship. She just chose the wrong men who apparently were only after her money and not for who or what she was. She''s better off without them.

[phocusplease]

Comment #1 - ''talkingham'' says "I never like Doris Day. Never trust anyone named Melcher or Bush." I bet this dried up poster has one standard post that says "I never like -------------. Never trust anyone named --------- or Bush."

Doris/Clara...you defined ''woman'' for me as I grew up and watched your movies. Pajama Game was great too. Doris Day brought humor and beauty into our lives...and we love her. Thanks Doris.