Screen legend and gay icon Doris Day, known for movies like Pillow Talk and Midnight Lace, has died at age 97.
Noted for her bright eyes, blonde bob and a tremendous singing voice, Day rose up on the big band circuit in the 1930s and 40s, attracting the attention of the recording industry, and of major composers. She hit it big in Hollywood in 1948 with Romance on the High Seas after composer Jule Styne (of Gypsy) recommended her to the bosses at Warner Bros., despite no acting experience. The movie helped launch Day on a successful screen career which would span almost 40 years.
Related: Musical Notes: Doris Day
During the 1950s, Day became one of the screen’s most popular leading ladies thanks in large part to her success in musicals. Films like Young at Heart, The Pajama Game and I’ll See You In My Dreams all showed off Day’s dramatic gifts as well as her vocal talent. One of her biggest hits was Calamity Jane which found her playing the title legend of the Old West…and leaning heavily into some lesbian overtones. The film featured the song My Secret Love and is cited by film scholars in The Celluloid Closet as a good example of Hollywood using veiled subtext to tell a story about queer characters. The movie also became one of Day’s favorites of her own work.
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Day further cemented her association with the LGBTQ community through her many appearances opposite Rock Hudson, most notably in sex comedies about a woman in love with a man who pretends to be gay. That Hudson usually played the role of the faux gay man is a meta-comment unto itself.
With film offers waning, Day moved into television beginning in the late 1960s. She hosted both a variety show The Doris Day Show and a talk show, Doris Day’s Best Friends. Though the latter ran only one season, the show became immensely popular after Day interviewed friend Rock Hudson, whose battle with AIDS had begun to take an obvious toll on his health. Though Day retired in the 1980s and became almost a total recluse–she repeatedly turned down offers to appear at the Academy Awards, and to come out of retirement to appear in films–she always supported AIDS research and charities after losing her friend Rock to AIDS. In 2012, she released a statement to the riders of AIDS/Lifecycle, thanking them for their service:
I just want to take a moment to personally thank you all for riding all those miles, and tonight for honoring those lost to AIDS, including my dear, dear friend Rock Hudson. It has been over 30 years since AIDS first emerged. And that means almost 30 years since Rock was diagnosed. It was so hard to see him taken from all of us just a little over a year later. I know many of you there have also experienced similar loss to mine. What you’re doing is so important, both to remember those gone and also to ensure those alive keep living much longer than Rock was able to. So keep pedaling.
Here she is singing “Secret Love” from the 1953 film Calamity Jane:
curiobi
She was a true Ally before being an Ally became fashionable and a tremendous Talent, and like her good friend Rock she will be missed.
Growing up watching old reruns of these movies and now knowing the reality behind the situation of Rock being forced to be closeted and of Doris always supporting him, it’s just an amazing story of true friendship.
Dan Renzi
When I was in high school, I rented the movie “Pillow Talk.” My parents looked uncomfortable and, hunting for clues as to why I picked that movie, asked if I liked Rock Hudson. I said No! I liked Doris Day. (…which was the 100% truth.) And they accepted that answer and dropped the subject. Because me liking Doris Day movies, filled with schmaltzy songs and pastel colors everywhere, seemed not-gay to them? I cannot see how anyone would accept that conclusion.
I wanted to have a friend like Doris Day. Someone who would throw a little side-eye at me when I deserved it, and then 5 minutes later would laugh at stupid jokes together. And she was always ready to tap dance and sing a song. She was genuinely fun.
RIP Doris Day. I love you DD.
Rock-N-RollHS
Just started watching her films in the last year. Was surprised and shocked how winning and good Day was. (Not to mention Rock Hudson, an underrated comic actor.) Incredibly, just watched “The Pajama Game” for the first time this Saturday! (Fosse’s Steam Heat as brilliant today as ever.)
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
Que Sera Sera…
Am sure Rock Hudson was at the Gates of Heaven to welcome her…..
stevepcpa
Love this!
winemaker
A very classy lady. RIP Doris Day. A bit of trivia here; does anyone remember her sitcom in the mid 1960’s ‘The Doris Day Show’ in which she played a secretary living in Mill Valley and working in San Francisco?. Her landlady was Kaye Ballard, Ms. Pallucci,. The opening scene, driving over the Golden gate Bridge to her job in San Francisco and singing her song ‘Que Sera, Sera. RIP to a really classy lady
Stephen
Superstar friend of friends of Dorothy, like Elizabeth Taylor, Princess Diana, Sharon Stone, etc. The first is Judy Garland speaking about it on 1960’s TV interviews before anyone else used the word Gay. Bless them all. So grateful allies have been so confident, compassionate and shown living-kindness.
ricdardc1
Where’s the GIF of Doris Day, Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, Judy Garland all walking down The Yellow Brick Road.
ricdardc1
C’mon LOGO – do a DORIS DAY, ROCK HUDSON Marathon. or at Least a day of Doris Day. I think they should show her as a Subject for Rupauls Drag Queens . I still remember her Posing with Rock Hudson, as he was very sick with AIDS. When the world was showing Fear, she showed CLASS. I LOVE DORIS DAY. always did & always will. R.I.P.
dean089
I remember when Rock Hudson revealed publicly that he had AIDS and appeared at press events. Doris Day was standing right there with him, holding him, smiling that effervescent smile, at a time when most people hadn’t even heard of this disease. She wasn’t doing it to be seen, she wasn’t doing it to revive her career, sell product,s or anything else. She was there to support her friend who was going through something serious. THAT is what being an ‘ally’ is all about.
abslove
Whatever will be, will be…
Requiescant in pace
Doug
This woman had class. I grew up watching Doris Day films with my parents and rooted for her. As I got older I realized how inhibited and prudish her characters were and saw her as kind of a joke. But reading how difficult her life was and the abuse she received from a couple of the men she married, I can now appreciate how brave she was to go forward and continue to just be herself. I’ll miss her, she was one of a kind.
Kernos
We watched Pillow Talk today. I miss both of them.
hayleymills
There had been some talk years ago of giving Doris an honorary Oscar, which had eluded her therefor. I wish for that still, but would have loved to see her accept in person. A travesty, if you ask me. Thank you Doris, for your decades of enjoyment, and your selfless love for our animal friends. Love.