Doris Day was a celebrated American actress, singer, and animal welfare activist, whose career spanned over several decades. She was born on April 3, 1922, in Cincinnati, Ohio, as Doris Mary Ann Kappelhoff, and was the youngest of three children.

Day had a tumultuous childhood. Her parents, Alma and William Kappelhoff, separated when she was just a child, and her mother later remarried a man named George Weidler. Day had a close relationship with her older brother, Paul, who was a talented musician, and together they would perform at local events.

As a child, Day was interested in dance and music, and she began taking dancing lessons at a young age. However, her dreams of becoming a professional dancer were shattered when she was involved in a car accident that severely injured her legs.

While recovering from her injuries, Day began to sing along to the radio, and soon discovered that she had a natural talent for singing. She began performing with local bands, and in 1939, at the age of 17, she joined the band of Barney Rapp, a well-known bandleader in the area.

It was with Rapp's band that Day first gained national attention. In 1940, the band recorded a song called "Sentimental Journey," which became a hit, and Day's version of the song became a popular tune during World War II.

Day left Rapp's band in 1941 to join the Les Brown Orchestra, which was one of the most popular bands of the era. With the Brown Orchestra, Day recorded several hits, including "My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time" and "Tangerine."

In 1944, Day's life took a dramatic turn when she married Al Jorden, a trombonist in the Brown Orchestra. Jorden was abusive, and Day later revealed that he had beaten her and tried to force her to have an abortion. Day left Jorden while she was pregnant with their son, Terry.

After her marriage to Jorden ended, Day continued to perform with the Brown Orchestra, but she also began to focus more on her acting career. She made her film debut in 1948, in a musical called "Romance on the High Seas," which was a hit.

Day's success in "Romance on the High Seas" led to a contract with Warner Bros. Pictures, one of the major studios of the time. She went on to star in several films for Warner Bros., including "My Dream Is Yours," "Tea for Two," and "Lullaby of Broadway."

Day's bubbly personality and charming screen presence made her a popular star during the 1950s and 1960s. She starred in a series of successful comedies, including "Pillow Talk," "Lover Come Back," and "That Touch of Mink."

In addition to her film career, Day also had a successful singing career. She recorded several albums and had several hit songs, including "Secret Love" and "Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)," which became her signature song.

Day's work as an animal welfare activist was just as important to her as her acting and singing careers. She was an avid animal lover and worked tirelessly to promote animal rights and welfare. In 1978, she founded the Doris Day Animal League, which is now known as the Doris Day Animal Foundation. The organization works to promote animal welfare legislation and to rescue and care for animals in need.