Doris Day, last of Hollywood's golden stars, dies at 97

Screen icon Doris Day last of the stars to represent the golden era of Hollywood and the velvety voice behind the classic Que Sera Sera whatever will be will be has died She was 97A popular singeractor of her era Day ruled the industry in the 1950s and 60s with films such as Pillow Talk That Touch of Mink and The Man Who Knew Too Much She breathed her last on Monday at her Carmel Valley home in California her animal welfare foundation Doris Day Animal Foundation said in a statement posted on their official websiteDay had been in excellent physical health for her age until recently contracting a serious case of pneumonia resulting in her death She was surrounded by a few close friends as she passed the statement readThe foundation said the star had celebrated her 97th birthday on April 3 this year Hollywood celebrities such as Star Trek alums William Shatner George Takei author Paulo Coelho and actor Antonio Banderas took to Twitter to pay tributes to DayCalling the singeractor Worlds Sweetheart Shatner said she was loved by all and her death is an irreparable loss to cinema Like his Star Trek costar Takei quoted Que Sera Sera and said the screen legend will be missed dearlyFor those of us in my generation Doris Day was synonymous with Hollywood icon She would no doubt remind us upon this day of her passing Que sera sera but we will miss her dearly anyway Rest now in our hearts forever Ms Day he wrote on the microblogging siteCoelho shared few lines from Days song Secret Love 1953 and said I will miss you Doris Day my first secret loveBanderas condoled her death and paid gratitude to her for her talentThank you for your talent RIP DorisDay the actor wroteActor Luke Evans bid an emotional adieu to Day saying There was only one of you I have always loved your voice and the beautiful songs you made eternal RIPSeth MacFarlane said Hollywood lost another talent in DayTake a minute to appreciate the legendary Doris Day he addedBorn as Mary Ann Von Kappelhoff on April 3 1922 in Cincinnati Ohio Day began her professional career as a singer at the age of 15 and tasted success in her early 20s with the song Sentimental Journey in collaboration with Les Browns bandBut her signature song will always be Que Sera Sera from Alfred Hitchcocks 1956 film The Man Who Knew Too MuchShe made her acting debut with the 1948 film Romance on the High Seas whose success led to a more than a twodecadelong career spread over 39 films across genres as diverse as musicals comedies thrillers and dramasDay worked with the biggest leading men of her era such as Clark Gable Cary Grant Rock Hudson James Garner David Niven and Rod TaylorHer last film was With Six You Get Eggroll in 1968 after which she turned to the small screen with The Doris Day Show which ran for five years and earned a Golden Globe nominationThe actor was married four times trombonist Al Jorden saxophonist George William Weidler producer Martin Melcher and Barry Comden who worked as a maitre d at one of Days favourite restaurants Her marriage with Melcher lasted till his death in 1968 Melcher had also adopted Terry her son from her first marriage Terry died in 2004 In her later years the actor an animal lover since her teen years turned to animal welfare She founded the Doris Day Pet Foundation now the Doris Day Animal Foundation DDAF in 1978Days wishes were that she have no funeral or memorial service and no grave marker the foundation saidCatch up on all the latest entertainment news and gossip here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates