Doris Day

Doris Day was born April 3, 1924 in Evanston, Ohio. When she was born her name was Doris Mary Ann von Kapplehoff. Doris is an American singer, actress, and animal welfare advocate; she was one of the busiest and most popular actresses of the 1950s and 1960s. She was named ''Doris'' after silent movie actress Doris Kenyon, whom her mother liked. Her family's nationality is German and her religion is catholic, despite her parent's divorce.

Growing up in Ohio, her father was a music teacher and her mom loved music. They were divorced when Doris was 12. Doris lived with her mom and older brother. She started taking dancing lesson when she was only six. At the age of 13, in 1937, she and a partner won a $500 price in a dance contest. The family decided to move to Hollywood where they hoped Doris would become a star. On the trip West, her right leg was seriously injured in a car accident. She decided to concentrate on singing after the accident. She was convinced that ''Kapplehoff'' was too awkward a name and suggested ''Day'' after the song ''Day after Day''. She was only 17 when she got a chance to sing with one of the biggest bands of the time, Les Brown. It was not long before she was considered one of the best singers in the world! Doris went on to star in many films, in most of which she sang. In Alfred Hitchcock's "The Man Who Knew Too Much," also she sang "Que Sera Sera," which won an Oscar.

Doris spends most of her time these days helping animals through the Doris Day Animal Foundation and Doris Day Animal League. On June 23, 2004, President George W. Bush awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the USA's highest civilian honour.

By Tanea & Sydnee, fourth grade, 2005