Doris Day Family Tree: The Story Behind Hollywood's Sunny Star

Doris Mary Anne Kappelhoff, known as Doris Day (1922–2019), born 3 April 1922 in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, and died 13 May 2019 in Carmel Valley, CA, was Hollywood's most-loved 1950s-60s actress-singer — 39 films including Calamity Jane (1953), Love Me or Leave Me (1955), The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956), Pillow Talk (1959), That Touch of Mink (1962); Que Sera Sera her signature song; Presidential Medal of Freedom (2004); Grammy Lifetime Achievement (2008).

The Family's Roots: A German-American Cincinnati Family

Parents divorced when Doris was 11.

Her Parents

Father: Wilhelm "William" Frederick Kappelhoff — German-American music teacher, choir master.

Mother: Alma Sophia Welz Kappelhoff — homemaker.

Her 4 Husbands

Al Jorden (m. 1941, div. 1943) — trombonist; abusive.

George Weidler (m. 1946, div. 1949) — saxophonist.

Marty Melcher (m. 3 April 1951, until his death 20 April 1968) — producer.

Barry Comden (m. 14 April 1976, div. 25 May 1982) — restaurant maître d'.

Her Son (with Al Jorden)

Terry Melcher (1942–2004) — son; music producer (Beach Boys, Byrds); adopted by Marty Melcher; Charles Manson stalked him in 1969 (Manson had lived at same address later occupied by Sharon Tate — killed there).

The Day Family Tree at a Glance

Father: William Kappelhoff — choir master.

Mother: Alma Kappelhoff.

Husbands: Al Jorden (1941-43); George Weidler (1946-49); Marty Melcher (1951-68, died); Barry Comden (1976-82).

Son: Terry Melcher (1942–2004) — music producer.

Doris Day:

  • Born 3 April 1922, Cincinnati
  • Car accident 1937 ended dance career; turned to singing
  • Big band with Les Brown 1940; "Sentimental Journey" (1945) #1 hit
  • Hollywood 1948
  • Que Sera Sera (1956) — signature song
  • Doris Day Show TV 1968-73
  • Devoted animal rights activist; Doris Day Animal Foundation
  • Died: 13 May 2019, Carmel Valley — pneumonia at 97

What the Day Family Story Teaches Us

A German-American music-teacher father. Four marriages. One son who was Charles Manson's target (Terry Melcher). A career that stayed America's sunny sweetheart through 39 films and one Grammy Lifetime Achievement.

For every family — large or small, famous or otherwise — the Doris story carries the same lesson. Some careers sing "Que Sera Sera" while Manson stalked their son.

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