The New Dish on Doris Day
Doris Day, 86, still holds that title and is the subject of a dishy new book.
July 10, 2008— -- She was Hollywood's eternal virgin, the perky co-star with Rock Hudson of wholesome post-World War II comedies.
But the new book "Doris Day: The Untold Story of the Girl Next Door" by David Kaufman (Virgin, $29.95) is full of surprises about the actress, who was sexier off screen than on:
•Now 86 and living in Carmel, Calif., Day remains the No. 1 female box office star of all time.
•Day's fans include writer John Updike, who once said, "She just glowed for me."
•Day married the equivalent of Elvis' Colonel Tom Parker. Third husband/manager Marty Melcher was a control freak who alienated Day's co-workers, damaged her career and discouraged her from taking the risky role of Mrs. Robinson in The Graduate.
•Virginal on screen, Day was married four times and bore her only child, son Terry, at age 19.
•Kaufman writes Day had an affair with black player Maury Wills of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1962. (Day denied it in her 1976 autobiography.)
•Day called up then-governor and former flame Ronald Reagan in 1971 to complain about Los Angeles' animal shelters. Told Reagan was unavailable, she replied: "You tell him that it's his co-star from "The Winning Team". I was married to him when he was only Grover Cleveland Alexander, the baseball player, and he'd better call me back."