Que Sera, Sera The Love That Keeps Doris Young

The film icon, who turned 96 this month, is still active and putting energy into her passions.

Doris Day is as enamored with her fans as they are with her. “The amount of fan mail she still gets is crazy,” her friend and biographer Pierre Patrick tells the Weekly. “When I was at her house for her birthday, there were bags of mail in the garage and she’s great at answering it all.” Even when her admirers get a little wild, the legendary actress and animal advocate welcomes them with open arms.

“If a feral cat wanders on her property,” says Bob Bashara, Doris’ business manager and close friend, “she’s bound to take it in and care for it.” It’s just one of the things that makes her so happy. “I’ve been blessed with good health, wonderful pals, lovely fans and so many precious four-leggers,” tells Doris.

“What more can I ask for?” she asked the Weekly on the eve of her 96th birthday earlier this month, on April 3. Doris’ positivity is contagious, as proven by the star’s three-day celebration that’s now tradition in Carmel, California, her home since 1981.

“People come in from all over the world and bring her gifts,” Pierre beams, and all the proceeds from the festivities benefit the Doris Day Animal Foundation, a passion project she’s run for four decades. In fact, Doris refuses to slow down or be limited by her age.

“There’s a little Doris Day empire and it’s very, very busy,” Pierre says of his friend’s indomitable spirit.

A beloved star of 42 films, such as Calamity Jane and Pillow Talk, Doris was also a top-selling recording artist from 1949 to 1967 with hits such as Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera) and Everybody Loves a Lover. When she left Hollywood, though, her priorities shifted from show business to devoting her life to animal rescue and welfare.