Doris Archives - سمكة الامارات

Doris Day Makes Her First Public Appearance in More Than 2 Decades

Doris Day Makes Her First Public Appearance in More Than 2 Decades

By LIZ MCNEIL
04/09/2014 at 11:00 AM EDT

Doris Day and a fan on April 4
CW3PR

She wasn’t expected to attend the annual Doris Day Animal Foundation benefit in honor of her 90th birthday. But at the last minute, the song and screen legend decided to make a surprise entrance.

When Doris Day, sporting her trademark pageboy do and a white turtleneck, entered the room at Carmel’s Quail Lodge on April 4 (the day after she turned 90), stunned guests cheered her arrival. Some even started to cry.

"At First I didn’t realize it was for me," says Day, who hadn’t made a Public Appearance in More Than two decades. "I couldn’t believe it. People kept coming up to me all night, kissing and hugging me. It’s all so exciting and sweet. I’ll never ever forget it."

One of the biggest box-office stars of her time, Day is amazed her films had such an impact. "I am thrilled people love my movies," she says. "We all had so much fun making them."

Day says she keeps in shape by exercising every day, taking long walks on her property with her beloved dogs, and eating a healthy diet. She enjoys occasional indulgences such as a glass of wine ("Just one glass," she says) and her favorite, ice cream.

"I love good and healthy things," she says.

Still, she’s not one to focus on her age. "I just feel young," she says. "I can’t really explain it. I just feel that way."

Doris Day (center) with Danny and Jeanne Levett
CW3PR

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Doris DAY!

She looks so fresh and wonderful! I love those Doris Day/Rock Hudson movies, Tony Randall was fantastic in them too.

Doris Day On Saying Goodbye to Rock Hudson: ‘I Was In Tears’

Doris Day On Rock Hudson’s AIDS Diagnosis : People.com

Doris Day On Saying Goodbye to Rock Hudson: ‘I Was In Tears’

To read all of movie icon Rock Hudson’s shocking untold story, subscribe to PEOPLE now.

Doris Day and Rock Hudson made Hollywood magic in such classics as Pillow Talk and Lover Come Back. More than five decades later, Day, 91, remembers her tearful Goodbye with the actor who once loved to make her laugh. "I still miss him," she says.

They first met on the set of Pillow Talk in 1959. "I remember asking someone ‘Is his name really Rock? That’s odd, don’t you think?’ " remembers Day. "I knew nothing about him!"

"He was so funny," she says. "He always had a nickname for me but he liked Eunice best. He’d come into the makeup area and and holler ‘Eunice, are you here? I’ll be over in a minute with a donut.’ "

Years later, after he was diagnosed with AIDS, Hudson kept his promise to appear on her variety show in July 1985. It was his gaunt appearance at the press conference announcing their reunion that *****ed the world to his failing health – just before his AIDS diagnosis was made public. "He promised her he would be there so he went," says his business manager Wallace Sheft.

"I hardly knew him," recalls Day. "He was very sick. But I just brushed that off and I came out and put my arms around him and said ‘Am I glad to see you.’"

"He’d get very tired," she recalls of his last visit. "I’d bring him his lunch and fix him a big platter but he couldn’t eat. I’d say ‘What if I get a fork and feed you’ but he said ‘Doris I can’t eat.’"

Their Goodbye broke her heart. "They had a small plane to get him to the airport," she says. "We kissed Goodbye and he gave me a big hug and he held onto me. I was in tears. That was the last time I saw him – but he’s in heaven now."

Looking back, Day, who lives a quiet life in Carmel, California and is devoted to animals and the Doris Day Animal Foundation says, "I think the reason people liked our movies is because they could tell how much we liked each other. It came across that way on screen. He was a good friend."