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Hollywood Legend Doris Day Dead at 97

The "Pillow Talk" star passed away early Monday morning at her home in California.

Hollywood legend and icon Doris Day has died at the age of 97.

The Doris Day Animal Foundation has confirmed Day died early Monday morning at her home in Carmel Valley, California. In an emailed statement the foundation said the actress "was surrounded by close friends" and "had been in excellent physical health for her age, until recently contracting a serious case of pneumonia, resulting in her death." Day had just turned 97 on April 3.

Day was known for her string of hit films in the '50s and '60s, including three sex comedies she made with Rock Hudson, with whom she stayed close until his death in 1985. She also received critical acclaim for her roles in Alfred Hitchock's The Man Who Knew Too Much and the 1955 movie musical Love Me or Leave Me.

The actress-singer was nominated for the Best Actress Academy Award for Pillow Talk but never won an Oscar. In 2004 George W. Bush awarded her Presidential Medal of Freedom, declaring it "a good day for America when Doris Marianne von Kappelhoff of Evanston, Ohio decided to become an entertainer."

Day mostly retired from show business in the '80s, focusing much of her time on her animal foundation. To celebrate her birthday last month, fans gathered in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, for a three-day celebration honoring the screen legend, including a charity event for her foundation and a 60th anniversary screening of Pillow Talk.

Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

Rock Hudson (1925-1985), US actor, wearing white trousers and a light blue short-sleeved shirt, and Doris Day, US singer and actress, in a pink gingham dress, both reclining on a sofa, laughing and holding drinks, circa 1960. (Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images)

“I was floored to hear about all the activities happening over the weekend! I’m so touched and grateful to my pals who donated their time and talents and the wonderful fans from all over the world who made the trip just for my birthday," Day said in a statement. "Their love and support to help us raise money for the precious four-ledgers means more to me than I can say.”

According to The New York Times, Day didn't like stories with sad endings, saying, “It upsets me when the hero or heroine dies. I would like them to live happily ever after.”

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