Doris Day And James Garner: A Decades-Long Bond

Let me tell you a story about two Hollywood legends whose friendship transcended the silver screen. The last time Doris Day and James Garner spoke, it was his daughter Gigi who initiated the call. "I handed the phone to my dad, and they had a truly heartfelt conversation," Gigi reminisces to Closer. "I was so glad they had the chance to hear each other's voices. They were such dear old friends."

A Cinematic Match Made in Heaven

In 1963, Doris Day and James Garner starred together in not one, but two iconic romantic comedies, The Thrill of It All and Move Over, Darling. These films weren't just box office hits—they sparked a warm, enduring friendship that lasted five decades. Jim often expressed his admiration for Doris, saying, "Doris was everyone's darling. I wish I could have made 50 more movies with her." Doris felt the same way. "He’s so funny and so kind; I just adore him," she once gushed.

On-Screen Chemistry That Translated Off Screen

Pairing these two Hollywood heavyweights on-screen as a married couple felt like destiny. Jim, fresh off his success with the hit series Maverick, proved he could handle comedy just as well as drama. Doris, meanwhile, was the reigning queen of the box office, starring in countless beloved films. Their connection was immediate. "On set, they understood each other's rhythms perfectly," explains Tom Santopietro, author of the biography Considering Doris Day. He adds that their compatibility as actors helped solidify their off-screen friendship. It wasn't just about work—they shared a lot in common.

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"They were both very down-to-earth people, without airs or pretenses," says Santopietro. "They were both Midwesterners—Doris from Cincinnati, and Jim from Oklahoma. I think that shared background informed their practical outlook on life." Both were also passionate animal lovers. "There was a scene in The Thrill of It All where my dad is riding a horse," Gigi recalls fondly. "I remember Doris coming over to gently pet the horse. It was such a sweet moment." Doris later founded the Doris Day Animal Foundation, continuing her lifelong advocacy for animals. In honor of her father, Gigi established the Jim Garner Animal Rescue Fund.

Could They Have Been More Than Friends?

If circumstances had been different, it's likely their relationship might have turned romantic. Jim called Doris one of the two most desirable women he'd ever kissed on screen—the other being Julie Andrews. "Doris didn't play sexy; she didn't act sexy. She was sexy. And then she could take a sexy scene and make you laugh—which is better in the bedroom than a lot of things," he said. "If I hadn't been married, I would have tried to carry things further after hours."

Doris also had a soft spot for Jim, even after he accidentally broke her ribs during filming! In Move Over, Darling, Jim had to pull Doris off of Polly Bergen, who played his rival for affection. After the scene, Doris felt a sharp pain in her side. "Jim, if we don't speak for a while, I forgive you for breaking my ribs. Both of them," she joked in her memoir, Doris Day: Her Own Story. Despite the injury, she completed filming wearing bandages under her costumes, admitting it was painful to breathe and excruciating to laugh.

A Lifetime of Loyalty

Despite their mutual attraction, Jim was a devoted husband. He married Gigi's mother, Lois, in 1956, and they remained together until his passing. "My wife and I have a good marriage because we have nothing in common," Jim humorously remarked. "[Also] she never nags or makes scenes." Like any couple in a long-term relationship, they faced ups and downs. "People of their generation didn't just divorce at the drop of a hat," Gigi explains.

Doris, on the other hand, believed she had finally found her Prince Charming. After being physically abused by her first husband and abandoned by her second, her third husband, producer Marty Melcher, seemed like the perfect match. He boosted her career and adopted her son, Terry. However, tragedy struck when Marty suddenly passed away in 1968 due to a heart condition. Upon reviewing her finances, Doris discovered that her husband had squandered all her savings, leaving her deeply in debt.

Jim, like many in Hollywood, never cared for Marty but felt it inappropriate to say anything. "Marty was a hustler, a shallow, insecure hustler," Jim later said, accusing Marty of "ripping off" Doris. "When we were making Move Over, Darling, he was bragging a lot about money…. Without Doris, he couldn't have driven a truck for the Teamsters."

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Doris's friendship with Jim endured beyond her financial struggles. (She eventually won a settlement from her late husband's business partner.) Though they didn't see each other often—Jim disliked dressing up and attending parties—they stayed in touch. "We've stayed friends because we talk on the phone regularly," Doris said. "I don't know how, because Jim hates the telephone. I usually have to call him. 'Can't you pick up a phone?' I say, but he just grumbles."

Gigi was happy to help Doris connect with her father in his final years. "It was really important for her to speak to him to check on his well-being," she says of their last conversation. "They were great friends."