1. She didn't know — or care — how old she was.

 

For the longest time, Day thought (or claimed she thought) she was born in 1924. But The Associated Press obtained a copy of her birth certificate that said she was born on April 3, 1922.

"I've always said that age is just a number and I have never paid much attention to birthdays, but it's great to finally know how old I really am," Day said in a statement in 2017.

Image: GIPHY

2. She's kept making records — and breaking records.

 

After 45 years of silence, Day recorded and released the album My Heart in 2011. At the age of 89, Day's 29th studio album debuted at No. 9 on the U.K. albums chart, making her the oldest artist to chart in the Top 10 with new material.

Image: Amazon

3. Her fame endured.

 

Even though Day was one of the biggest box office stars of the 1960s, she stopped making films in 1968. However, she's still ranked as one of the top 10 box office performers of all time, tied at sixth with John Wayne and Shirley Temple.

Image: Associated Press

4. She still received loads of fan mail in recent years.

 

Despite retreating from the spotlight after her eponymous show ended in 1973, Day still got hundreds of fan letters each week. 

Image: GIPHY

5. She loved animals.

 

Just like fellow nonagenarian Betty White, Day had love and passion for animals. She founded the Doris Day Animal Foundation in the early 1970s. Later on in the 1980s, Day established the Doris Day Animal League, which endures to this day.

Image: Pinterest

6. Alfred Hitchcock liked her.

 

When Day appeared in The Man Who Knew Too Much, she was bothered by the fact Hitchcock wasn't giving her any direction. She confided in costar James Stewart that she thought Hitchcock hated her, with Stewart replying the director will only direct you when you need direction.

After confronting Hitchcock herself, Day found out the director was very pleased with her work and she was portraying the part of Jo perfectly. 

Image: Universal

7. She didn't know she signed on for a TV show.

 

Day revealed in her 1975 autobiography she had no clue she was going to do The Doris Day Show. The actress said her third husband, Martin Melcher, signed her up for the series in 1968 without her knowledge. Day only found out about the show after Melcher died of heart disease the same year. 

"I was really, really not very well when [Melcher] passed away, and the thought of going into TV was overpowering. But he'd signed me up for a series," Day told OK! Magazine in 1996.

8. She survived bankruptcy.

 

The Doris Day Show wasn't the only thing Melcher did behind Day's back. After Melcher died in April of 1968, Day found out her husband and his business partner, Jerome Bernard Rosenthal, wasted her earnings. Day started the 1960s as the most successful actress and ended the decade flat broke. She was eventually awarded a settlement in 1979.

Image: Associated Press

9. Denver Pyle was two years older than Day.

 

Pyle portrayed Day's father in the first few seasons of The Doris Day Show. However, the actor was born on May 11, 1920, less than two years before his onscreen daughter. Oh, Hollywood!