If you look at this handsome California realtor and think ‘those eyes and that smile look very familiar,’ there’s a good reason for that.
Ryan Melcher, 40, has worked hard to establish himself as a successful agent for Sotheby’s in Carmel – the California coastal town synonymous with his late grandmother, who remains one of the most beloved Hollywood stars of all-time.
Ryan married wife Brittney in a very glamorous Martha’s Vineyard ceremony in November.
And his grandma is such an icon that the nuptials merited a spread in People magazine, even though she’s been dead for four years, and retired decades before that.
So, can you guess who she is?
Melcher, 40, is a successful realtor around the Monterey Peninsula area in California – where he grew up with his family, including his famous grandma
Ryan’s grandma is Doris Day – the iconic American actress, singer and animal activist whose ‘girl next door’ persona captured the hearts of the U.S. during the 1950s and 60s.
The blonde star captivated post-war America as a big band era chanteuse before she achieved indelible fame in Hollywood.
The camera loved her and audiences were insatiable for her sweet, sunny disposition that masked the reality of her tragic private life that was defined by aching loneliness and misfortune.
Born, Doris Mary Anne von Kappelhoff in Cincinnati in 1922 – the onscreen legend that was to become known around the world by her stage name, Doris Day.
She died on May 13, 2019 at the age of 97 in her Carmel Valley, California home.
Day spent decades living quietly and contentedly in Carmel after quitting Hollywood in the late 60s and giving up a self-titled sitcom in 1973.
Her passing was mourned by movie fans across the globe, who nonetheless hailed Day’s quiet, unfussy life as testament to her famously down-to-earth personality.
You can probably guess who Ryan Melcher’s grandma is just by looking at his gleaming smile – which he clearly inherited from the iconic late actress
Melcher’s grandma was Doris Day – the iconic American actress, sing and animal activist whose ‘girl next door’ persona captured the hearts of the U.S. in her heyday
Day’s most-beloved roles were as Calamity Jane and in Pillow Talk with Rock Hudson. She and matinee idol Hudson became known for their sophisticated bedroom comedies throughout the late 50s and early 1960s.
The pair became great friends off-screen, with their chemistry delighting viewers. A TV reunion in 1985 to promote Doris’ show about animals for the Christian Broadcasting Network led to the revelation that Hudson was dying of AIDS, after the 6’3 star turned up for a press call looking gaunt and sickly.
Hudson, who was secretly gay, passed away from his illness months later aged just 59 – with Day struggling to hold back tears as she paid tribute to her co-star.
Day also showed her range in the 1956 Alfred Hitchcock thriller The Man Who Knew Too Much, where she debuted the song that would become her trademark – Que Sera, Sera.
Day was married four times and suffered her fair share of heartbreaks – but went on to live a long and fruitful life, the last few decades of which were spent rescuing and caring for animals.
When Melcher learnt of his grandma’s death, he shared his reaction in an Instagram post: ‘It’s been an emotional 24 plus hours since learning of my grandmother’s passing.
The blonde star captivated post-war America as a big band era chanteuse before she achieved indelible fame in Hollywood (Pictured: Doris Day in 1955)
Born, Doris Mary Anne von Kappelhoff in 1922 – the onscreen legend that was to become known around the world by her stage name, Doris Day died on May 13, 2019 at the age of 97 in her Carmel Valley, California home (Pictured: Doris Day in 2016)
The camera loved Day and audiences were insatiable for her sweet, sunny disposition that masked the reality of her tragic private life (Pictured: Send Me No Flowers movie still, starring Doris Day and Rock Hudson in 1964)
‘I want to first say thank you to all our extended family, friends, community members and fans from around the world that have reached out offering their condolences, support and sharing their favorite memories. Your words have meant more than I could ever adequately articulate.
‘A cultural icon, I’m proud of how my grandma built her career in television, film and as a recording artist.
‘Later in life it was her work as a philanthropist and advocate for animal rights that connected her with so many people around the world, and that’s a powerful legacy to leave behind.
‘She encouraged my father Terry to explore music and it led to him to doing several albums on her as well as others with the Byrds, the Mama’s and the Papa’s and the Beach Boys.
‘And although she was an incredibly private person, in my formative years she spent a lot of time and energy with our family, ensuring I felt loved.
‘I would go to her home every day after school and those are memories I will always cherish.
‘She instilled a drive and confidence that I will carry with me the rest of my life.’
Melcher also revealed that he received the news of his grandmother’s passing when he awoke and read the news in a social media feed.
When Melcher learnt of his grandma’s death, he shared his reaction in an Instagram post : ‘It’s been an emotional 24 plus hours since learning of my grandmother’s passing. A cultural icon, I’m proud of how my grandma built her career in television, film and as a recording artist’ (Pictured Ryan Melcher with dad Terry Melcher and grandma Doris Day)
Doris Day moved from a Cincinnati Ohio suburb to Los Angeles with her mother and dance partner at 15-years-old after she won the $500 grand prize at a dance contest
Doris Day married four times in her life. She had her son – Terry Melcher – with her first husband, but he was later adopted by her third husband Martin Melcher
Day was an overnight success and by the 1950s, she had become one of the highest paid singers in America, having recorded more than 650 songs to her catalog (pictured: Doris Day in 1989)
Doris Day moved from a Cincinnati Ohio suburb to Los Angeles with her mother and dance partner at 15-years-old after she won the $500 grand prize at a dance contest.
Her career in show business began in 1939 when she caught the attention of Les Brown, an American jazz band leader who was looking for a female vocalist to join his orchestra, together the two recorded a handful of hits before Day embarked on a solo career of her own that would span four decades long.
Day was an overnight success and by the 1950s, she had become one of the highest paid singers in America, having recorded more than 650 songs to her catalog.
As a triple threat that could sing, dance and act, it was only a matter of time before Day made her way to the silver screen after she impressed a couple of Warner Brother executives during an impromptu performance of ‘Embraceable You’ at a Hollywood party.
She won the lead part in Romance on the High Seas and subsequently launched her Tinseltown career with more than 40 titles under her belt; starring alongside on screen legends like Frank Sinatra, Clark Gable, Rock Hudson, Carey Grant and James Cagney.
Doris Day gave birth to Melcher’s father – Terry Melcher – in 1942. He was the son of her first husband Al Jorden, who wanted Doris Day to abort her baby and allegedly beat her when she refused in an effort to force a miscarriage.
Jorden – a violent schizophrenic, committed suicide. Their son – Terrence Paul Jorden – was adopted by Day’s third husband Martin Melcher.
Martin Melcher, who was a movie and music executive from Massachusetts, died in 1968 at the age of 52 because of an enlarged heart. Day then discovered he’d blown her $10 million fortune and was forced to star in a sitcom to salvage her finances.
Terry Melcher – Day’s only child – went on to be a famous American record producer who worked with the Beach Boys and other musicians in the 1960s.
Terry attended Beverly Hills High School and Principia College in Illinois for a short time. He claimed that his stepfather mistreated him as a child. He died of skin cancer in 2004.
As a triple threat that could sing, dance and act, it was only a matter of time before Day made her way to the silver screen after she impressed a couple of Warner Brother executives during an impromptu performance of ‘Embraceable You’ at a Hollywood party (Pictured: Doris Day in a Lullaby of Broadway)
She won the lead part in Romance on the High Seas and subsequently launched her Tinseltown career with more than 40 titles under her belt; starring alongside on screen legends like Frank Sinatra, Clark Gable, Rock Hudson, Carey Grant and James Cagney (Pictured: Day signing her name in cement outside the Chinese Theater on Hollywood Boulevard in 1961)
Day worked as a philanthropist and advocate for animal rights outside of her successful showbiz career (Pictured: Doris Day and Rock Hudson in Pillow Talk, 1959)
Ryan Melcher is the only child of Terry with his second wife actress Jacqueline Carlin. According to Ryan – his parents put him in the middle of their messy divorce, which prevented him from being bale to spend a lot of time with Doris Day.
He said: ‘Sadly, due to a divorce that I was thrown into the middle of while still an underaged child, I have not been allowed to see my grandmother for quite some time.
‘When I was invited by Doris to dinner a few years ago after my father’s untimely death in November 2004 (melanoma), her new business manager, a former fan, intervened and asked me to meet him at the family owned Cypress Inn here in Carmel, California.
‘I was asked by this man: “Why do you want to see Doris?” I was shocked not only at the question, but also that it was coming from someone who was a stranger and outsider.
‘I just responded, ‘um….she is my grandmother!’
‘He replied, ‘I’m afraid you aren’t going to be able to see your grandmother,’ citing the divorce between my parents as his excuse.’
Ryan Melcher’s parents were not the only couple with marital issues in the family – Day and Melcher’s relationship was riddled with rumors of cheating.
Their 17-year-long wedded bliss was marked by numerous affairs. Day carried on a relationship with Ronald Raegan, who she remembered fondly in her autobiography as a skilled dancer who loved to go out with a strong ability to express himself through speech.
She also had a fling with Steve Cochran, who at the time was dating Joan Crawford. For the most part, Day said she was happy: ‘I seemed to have found the solid, serene life I had been seeking.’
Day had long sought to push back against her reputation as ‘America’s favorite virgin’ and made no secret of the issues she’d faced in her private life.
It was this honesty which further endeared her to fans and which has helped cement her as one of the best-liked megastars in Hollywood history.