On Saturday, 29 October 2011, Doris Day was named the recipient of a lifetime achievement award by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA).
Founded in 1975, the LAFCA comprises of Los Angeles-based, professional film critics who honour screen excellence on both sides of the camera.
The organisation’s president, Brent Simon, said in a statement to the press “Equally at home in snappish romantic comedies and more dramatic fare, Day was the biggest female star of the 1960s, giving a series of delightfully perceptive performances”. He added “LAFCA is thrilled to be able to honor her.”
Other winners for the 37th annual LAFCA awards will be selected at the the organisations annual voting meeting on the 11 December. The winners will be announced via Twitter (@LAFilmCritics). The annual awards ceremony will then be held in mid-January.
Although Doris Day was one of the most popular actresses of the 1950s and ’60s, starring in 39 films opposite some of Hollywood’s finest male stars (e.g. James Cagney, Clark Gable, Rock Hudson and James Garner) she only ever received an Academy Award nomination for her work as an actress in 1959’s ‘Pillow Talk‘.
We are certain Ms Day’s millions of admirers worldwide will hope that this latest acknowledgement of her timeless film legacy will now provoke the Academy into righting their glaring oversight with a much deserved honorary Oscar.