On April 20, 1968, Melcher passed away. Melcher’s physician advised Day, according to Day’s 1975 autobiography, that Melcher had an enlarged heart. Melcher was a Christian Science practitioner who decided to wait until his health worsened before seeking medical help.
Shortly after Melcher’s death, Day realised that he had cast her in The Doris Day Show, a CBS situation comedy, without consulting her. He had also embezzled millions of dollars from her during their marriage as a result of failed investments, leaving her deeply in debt.
After a 99-day trial, Day sued Melcher’s business partner, Jerome B. Rosenthal, and was awarded approximately $23 million for fraud and misconduct
Martin Melcher was a film and music executive in the United States. He was married to Doris Day, a well-known singer and actress with whom he co-owned Arwin Enterprises.
Melcher founded the independent film production business Arwin Productions in the 1950s and 1960s, issued music on the Arwin Records label, and published music through the music publishing companies Arwin Music and Darwin Music, Mart Music, and Artists Music.