Basic Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Barry David Comden |
| Also recorded as | Baruch Saul Comden (in some genealogical records) |
| Birth | March 30, 1935 – New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Death | May 25, 2009 (age 74) – Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Heart failure |
| Parents | David Comden (father), Natalie Messinger (mother) |
| Siblings | Ellen Lichterman (sister) |
| Occupation(s) | Restaurateur, maître d’, hospitality entrepreneur |
| Notable for | Fourth husband of actress Doris Day (married 1976; divorced by 1982) |
| Spouses | Sandra Lee Hill (m. 1966; div.), Doris Day (m. 1976; div. by 1982) |
| Children | Danny, Susannah, Maude |
| Residences | New York City (childhood), Los Angeles and Carmel, California (adulthood) |
Early Life and Background
Barry Comden entered the world on March 30, 1935, in New York City, the son of David Comden and Natalie Messinger. The public record of his childhood is sparse, the kind of quiet biography that leaves only faint footprints—suggesting a modest upbringing typical of mid-20th-century urban life. Some family-tree compilations record his given name as Baruch Saul Comden, and there are hints of Bronx ties, but little in the way of school lists, early clippings, or youthful exploits survives the sieve of time.
By the 1960s, Comden had set his course westward. California beckoned, and with it the hospitality industry that would define his professional identity and, unexpectedly, shape his place in Hollywood lore.
Family and Relationships
Comden’s life was threaded through with family. He married Sandra Lee Hill in 1966, and together they had three children: Danny (who became an actor), Susannah, and Maude. From all accounts, this branch of his life was steady and supportive; no estrangements were reported, and later in life he lived near his son, enjoying the tight orbit of children and grandchildren.
Comden married acclaimed singer and actress Doris Day on April 14, 1976. He brought Day home with leftovers for her dogs while working as a maître d’ at a Beverly Hills restaurant, something that made headlines and later became jokes. After buying a Carmel home in 1978, the couple divorced in 1982. No children came from the marriage. In actuality, the relationship seemed to fail due to priorities and lifestyle differences, but jokes about “taking second place to a dog” survived.
A possible earlier marriage to Luvenia Bennett has been mentioned in niche accounts but remains unconfirmed by mainstream records.
A Restaurateur’s Path
Comden’s métier was hospitality. He first gained notice as the maître d’ at the Old World Restaurant in Beverly Hills—an elegant stage for a man who understood the choreography of service: seating charts like sheet music, regulars as recurring motifs. Before that, in the 1960s, he worked on a dining club concept that sold coupon books for discounted meals, a practical idea of its time that speaks to his business instincts.
Scattered accounts link him to Tony Roma’s in a managerial or investment capacity during periods of financial turbulence, though those details are not firmly documented. What is clear is that Comden operated within the restaurant ecosystem long before, during, and after his brief brush with celebrity, a professional identity he never traded for the glitz of the spotlight.
Career Timeline (Selected)
- 1960s: Involved with a restaurant dining club selling discounted-meal booklets.
- Early–mid 1970s: Maître d’ at Old World Restaurant, Beverly Hills; meets Doris Day.
- April 14, 1976: Marries Doris Day.
- 1978: The couple buys a home in Carmel, California.
- 1981–1982: Divorce finalized (reported by 1982).
- 2009: Dies of heart failure in Los Angeles, age 74.
Life After the Spotlight
After his divorce from Day, Comden settled into a quieter rhythm. He lived as a bachelor, near family, the public appearances tapering to almost none. When he died in 2009—reportedly while watching a Lakers game, remote control in hand—the detail felt emblematic: a man at ease in private, absorbed by the ordinary joys of a life lived off-camera.
Media Mentions and Rumors
Comden’s media footprint crests at two moments: his 1976 wedding to Doris Day and his 2009 obituary. In between, he surfaces in Day biographies, fan forums, and the occasional throwback article that rehashes the “dog vs. husband” quip. There are no criminal scandals attached to his name, no explosive lawsuits, and no tell-all interviews. The gossip, such as it is, remains light—more wry Hollywood anecdote than tabloid firestorm.
Finances and Professional Scale
Unlike Day’s fame-fueled portfolio, Comden’s wealth was rooted in restaurants, not record deals or residuals. Reliable figures for his net worth were never public; any estimate is, at best, an educated guess. Given the scope of his career—a respected maître d’, participant in dining ventures, and reported ties to larger chains—his finances may have reached the low millions, but that is speculative. He seemed to value privacy over public accounting.
Family Snapshot
| Name | Relationship | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| David Comden | Father | Little public information beyond name. |
| Natalie Messinger | Mother | Little public information beyond name. |
| Ellen Lichterman | Sister | Survived him; minimal public profile. |
| Sandra Lee Hill (Sandy) | First wife | Married 1966; mother of his three children. |
| Doris Day | Second wife | Married 1976; divorced by 1982; no children together. |
| Danny Comden | Son | Actor; lived near Barry in later years; has children. |
| Susannah Comden | Daughter | Private life; listed among survivors. |
| Maude Comden | Daughter | Private life; listed among survivors. |
| Grandchildren | Descendants | Mentioned at his death; names and details kept private. |
| Luvenia Bennett | Possible spouse (unconfirmed) | Referenced in niche accounts; not widely corroborated. |
The Man Behind the Maître d’ Stand
To the extent that a public portrait can be drawn, Comden emerges as a working restaurateur whose fame was ambient, borrowed from proximity to a star. Yet there is dignity in that silhouette: a man who knew the cadence of a dining room, who raised a family, who navigated a brief, very public marriage and returned to a life less examined. His story sits at the margins of Hollywood—close enough to feel the heat, far enough to keep his own counsel.
FAQ
Who was Barry Comden?
Barry Comden was a New York–born restaurateur best known as the fourth husband of actress Doris Day.
When was Barry Comden born and when did he die?
He was born on March 30, 1935, and died on May 25, 2009, at age 74.
How did Barry Comden meet Doris Day?
He met her while working as a maître d’ at a Beverly Hills restaurant, famously sending her home with leftovers for her dogs.
Did Barry Comden and Doris Day have children together?
No, they had no children together.
Who are Barry Comden’s children?
He had three children with his first wife, Sandra Lee Hill: Danny, Susannah, and Maude.
What did Barry Comden do for a living?
He worked in hospitality as a maître d’ and restaurateur, and he took part in dining-related ventures over several decades.
Why did Barry Comden and Doris Day divorce?
Accounts cite lifestyle differences and his quip about “taking second place to a dog,” a lighthearted shorthand for deeper incompatibilities.
What was Barry Comden’s net worth?
No reliable public figures exist; any estimate would be speculative.
Was Barry Comden involved with Tony Roma’s?
Some accounts link him to the chain in a managerial or financial context, but documentation is limited and not conclusive.
Where did Barry Comden live?
He grew up in New York City and later lived in California, including Los Angeles and, during his marriage, Carmel.
