Elke Sommer, Prolific German Star of 1960s and 70s Cinema, Dies at 85

Elke Sommer, a prominent German actress known for her prolific film career in the 1960s and 1970s, has passed away at the age of 85. According to reports from Bild magazine, the acclaimed performer died in Los Angeles due to heart failure. Sommer was part of a successful wave of European actors who transitioned to Hollywood and English-language films following the rise of post-war European New Wave cinema, utilizing her linguistic talents to secure prominent roles alongside major Hollywood stars.

Born as Elke Schletz in Berlin in 1940 to a Protestant pastor, she spent her wartime childhood evacuated to Bavaria. While initially planning a career as an interpreter, her life shifted after winning a beauty contest during an Italian vacation in 1958. Celebrated Italian director Vittorio De Sica spotted her, leading to initial roles in Italian comedies. She later returned to dramatic acting in the West German production The Death Ship opposite Horst Buchholz.

Prolific German actress and Hollywood star Elke Sommer has died in Los Angeles at age 85.

Leveraging her facility with languages, Sommer starred in her first English-language film, the 1961 British comedy Don't Bother to Knock. Her breakthrough in Hollywood occurred in 1963 when she appeared as Paul Newman's love interest in The Prize, earning a joint Golden Globe for most promising newcomer. She subsequently starred in the Pink Panther sequel A Shot in the Dark, alongside Peter Sellers, cementing her international status. Further Hollywood credits included major comedies and dramas with Dick Van Dyke, James Garner, and Bob Hope, as well as leading the 1968 comedy The Wicked Dreams of Paula Schultz.

During the 1970s, Sommer expanded her filmography into horror with Mario Bava features and British sex comedies. She also secured roles in high-profile British adaptations, such as the 1974 Agatha Christie mystery And Then There Were None and the comedy Carry On Behind. Later in life, she reduced her cinematic output to focus on painting and became involved in a well-publicized legal dispute that concluded in her favor.

Sommer was married twice, first to writer Joe Hyams and later to hotelier Wolf Walther. Her multilingual background and ability to navigate diverse genres ensured her lasting legacy in international film history.