Elke Sommer dies at 85 after heart failure
German actress Elke Sommer died Wednesday at her Los Angeles home of heart failure.
Family confirms peaceful passing
Her stepson Sebastian Walther told Bild that she passed away peacefully around 10 p.m. He stated she could finally be with her late husband Wolf Walther again. Sommer was born in Berlin in 1940 before her family fled the capital during World War II.
Career highlights and awards
She moved to London in 1957 and later appeared in films directed by Vittorio De Sica. Her Hollywood roles included The Prize with Paul Newman and A Shot in the Dark with Peter Sellers. She won a Golden Globe for most promising newcomer actress in 1964.
Later work in Italy
After her time in the United States waned, she starred in Italian horror films during the early 1970s. These projects included Baron Blood and Lisa and the Devil alongside actors like Joseph Cotten.
All 3 outlets report consistently
No differences in figures, names or dates across these reports.
- The Hollywood Reporter
- Variety
- The Guardian
Reported by
3 independent outlets. Headlines as published. Links open the original report.
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The Hollywood Reporter
Elke Sommer, Actress in ‘A Shot in the Dark’ and ‘The Prize,’ Dies at 85
hollywoodreporter.com → -
Variety
Elke Sommer, ‘Pink Panther’ and ‘The Prize’ Star, Dies at 85
variety.com → -
The Guardian
Elke Sommer, prolific German star of A Shot in the Dark and And Then There Were None, dies aged 85
theguardian.com →