Elke Sommer dies at 85

Elke Sommer, a German-born actress known for her roles in numerous Hollywood comedies and espionage films during the 1960s, has passed away at the age of 85.

Born Elke Schletz in Berlin on November 5, 1940, Sommer was forced to flee with her family to southern Germany in 1942 due to World War II. Her father, a Protestant pastor, tragically died when she was just 14 years old.

Sommer's striking features and talent earned her numerous roles alongside some of Hollywood's biggest stars. In the comedy "A Shot in the Dark, for instance, she starred alongside Peter Sellers in the Pink Panther film series. She also appeared in other notable movies such as The Prize" with Paul Newman and "Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number!" with Bob Hope.

Details surrounding Sommer's death have emerged, with her stepson Sebastian Walther confirming that she passed away at home in Bel Air, Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Police Department had responded to the scene on Wednesday night after receiving reports of an 85-year-old woman's passing.

Further information about Sommer's life and career is still being pieced together, but it is clear that her contribution to Hollywood's Golden Age will be remembered for years to come.

Elke Sommer's film career began unexpectedly during a family trip to Italy in 1958, where she was spotted by someone connected to the Italian film industry and invited to appear in her first film, "The Friend of the Jaguar. This initial foray into acting led to a flurry of work throughout Europe, with Sommer taking on roles in films produced in Italy, Spain, and England under her adopted surname.

Sommer's breakthrough in Hollywood came courtesy of producer Pandro S. Berman, who had seen her performance in a German drama that was screened at the Golden Globes. He offered her a role in The Prize, where she played both chaperone and romantic interest to Newman's Nobel Prize-winning character. A review of the film in Variety noted that while Sommer's role was not particularly memorable, her physical appearance made it a secondary issue.

In addition to her work on The Prize, Sommer also appeared in Blake Edwards' sequel to the Pink Panther series, A Shot in the Dark". She played Maria Gambrelli, a maid framed for murder who catches the romantic eye of Inspector Clouseau. Around this time, she also posed for Playboy Magazine, with photographs taken by her first husband Joe Hyams.

Sommer's marriage to Hyams took place in November 1964 and lasted until their divorce in 1981.

Elke Sommer's marriage to Wolf Walther lasted from 1993 until his passing in July at the age of 77.

In a candid interview with Film Talk in 2014, Sommer expressed her skepticism about being labeled a sex symbol, stating that it held little significance for her. She pointed out that other actresses, such as Rita Hayworth and Ava Gardner, had also been considered sex symbols during their time in the industry.

Sommer attributed her perceived sex appeal to her energetic on-screen presence rather than any physical attributes, remarking that she was simply playing characters as directed by others, bringing only her own energy to the roles.