German actress Elke Sommer dies at 85

German actress Elke Sommer has died at the age of 85. She was a prominent figure in the postwar wave of European stars who transitioned to Hollywood, known for her roles in light comedies and as a glamorous screen presence.

Sommer is widely remembered for her role as Maria Gambrelli in the 1964 comedy A Shot in the Dark, starring alongside Peter Sellers. Throughout the 1960s, she appeared in films with major actors such as Dick Van Dyke, Bob Hope, and Dean Martin. She also gained recognition in the 1966 film Deadlier Than the Male.

In the 1970s, Sommer transitioned to European cult films, British sex comedies, and frequent appearances on American television, including The Muppet Show and The Love Boat. Beyond acting, she was a successful painter under the pseudonym E. Schwartz and released a celebrity fitness program in 1978.