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Death of actress Elke Sommer

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2026-11-03 03:17 UTC → 2026-11-05 15:48 UTC · added ~~removed~~

German born actress Elke Sommer has died at the age of 85 at her home in Bel Air, Los Angeles. Her death was attributed to heart failure, according to her stepson, Sebastian Walther. Sommer, born Elke Schletz in Berlin, rose to international fame in the 1960s. After being discovered in Italy by director Vittorio De Sica, she became a prominent figure in Hollywood comedies and espionage films. Her career included approximately 100 movies and various television productions, with notable roles in the “Pink Panther” franchise and “The Prize,” for which she won a Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer in 1964. She is widely remembered for her role as Maria Gambrelli in the 1964 comedy “A Shot in the Dark,” starring alongside Peter Sellers. Known for being fluent in at least six languages, Sommer also worked within the British film industry, where she commanded high salaries for her work in the “Carry On” film series. In Spain, she holds historical significance as the first actress to wear a bikini in a Spanish film, appearing in the 1962 production “Bahía de Palma.” ~~She was also recognized for~~ Throughout the 1970s, she transitioned to European cult films and frequent appearances on American television, including “The Muppet Show” and “The Love Boat.” Beyond her ~~roles alongside major stars such as Dean Martin.~~ acting career, Sommer was a successful painter using the pseudonym E. Schwartz and released a celebrity fitness program in 1978. She passed away only a few months after the death of her husband, Wolf Walther.

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