Home / Arts and Entertainment / A Shot in the Dark Star Elke Sommer Passes Away at 85
A Shot in the Dark Star Elke Sommer Passes Away at 85
29 Oct
Summary
- German-born actress Elke Sommer died at age 85 in Los Angeles.
- She starred alongside Peter Sellers in the Pink Panther sequel.
- Sommer's career spanned European films to Hollywood stardom.
Elke Sommer, the German-born actress renowned for her role as Maria Gambrelli in A Shot in the Dark, died on October 28 at her home in Bel Air, Los Angeles. She was 85 years old. Sommer passed away from heart failure after an extended illness, according to reports. Her husband, hotelier Wolf Walther, preceded her in death, passing away on July 22 at age 77.
Born Elke Schletz in Berlin, Sommer's path to acting began after a beauty contest during an Italian holiday caught the attention of director Vittorio De Sica. She started her career in European films in the late 1950s before transitioning to American and international productions.
Sommer gained significant recognition for her performance in the 1963 thriller The Prize, earning her a New Star of the Year award. Her role in A Shot in the Dark, released in 1964, further solidified her Hollywood career. Beyond these, her credits include horror films, theater, and television appearances.
In her later years, Sommer also pursued painting under the name E. Schwartz. Her final film credits include Das Leben ist zu lang in 2010 and a voice role in a 2017 animated short. Sommer would have celebrated her 86th birthday on November 5.
