Actor Elke Sommer dies aged 85 after heart failure
Developing story first seen 2 hours ago
No new developments are included in the added coverage: the report says actor Elke Sommer died aged 85 on 28 October, with the cause given as heart failure. Her death was announced by her stepson, and comes three months after her husband, Wolf Walther, died.
Sommer rose to prominence in the 1960s, appearing in *The Prize*, *A Shot in the Dark* and *The Wrecking Crew*. She later worked in European films and television, including *The Muppet Show*, and won $3.3 million in a defamation case involving Zsa Zsa Gabor.
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In short
- Elke Sommer has died aged 85.
- The actor starred in several notable 1960s films.
- Her husband died three months before her.
How this story developed
- 7 minutes ago Further details said Sommer died at her Bel-Air home and had been discovered by director Vittorio De Sica while visiting Italy; her role in The Prize brought a Golden Globe newcomer award.
- 25 minutes ago Actor Elke Sommer was reported to have died aged 85 on 28 October from heart failure, three months after her husband, Wolf Walther; her stepson announced her death, and her career included 1960s films, television roles and a $3.3 million defamation award involving Zsa Zsa Gabor.
Explained simply
Elke Sommer was a German-born actor who built an international career in European and American films and television. Director Vittorio De Sica noticed her while she was visiting Italy, and her role in the 1963 film The Prize brought her wider attention and a Golden Globe award for a newcomer.
Sommer appeared in the Pink Panther comedy A Shot in the Dark and the spy film The Wrecking Crew, as well as on US television and The Muppet Show. Her career reflects how European actors found audiences in Hollywood during the 1960s, while her range of screen roles kept her familiar to viewers across several decades.
Coverage · 2 sources
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Originally published by Deadline as “Elke Sommer Dies: ‘A Shot In The Dark’, ‘The Wrecking Crew’ Actor Was 85”.