Elke Sommer, 1960s Hollywood star, dies at 85

Elke Sommer, a German-born actress who became a recognizable figure in 1960s Hollywood comedies and spy films, died on Wednesday in her Bel Air home. She was 85. Her stepson, Sebastian Walther, confirmed the death to the German newspaper Bild. The Los Angeles Police Department stated that officers responded to a report of the death of an 85-year-old woman on her street that night.

Sommer’s career shifted from European cinema to major American productions in the early 1960s. Producer Pandro S. Berman cast her in 'The Prize' after seeing her in a German drama. In that film, she acted alongside Paul Newman and won a Golden Globe for most promising newcomer. She later starred in Blake Edwards' Pink Panther sequel 'A Shot in the Dark,' playing the maid Maria Gambrelli opposite Peter Sellers. Critics at the time noted her appearance, with Variety observing that her looks made her role's limitations a secondary issue.

Her personal life included two marriages that influenced her public profile. She married photographer Joe Hyams in November 1964; he took the photographs for her Playboy appearance around that time. The couple divorced in 1981. In 1993, she married German hotelier Wolf Walther, who died in July at age 77. Her second marriage provided a stable base in Germany and Los Angeles, allowing her to continue working in film and television into her later years.

Sommer also became known for a public dispute with Zsa Zsa Gabor that began in 1984. The conflict escalated in 1990 when Gabor and her husband made negative comments about Sommer in German media. Gabor claimed Sommer was broke and sold hand-knitted sweaters for $150. Sommer filed a defamation suit seeking $10 million. In 1993, a jury awarded her $3.3 million. The legal battle kept her in the headlines for several years, adding a layer of controversy to her film career.

Born Elke Schletz in Berlin in 1940, Sommer began acting after spotting a job in Italy in 1958. She worked across Europe before moving to Hollywood. Her later work included roles in 'Zeppelin' and 'And Then There Were None.' She also voiced Yzma in the German dub of 'The Emperor’s New Groove.' By the 1990s, she had turned her attention to painting while continuing to make occasional appearances on screen. She described herself as a performer who brought energy to her roles, a view she maintained in interviews well into her eighties.

Sommer believed in the power of cinema to create larger-than-life figures. In a 1967 interview, she stated that movie stars should be extraordinary and above average for audiences. She argued that actors should provide a distinct experience for viewers who pay to see them. This philosophy guided her approach to acting throughout her career, from her early European roles to her final projects in the 1990s.