Elke Sommer, the German actress celebrated for her roles in "A Shot in the Dark" and "The Prize," died on October 29 at the age of 85. Sommer passed away peacefully at her home in Los Angeles following a battle with heart failure, according to reports.
Her death comes three months after her husband of 32 years, Wolf Walther, died after a battle with cancer. Sommer's stepson, Sebastian Walther, confirmed the actress's passing, telling German outlet Bild, "Elke passed away peacefully around 10 p.m." He added, "Now she can finally be with her beloved husband again."
Sommer, an international sex symbol, rose to prominence in the 1960s, becoming one of Germany's most recognized Hollywood stars. Her performance in the 1963 film "The Prize," alongside Paul Newman, earned her a Golden Globe Award in 1964.
That same year, she starred in Blake Edwards' "A Shot in the Dark," a popular installment of "The Pink Panther" series. In the film, Sommer portrayed Maria Gambrelli, a maid suspected of murder whose innocence Inspector Clouseau, played by Peter Sellers, works to prove.
Sommer's extensive filmography also includes "The Art of Love," "The Oscar," "The Wrecking Crew," and "The Prisoner of Zenda." Beyond her acting career, she was featured in three Playboy pictorials in September 1964, December 1967, and September 1970.
Her last credited role was in the 2017 animated short "A Thousand Kisses," where she lent her voice to the character Nette. In recent years, Sommer had stepped away from the public eye and had become bed-bound.
In a 2014 interview, Sommer expressed a desire for different roles, stating, "I am dreaming of a role that's really different. I would love to play an old hooker or a toothless street person. When this dream part comes along, I will shout it from the mountaintops. Until then, I can finally enjoy what I have, time with my husband and with our dog and my beautiful houses here in Beverly Hills and in Germany – life in a pure and unobstructed form."
Sommer was married twice. Her first marriage was to Hollywood columnist Joe Hyams in 1964, with whom she divorced in 1981. She later met Wolf Walther in 1989, and they remained married until his death earlier this year.