Golden Globe winner Elke Sommer, an international star recognized for her roles in "A Shot in the Dark" and other films, died on Wednesday at her home in Los Angeles. She was 85 and passed away from heart failure, according to German outlet Bild. Her death comes three months after her husband of 32 years, Wolf Walther, died from cancer.
Sommer, who would have turned 86 on November 5, had been bed-bound in recent months, according to reports. Her career spanned nearly six decades, with her final acting credit in 2017.
Born in Berlin in 1940, Sommer initially pursued a career as an interpreter, reportedly speaking six languages by her teenage years. Her path to acting began after winning the Miss Viareggio beauty contest in Italy at age 17. Spotted by Italian director Vittorio De Sica, she went on to star in Italian comedies.
Her international breakthrough came with roles in films like "The Prize" (1963), starring Paul Newman. In 1964, she received a Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer. That same year, she gained wider recognition for her role as Maria Gambrelli in the 1964 Pink Panther film "A Shot in the Dark," where she played a maid framed for murder who becomes involved with Inspector Jacques Clouseau, portrayed by Peter Sellers.
Sommer also appeared in "The Oscar" (1966) and "The Wrecking Crew" (1968) alongside Dean Martin. She was also featured in three Playboy spreads in the 1960s and 1970s.
Sommer was married twice. Her first marriage was to Hollywood columnist Joe Hyams from 1964 to 1981. She met Wolf Walther, a hotel executive, in 1989, and they married in 1991. A close friend described Sommer as unable to imagine life without her "Papa Bear," Walther, adding that she could now be reunited with him.
