Elke Sommer, German actress of Pink Panther and Agatha Christie films, dies at 85
The Berlin-born performer, known for roles in A Shot in the Dark and And Then There Were None, died in Los Angeles.
At a glance
- Sommer died in Los Angeles of heart failure, according to Bild magazine
- She was known for roles in A Shot in the Dark, And Then There Were None, and Carry On Behind
- The Berlin-born actress was part of a wave of European performers who crossed over to Hollywood in the 1960s and 1970s
- She worked with major actors including Peter Sellers, Dick Van Dyke and Paul Newman
Elke Sommer, a German actress who became a prominent figure in Hollywood cinema during the 1960s and 1970s, has died aged 85. According to Bild magazine, she died in Los Angeles of heart failure.
Sommer was among a wave of European performers who successfully transitioned to English-language Hollywood films following the post-war emergence of European New Wave cinema. Her notable roles included appearances in the Pink Panther film A Shot in the Dark, an Agatha Christie adaptation, and a British comedy. She worked alongside actors including Peter Sellers, Dick Van Dyke and Paul Newman.
Why it matters
Sommer was among the few German actors to achieve major success in Hollywood during the post-war era, representing a significant wave of European talent entering English-language cinema.
Original reporting
This brief was written with AI assistance from the reports listed above and checked against our editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.
