Elke Sommer, the German-born actor known for her roles in 1960s Hollywood comedies and espionage films, died Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, at her home in Bel Air, Los Angeles. She was 85 years old. Her stepson, Sebastian Walther, informed the German news outlet Bild that Sommer passed away peacefully at approximately 10 p.m. following heart failure and an extended period of illness.
Sommer, born Elke Schletz in Berlin in 1940, transitioned from a planned career as an interpreter to acting after catching the eye of a filmmaker during a trip to Italy. She gained international recognition in the 1960s, appearing in numerous European and American productions. She was married to Joe Hyams from 1964 until 1981, and later to German hotelier Wolf Walther from 1993 until his death in July 2026.
During her Hollywood career, Sommer worked alongside actors such as Paul Newman, Peter Sellers, and James Garner. Her role in the 1963 film "The Prize" earned her the Golden Globe for most promising newcomer in 1964. She was also widely known for her portrayal of Maria Gambrelli in the 1964 Pink Panther sequel "A Shot in the Dark" and appeared in Playboy pictorials in 1964, 1967, and 1970.
The impact of her career is measured by her appearances in approximately 100 films and television programs across several decades. Her success helped establish a path for international actors in the American studio system. Fans of the Pink Panther franchise and 1960s cinema will notice her absence from contemporary retrospectives, as she was a primary star during a decade that produced some of the era's most recognizable comedies and thrillers.
What happens next: Arrangements are currently being made for Sommer's burial. According to her stepson, Sommer requested to be interred in her family's grave in Marloffstein, Germany, alongside her parents. Plans are underway to lay Sommer and her late husband, Wolf Walther, to rest together at that location. No specific date for the memorial service or interment was reported.