Sommer’s death was confirmed by her stepson, Sebastian Walther, to the German outlet Bild, according to Variety. The available reports agree on her age and identify Los Angeles as the place of her death, while the supplied material does not establish an exact date beyond a report that she died on a Wednesday.
Born in Germany, Sommer became one of the European performers who built an international career in English-language and Hollywood films. Her work included comedy, mystery and thriller roles during the 1960s and 1970s, helping make her a notable crossover presence between German, British and American cinema.
Her film credits included “A Shot in the Dark,” the Pink Panther sequel, as well as “The Prize,” “The Wrecking Crew,” “Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number!” and “And Then There Were None.” The roles placed her in a range of popular productions, from comedy to adaptations and films built around international intrigue.
The Guardian reported that Sommer also worked alongside Peter Sellers, Dick Van Dyke and Paul Newman. That account described her as a performer whose language skills helped take her from Germany to Hollywood and into a wider English-language film career.
The cause of death remains reported rather than independently established in the supplied material. The Guardian said Bild reported that Sommer died of heart failure, but no separate confirmation of that cause is provided in the available sources.
SOURCES
- VarietyElke Sommer, ‘Pink Panther’ and ‘The Prize’ Star, Dies at 85
- The GuardianElke Sommer, prolific German star of A Shot in the Dark and And Then There Were None, dies aged 85
- The Hollywood ReporterElke Sommer, Actress in ‘A Shot in the Dark’ and ‘The Prize,’ Dies at 85
- DeadlineElke Sommer Dies: ‘A Shot In The Dark’, ‘The Wrecking Crew’ Actor Was 85
- The New Indian ExpressElke Sommer, German-born star of ‘A Shot in the Dark’ and ‘The Prize,’ dies at 85