Remembering Elke Sommer: The Iconic Star of 1960s Hollywood Passes Away at 85
A Hollywood Legend Bids Farewell
Elke Sommer, the renowned actress who made a significant impact on Hollywood during the 1960s, has passed away at the age of 85. Known for her captivating performances in comedies and thrillers, Sommer died at her residence in Bel Air, Los Angeles. Her stepson, Sebastian Walther, confirmed the news following reports of local authorities visiting the home on Wednesday evening.
Born Elke Schletz in Berlin in 1940, Sommer's journey to fame began unexpectedly during a trip to Italy in 1958. Initially aspiring to study languages, her debut in the film The Friend of the Jaguar caught the eye of industry insiders, including the acclaimed director Vittorio De Sica. This marked the start of a fruitful career across Europe before she made her way into the American film scene.
Hollywood Stardom and Versatility
Sommer's major breakthrough in the U.S. came when producer Pandro S. Berman cast her opposite Paul Newman in the 1963 film The Prize. Her role as a chaperone earned her a Golden Globe Award for most promising newcomer. Throughout the 1960s, she became a familiar face in significant films, sharing the screen with icons like Peter Sellers in the Pink Panther sequel A Shot in the Dark, Bob Hope in Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number!, and Dean Martin in The Wrecking Crew.
Despite often being portrayed as a sex symbol, Sommer had a pragmatic perspective on her image. In a 2014 interview with Film Talk, she discussed the essence of screen presence, emphasizing that it was more about the energy an actor brings to their role than mere looks. She championed the idea of movie star glamour, believing that actors should provide audiences with something extraordinary rather than just mirroring everyday life.
Later Years and Legal Challenges
As her film career progressed, Sommer remained active in European cinema during the 1970s and 1980s, featuring in works like the World War I drama Zeppelin and the Agatha Christie adaptation And Then There Were None. In her later years, she turned her attention to painting while still occasionally participating in film and television, including voice acting for the German version of The Emperor’s New Groove.
Sommer's life also included a notable legal dispute in the early 1990s with Zsa Zsa Gabor. After Gabor and her husband, Frédéric Prinz von Anhalt, made disparaging comments about Sommer's personal life and career, she filed a defamation lawsuit. In 1993, a jury ruled in her favor, awarding her $3.3 million in damages. She was married to journalist Joe Hyams from 1964 to 1981 and later to German hotelier Wolf Walther, who passed away earlier this year.