Elke Sommer, A Shot in the Dark star, dies at 85
The German-born actress, who won a Golden Globe for The Prize, died of heart failure at her Bel-Air home, her stepson said.
Elke Sommer, the German-born actress who starred as Maria Gambrelli in Blake Edwards' 1964 comedy A Shot in the Dark, has died at her Bel-Air home at the age of 85, according to hollywoodreporter.com.
Her stepson, Sebastian Walther, said she died of heart failure and passed away peacefully around 10 p.m.
Sommer appeared opposite Paul Newman in the 1963 MGM film The Prize, a role that earned her a Golden Globe for best female newcomer, shared with Tippi Hedren and Ursula Andress.
She was born Elke Schletz in Berlin on Nov. 5, 1940. Her later credits included The Art of Love (1965), Deadlier Than the Male (1967), The Wrecking Crew (1968) and The Wicked Dreams of Paula Schultz (1968).
After her U.S. movie career waned, she starred for Mario Bava in Baron Blood (1972) and Lisa and the Devil (1973).
Quick answers
How old was Elke Sommer when she died?
She was 85. Her stepson, Sebastian Walther, said she died of heart failure at her Bel-Air home.
What was Elke Sommer's breakthrough role?
She starred as Maria Gambrelli in Blake Edwards' 1964 film A Shot in the Dark, and won a Golden Globe for best female newcomer for The Prize.