Elke Sommer, 'A Shot in the Dark' and 'The Prize' Star, Dies at 85 in Los Angeles

Elke Sommer, the German-born actress who became a Hollywood fixture in the 1960s and 1970s, died Wednesday at her home in Los Angeles at age 85, her stepson Sebastian Walther confirmed to German outlet Bild. Sommer starred opposite Peter Sellers in the Pink Panther comedy “A Shot in the Dark” and appeared in films such as “The Prize,” “Boy, Did I Get the Wrong Number,” and “And Then There Were None.” Her death was first reported by Bild, and she had been living in Los Angeles at the time. Sommer’s career spanned more than five decades, and she worked with major directors and stars, earning a Golden Globe for most promising newcomer in 1964. Her passing marks the end of an era for fans of classic Hollywood cinema and European glamour.