Elke Sommer, German Star of 'A Shot in the Dark' and 'And Then There Were None', Dies at 85

Elke Sommer, the Berlin-born actress who became a Hollywood star in the 1960s and 70s, has died in Los Angeles at 85. German tabloid Bild reported she passed away from heart failure. Sommer was part of a wave of European performers who crossed over to English-language cinema after the post-war European New Wave, and she stood out as one of the few German actors to achieve major international success. Her breakout roles included the Pink Panther comedy 'A Shot in the Dark' with Peter Sellers, the 1974 Agatha Christie adaptation 'And Then There Were None', and the British sex comedy 'Carry On Behind'. Known for her linguistic talents and bombshell image, Sommer also appeared alongside Dick Van Dyke and Paul Newman, cementing her status as a versatile and enduring screen presence. Her death marks the end of an era for fans of classic European cinema and Hollywood's golden age of international stars.