Actress Elke Sommer (85) has passed away, once dubbed the 'German answer to Bardot'

German actress Elke Sommer has passed away at the age of 85. Known in the 1960s as 'the German answer to Brigitte Bardot', she never achieved the same level of fame. Sommer starred alongside notable actors like Paul Newman and Dean Martin, often cast as a beautiful European woman. Born in Berlin during the war, she was discovered by director Vittorio De Sica in the late 1950s. Her Hollywood debut came in 1961 with 'Don't Bother to Knock', followed by 'The Prize', earning her a Golden Globe. Despite attempts at serious roles, she was often typecast in comedic parts. Sommer continued to work in film and television, and also pursued singing and painting. She died of heart failure in Bel Air, shortly after her husband's passing, reflecting on her diverse career with satisfaction.