Elke Sommer, prolific German star of A Shot in the Dark and And Then There Were None, dies aged 85

Elke Sommer, the renowned German actress known for her roles in films like A Shot in the Dark and And Then There Were None, has passed away at 85 due to heart failure in Los Angeles. Born in Berlin in 1940, she gained fame in the 1960s and 70s, transitioning from European cinema to Hollywood. After winning a beauty contest, she was discovered by director Vittorio de Sica and starred in various Italian comedies before making her English-language debut. Sommer's Hollywood career flourished with notable films, earning her a Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer. She later shifted focus to painting and was involved in a legal dispute with Zsa Zsa Gabor. Sommer was married twice, with her second husband passing away in 2026.