Entertainment · Celebrity · 4 hrs ago
German actress Elke Sommer dies at 85
Elke Sommer died at 85 at her home in Los Angeles after a long period bedridden.
Born in Berlin, she became one of the few German actresses to build a successful Hollywood career in the 1960s.
She starred alongside major actors including Paul Newman and Peter Sellers, and received a Golden Globe in 1964 for her work in “The Prize.”
Sommer died about three months after her husband, hotelier Wolf Walther, who had been ill with cancer.
In later years, she appeared less often as an actress and also focused on painting.
She wanted to be buried in her family grave in Marloffstein, Bavaria, where her parents are buried.
German actress Elke Sommer has died at the age of 85.
BILD reported that she died on 28 October at 10 p.m. at her home in Bel Air, California, after a long period bedridden.
WELT and BILD reported that she died of heart failure, three months after her husband, Wolf Walther.
Sommer became an international star in the 1960s, appearing in Hollywood films including The Prize and A Shot in the Dark.
She won a Golden Globe in 1964 for best newcomer.
- Who
- Elke Sommer, a German actress.
- What
- She died at the age of 85.
- When
- BILD reported she died on 28 October 2026; other reports said she died the previous week.
- Where
- At her home in Bel Air, California, according to BILD.
- Why
- WELT and BILD reported heart failure after a long period bedridden.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Sommer won a Golden Globe as best newcomer.
In an interview for her 85th birthday, Sommer spoke about losing her will to live and said she did not fear death.
BILD reported that Sommer’s husband, Wolf Walther, died at age 77.
BILD reported that Sommer died at 10 p.m. at her home in Bel Air.
- Age
- 85
- Reported date of death
- 28 October 2026, according to BILD
- Place of death
- Bel Air, California
- Cause of death
- Heart failure, according to WELT and BILD
- Golden Globe
- Best newcomer, 1964
- Planned burial place
- Family grave in Marloffstein, Bavaria, according to BILD
3 sources
What people are saying
Now that is enough.
I was always full of joie de vivre.
because I long for death.
Elke peacefully fell asleep around 10 p.m. Now she can soon be with her beloved husband again.