Pink Panther star Elke Sommer dies at 85

Veteran actress and Golden Globe winner Elke Sommer has died at the age of 85, just days before her 86th birthday. She passed away peacefully at her Bel Air home in Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, following heart failure.

Her stepson, Sebastian Walther, confirmed her death and shared that she had been in declining health in recent months. Her passing comes just three months after the death of her husband of 32 years, Wolf Walther, who died following a battle with cancer.

Born in 1940, Sommer initially dreamed of becoming an interpreter and learned six languages during her teenage years. Her path changed in 1958 when she won the Miss Viareggio beauty contest in Italy, opening the door to an acting career.

She gained recognition through Italian and German films before appearing in the Hollywood movie The Prize, alongside Paul Newman and Edward G. Robinson. In 1964, she received a Golden Globe Award as Most Promising Newcomer.

Sommer became widely recognised for her role in A Shot in the Dark, the second instalment of the popular Pink Panther film franchise. Her acting career spanned nearly six decades, with her final credited role coming in 2017.

Away from the screen, Sommer was married twice. Her first marriage to Hollywood columnist Joe Hyams ended in divorce in 1981. She later met Wolf Walther in 1989, and the couple shared 32 years of marriage.

Her legacy as an international film star will be remembered by generations of cinema fans.