This gorgeous Teutonic temptress was one of Hollywood's most captivating imports of the 1960s. Blonde and beautiful, Berlin-born Elke Sommer, with her trademark pouty lips, high cheekbones and sky-high bouffant hairdos, proved irresistible to American audiences, whether adorned in lace or leather, or donning lingerie or lederhosen. She was born in Berlin-Spandau on November 5, 1940 with the unlikely name of Else Schletz-Ho to a Lutheran minister and his wife. The family was forced to evacuate to Erlangen, during World War II in 1942, a small university town in the southern region of Germany. It was here that her parents first introduced her to water colors and her lifelong passion for painting was ignited. Her father's death in 1955, when she was only 14, interrupted her education and she relocated to Great Britain, where she learned English and made ends meet as an au pair. She eventually attended college back in Germany and entertained plans to become a diplomatic translator but, instead, decided to try modeling. After winning a beauty title , she has been married since 1993 to hotelier Wolf Walther.
In the 1960s, while living in Beverly Hills, she and her then husband, Joe Hyams , believed their house to be haunted.
Cousin of Gudy Somer and Brazilian 1974 Miss Universe Mariza Sommer.
Hosted the 1981 Miss Universe pageant along with Bob Barker.
When she appeared in Carry on Behind , she received 30,000. She became one of the only two actors in the films (with Phil Silvers ) to receive the highest ever Carry On salary. Kenneth Williams only received 5,000, a sixth of what she received.
After becoming "Miss Viareggio" during a holiday in Italy, she was discovered by director Vittorio De Sica.
Currently lives in Los Angeles, California, and works as a painter, mostly influenced by Marc Chagall.
Shes the daughter of a Lutheran minister, who died when she was only 14.
She was nominated for a 1975 Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Guest Artist for her performance in the play, "Born Yesterday", at the Drury Lane Theatre North in Chicago, Illinois.
Was considered for the leading female role in the Elvis Presley movie G.I. Blues , but the role was eventually played by Juliet Prowse.
She was awarded a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars on December 7, 2001.
I have no recollection of the 1960s or 1970s at all because I was,working constantly. I had no time to live, or to evaluate my career, or,even to speculate about what was going to become of me.
