Elke Sommer Autographs, Memorabilia & Collectibles

German-born actress Elke Sommer (born Elke Baronesse von Schletz in 1940) began her show business career as a model, winning a beauty contest in Italy. She was discovered by film director Vittorio De Sica and earned a role in a film he starred in, the 1959 Italian movie Men and Noblemen. That same year she appeared in another six movies, including a few films that debuted in her native Germany. Most notably, she made her United States debut in A Christmas Festival, a television film where she put her royal looks to use portraying the Princess. As she transitioned to Hollywood, she developed into a popular sex symbol, frequently portraying the gorgeous female lead in many films.Noteworthy appearances include A Shot in the Dark (1964) opposite Peter Sellers, The Art of Love (1965) with James Garner and Dick Van Dyke, and The Wrecking Crew (1968) alongside Dean Martin. In addition to her acting, Sommer also posed as a pin-up girl and model in various publications, including Playboy. In 1964, she won a Golden Globe as Most Promising Newcomer - Female; she shared the award with Tippi Hedren and Ursula Andress for her performance in The Prize. Her last major performance in a Hollywood film reunited her with Peter Sellers, this time in The Prisoner of Zenda (1979). Sommer continued to appear in films over the decades, recently returning to films in her native country of Germany. Over the years, the actress has learned to speak several languages fluently and has returned to her first artistic passion: painting. She has hosted several exhibitions of her artwork in Germany and the United States. During the course of her career, she racked up over 100 screen credits. However, she might be more proud of her dozens of individual art exhibitions and the critical acclaim her paintings have received. In 1989, she published an autobiography titled From One Pastor's Daughter To Another.