Entertainment

Elke Sommer, ‘Pink Panther’ actress, dead at 85

Golden Globe winner and international sex symbol Elke Sommer – who was known for her on-screen affair with Jacques Clouseau in the “Pink Panther” franchise – has died of heart failure – one week before her 86th birthday.
Sommer, 85, “passed away peacefully around 10 p.m” Wednesday at her home in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Bel Air, her stepson Sebastian Walther told the German outlet Bild, and her death comes three months after her husband of 32 years Wolf Walther lost his battle with cancer.
“Now she can finally be with her beloved husband again,” Sebastian Walther added of the actress.
Berlin-born Sommer’s acting career spanned some 58 years – with her final credited acting role coming in 2017.
However, the actress stepped away from the spotlight in recent years and had become bed-bound in recent months before her death – which Bild reported as being from heart failure. She would’ve turned 86 on Nov. 5.
Sommer was born in the Nazi Reich in November 1940 – a year after World War II began in Europe – and initially she wasn’t thinking about pursuing a Hollywood career, according to Bild.
She wanted to become an interpreter and could speak six languages by the time she was in her teens.
However, her acting break would come after she won the Italian beauty contest Miss Viareggio age 17 while she was on vacation in the Mediterranean country in 1958.
She was spotted by the Italian director Vittorio De Sica before starring in Italian comedies – one of which was entitled “Men and Noblemen.”
Sommer starred in several Italian and German movies in the early 1960s before landing a role in the Mark Robson-directed movie “The Prize” – which starred Paul Newman and Edward G. Robinson.
She received a Golden Globe in 1964 where she was named Most Promising Newcomer.
But one of the actress’ most recognizable acting roles came in the 1964 comedy flick “A Shot in the Dark” – the second installment of the “Pink Panther” film franchise.
Sommer played the maid Maria Gambrelli who was framed for the murder of chauffeur Miguel Ostros before having a sexual affair with Inspector Jacques Clouseau – who was played by “Dr. Strangelove” star Peter Sellers.
She even declined to reprise her role in the 1993 movie “Son of the Pink Panther” because Sellers had already died, according to IMDB. Sellers died in 1980.
Sommer was also known for her roles in the Russell Rouse-directed movie “The Oscar” and the 1968 movie “The Wrecking Crew” – the latter featuring the “King of Cool” Dean Martin.
She didn’t just make her name on the big screen. She featured in three Playboy shoots in September 1964, December 1967 and September 1970.
During a July 1969 interview with the National Police Gazette, she admitted that she had painted naked on a hill outside her Beverly Hills home.
“It’s the best way to get a tan all over,” she quipped according to the article, which described her as “Hollywood’s No.1 nudie.”
Away from the screen, Sommer was married twice. She tied the knot to famed Hollywood columnist Joe Hyams in 1964 – before they divorced in 1981.
Hyams said his marriage was “the best 17 years of [his] life” and had “no regrets,” it was reported by UPI in December 1981.
“When we were married 17 years ago, no one thought our marriage would last long,” he added.
She met Wolf Walther, who would later become her husband of 32 years, in 1989 while she was being cast for the play “Tamara.”
“I was in New York City starring in “Tamara” and had to stay there for four months,” she told Classic Film TV Cafe, reflecting on how the couple met.
“So, I had to find an apartment but they were excruciatingly expensive, tiny and loud. As I knew the managing director of the Essex House, I wanted to talk to him about renting a room but the hotel had a new managing director, a man by the name of Wolf Walther. So we met. For him, it was love at first sight.
“For me, it took a little longer, but not much longer.”
Wolf Walther died in July following a cancer battle – and Sommer’s friend Erwin Schneider told Bild “She could never have imagined a life without her beloved ‘Papa Bear’”
“Now Elke has finally been able to join him,” Schneider, a Munich-based photographer, said.

Entertainment

‘Questioning her wealth’: Taylor Swift reportedly worries about looking ‘out of touch’

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have kept most of the details of their July wedding private, and it sounds like fans shouldn’t expect that to change anytime soon. In fact, they might never see the official photos from the big day.
According to a new report, Swift is reluctant to release images from the reportedly $30 million wedding because she’s worried about how such a lavish celebration would look while many Americans are struggling with inflation and rising living costs.
Wedding Drama
Swift and Kelce tied the knot on July 3 at Madison Square Garden, which had been transformed into a forest wonderland for the occasion. The couple even reportedly had to cut back on a few ideas, including a $7 million two-story carousel.
The wedding has made plenty of headlines this week. A source told the Daily Mail that all of the decor was packed up and burned after the event so that nothing would end up with fans or resellers, a decision that sparked outrage from critics who called it wasteful.
Swift was also reportedly furious after photos from inside the wedding leaked, especially since guests and workers had signed nondisclosure agreements.
‘Protecting the Brand’
Now, sources told Rob Shuter’s Naughty But Nice that the leaks aren’t the only reason fans may never see official pictures. According to the report, Swift knows that releasing images of such an extravagant event could turn into a public relations disaster.
“Taylor has spent years building a connection with ordinary fans, and she knows those pictures could change the conversation overnight,” a source said, according to Shuter. “Instead of celebrating her marriage, people could be questioning her wealth, her spending and whether she still understands how the rest of America lives.”
Another source suggested that keeping the photos private is part of a larger strategy.
“Taylor understands that controlling the image is part of protecting the brand,” the source said. “Sometimes, what you choose not to show the world becomes a bigger story than anything you reveal.”
The report added that the leaked photos have already made it harder for Swift to control the narrative around her wedding.
Swift has not publicly addressed the report. But considering the reaction to the burned decor, it’s easy to see why she might want to keep the rest of the wedding out of the public eye.

Entertainment

Tyler Perry Fighting Male Sexual Assault Accuser Over Private Texts With Friends

Tyler Perry is fighting his sexual assault accuser, Mario Rodriguez, in court over his private texts … TMZ has learned.
According to court docs, obtained by TMZ, Tyler says he turned over private texts with associates to Mario as part of their legal battle. The director said he wanted those messages to remain confidential, like they previously agreed.
He said the messages should be private because some of the convos talk about financial matters.
Tyler says he and the associates he was texting believed their conversations were private … and Mario has no right to release them. He says his associates have nothing to do with the case at hand and disclosure of their texts would cause unnecessary annoyance and embarrassment.
Mario has yet to respond to the issue in his own court docs.
As TMZ first reported, Mario sued Tyler for $77 million over an alleged sexual assault. He said he met the director in 2015 at the gym … which led to him getting a role in Tyler’s film, “Boo! A Madea Halloween.”
In his lawsuit, Mario claimed Tyler assaulted him when he went to visit him at his home in 2018. Mario claims Tyler asked him if he liked oral sex and then grabbed his junk. He said Tyler gave him $5k and apologized.
The suit alleged Tyler also forced his hand on Mario’s penis during another hangout … which led to another alleged $5k payment.
Tyler and his company denied all allegations of wrongdoing in the case. He claimed Mario kept talking to him after the alleged incidents occurred… and only turned on him when he stopped providing him with financial assistance.
As TMZ first reported, Tyler previously fought Mario in court over whether he has to answer questions about his sexuality at his deposition.

Entertainment

Prince Harry ‘Disappointed’ as Meghan Markle Changes Christmas Plans – Insider

A source claimed that Prince Harry is upset that Meghan Markle is heading to the U.S. and won’t be there to celebrate Christmas in the UK. They said that he thought that they could have secured a royal family or Spencer invite while also inviting Markle’s mother to their UK home.
This update comes a few days after another source claimed that King Charles may look forward to meeting the Sussexes ahead of Christmas.
Insider reveals how Prince Harry feels about Meghan Markle’s Christmas plans
A source shared with Closer Online what Prince Harry’s stance is on Markle’s decision to be away from the UK for Christmas plans. “Harry’s very disappointed. In his mind, they could have brought Doria to their Cotswolds home and perhaps still scored an invite to see his father or [his late mother’s family] the Spencers as a back-up. But Meghan wasn’t having any of it,” they added.
The insider claimed that Harry tried his best to convince Markle that they should stay in the UK, but his efforts went in vain. They added that Markle didn’t just want to sit around waiting for a royal invitation to arrive. “It was the perfect excuse to book a flight back to the U.S., and Harry ultimately didn’t have much choice but to follow,” they added.
Recently, a friend of the Sussexes shared that they won’t be celebrating Christmas with the royal family. Another source added that no matter where the couple celebrates their holidays, Markle’s mother, Doria, will be a part of it. “There is a hierarchy, and the King is the CEO; he’s the boss — what he says goes, so it’s better not to put themselves in any difficult position,” they further elaborate on why Harry and Markle could avoid a Christmas reunion with the royal family.
According to the latest reports, the Sussexes have left the UK temporarily to spend their time overseas amid Markle’s father, Thomas Sr.’s legal drama.

Entertainment

Barbara Barrie Dies With Medical Assistance at 95

Hollywood is saying goodbye to a beloved TV mom.
Oscar-nominated actress Barbara Barrie, who warmed living rooms across the nation through roles like Nana in Suddenly Susan, died at 95 years old with help from her medical team.
“On behalf of the Harnick family,” Barrie’s rep said in a statement to E! News, “I can confirm that her passing was medically assisted in accordance with the New York State Medical Aid in Dying law, of which she was a proponent and advocate.”
The critically acclaimed actress—who made appearances in countless series like Nurse Jackie and Law & Order: SVU—proceeded with end-of-life care in her Manhattan residence following a terminal cancer diagnosis, according to The New York Times.

Entertainment

Sunrise on the Reaping

The hotly anticipated The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping held its London premiere on Wednesday, and the brief first reactions to the film have already hit social media.
Full critics reviews for the film are not expected to drop until much closer to Sunrise on the Reaping‘s theatrical release date of Nov. 20, but Lionsgate clearly is feeling very confident about the latest entry to Hunger Games franchise and is allowing people who attended Oct. 28 screenings to post limited reactions to the film so far ahead of opening day.
Sunrise on the Reaping is a direct sequel to 2023’s The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, and both films serve as prequels to Lionsgate’s main Hunger Games movie series that were released from 2012 to 2015. In all, there have been six movies in the franchise.
The film follows 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy (Joseph Zada) from District 12, “beginning on the morning of the reaping for the 50th Annual Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell, the biggest Games yet with twice as many tributes.” According to a synopsis: “Set in the world of Panem 24 years before the events of The Hunger Games, the story follows Haymitch into the arena, where he forms an unlikely alliance with fellow tribute Maysilee Donner (Mckenna Grace) and joins a coalition determined to challenge the Capitol’s control under President Snow (Ralph Fiennes). As the competition unfolds, Haymitch risks everything to take down the Games from within the arena — setting in motion the rebellion that will change Panem forever.”
The cast also includes Jesse Plemons, Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin, Elle Fanning, Maya Hawke, Whitney Peak, and Kelvin Harrison Jr.
Directed by Francis Lawrence, the film is based on Suzanne Collins’ best-selling novel of the same name, and features a screenplay written by Billy Ray and Michael Lesslie.
Below is early social media reaction to Sunrise on the Reaping.