Urho Armas Somersalmi (formerly Urho Sundell; 23 September 1888, Helsinki – 12 April 1962) was a Finnish actor.
Somersalmi worked in the Finnish National Theatre from 1908 to 1958. He was often cast in the roles of masculine heroes or first-time lovers. His physical appearance was very suitable for such roles, and in the beginning of his career, he was often criticized for superficiality. Somersalmi was awarded the Pro Finlandia medal in 1948.[1]
Somersalmi was involved in the Finnish film industry from the beginning. In 1913, he had his first small film role in a Teuvo Puro film Sylvi, the first Finnish drama film. His final appearance was in the Finnish-Soviet co-production film Sampo (1959) in which he played the role of Väinämöinen.[2]
Somersalmi married actress Aili Somersalmi in 1912.[3] In April 1962, he killed her with an axe he had received as a gift from Finnish Actors' Union and stabbed her in the chest, after which he hanged himself.[4]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1913 | Sylvi | |||
| 1921 | Johan | Stranger | ||
| 1927 | His English Wife | Birger Holm, landowner | ||
| 1928 | Tukkijoella | Aaprami Turkka | ||
| 1929 | Työn sankarilaulu | Juhani Rauta | ||
| 1929 | Juhla meren rannalla | Jyrki | ||
| 1930 | Charlotte Löwensköld | Schagerström | ||
| 1931 | Tukkipojan morsian | Erkki | ||
| 1936 | Pohjalaisia | Kyösti | ||
| 1938 | Jääkärin morsian | Franck | ||
| 1938 | Karmankolon kuningas | Rosengren | ||
| 1940 | Simo Hurtta | |||
| 1942 | Oi, aika vanha, kultainen...! | Joonas Karhu | ||
| 1942 | Avioliittoyhtiö | Professor Thorelius | ||
| 1944 | Vaivaisukon morsian | Metsä-Olli | ||
| 1947 | Pimeänpirtin hävitys | Aukusti | ||
| 1957 | Risti ja liekki | Piispa | ||
| 1959 | Sampo | Väinämöinen | (final film role) |