Urho Armas Somersalmi (formerly Urho Sundell; 23 September 1888, Helsinki – 12 April 1962) was a Finnish actor.

Somersalmi in the early 1930's

Career

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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]

Personal life

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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]

Filmography

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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)

References

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  1. ^ "Myönnetyt Pro Finlandia -mitalit" (in Finnish). Helsingin Sanomat. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  2. ^ Rytinki, Pasi. "Suomalainen elokuvatähti murhasi sohvalla levänneen vaimonsa raa'asti – tällainen oli salaperäisen parin hirvittävä kohtalo" (in Finnish). Ilta-Sanomat. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  3. ^ Koskimies, Rafael (1953). Suomen Kansallisteatteri 1902/1917. Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava.
  4. ^ Rimaila, Elisa. "Näyttämötaiteilija Urho Somersalmi surmasi vaimonsa eläkelahjaksi saamallaan kirveellä, eikä jättänyt Kansallisteatteria kuolemankaan jälkeen – Uusi kirja kokoaa Helsingin hirveät kummitustarinat" (in Finnish). Helsingin Sanomat. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
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