Urho Somersalmi

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

Somersalmi in the early 1930's

Career

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

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

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

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.

External links

• Urho Somersalmi at IMDb