
Josef Sommer
ActingAbout Josef Sommer
Maximilian Josef Sommer (born June 26, 1934) is a German-American retired stage, television, and film actor. His best known roles are as The President in X-Men: The Last Stand, Senator Jessup in The Sum of All Fears, Peter Lassiter in The Family Man, Curtis Flemming in Shaft, Dr. Eaton in Patch Adams, Phelps Bowen in The Chamber, Clive Peoples Jr. in Nobody's Fool, Mr. Duckworth in The Mighty Ducks, Chief Paul Schaefer in Witness, Max Richter in Silkwood, Sam Taylor in Independence Day, Rothko in Dirty Harry, and narrator for the film Sophie's Choice.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Josef Sommer reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of Josef Sommer's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 40% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Josef Sommer remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Dirty Harry, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Josef Sommer Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Josef Sommer's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Josef Sommer.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | The Other Guys | District Attorney Radford (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 2008 | Stop-Loss | Senator Orton Worrell | Average | Similar → |
| 2007 | The Invasion | Dr. Henryk Belicec | Average | Similar → |
| 2006 | X-Men: The Last Stand | The President | Average | Similar → |
| 2006 | The Elephant King | Bill Hunt | Average | Similar → |
| 2002 | The Sum of All Fears | Senator Jessup | Average | Similar → |
| 2000 | The Family Man | Peter Lassiter | Hit | Similar → |
| 2000 | The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones: Winds of Change | Woodrow Wilson | Average | Similar → |
| 2000 | Shaft | Curt Flemming | Average | Similar → |
| 1998 | Patch Adams | Dr. Eaton | Hit | Similar → |
| 1998 | Bulworth | Doctor (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1998 | The Proposition | Dryer | Average | Similar → |
| 1996 | The Chamber | Phelps Bowen | Average | Similar → |
| 1995 | Strange Days | Palmer Strickland | Hit | Similar → |
| 1995 | Letter to My Killer | - | Average | Similar → |
| 1994 | Nobody's Fool | Clive Peoples Jr. | Hit | Similar → |
| 1994 | Don't Drink the Water | Ambassador Magee | Average | Similar → |
| 1994 | The Enemy Within | Defence Secretary Charles Potter | Average | Similar → |
| 1994 | Assault at West Point: The Court-Martial of Johnson Whittaker | Col. Morrow | Average | Similar → |
| 1993 | Malice | Atty. Lester Adams | Average | Similar → |
| 1992 | An American Story | Henry Meade | Average | Similar → |
| 1992 | The Mighty Ducks | Mr. Ducksworth | Hit | Similar → |
| 1992 | Hostages | Tom Sutherland | Average | Similar → |
| 1992 | Citizen Cohn | Albert Cohn | Average | Similar → |
| 1991 | Shadows and Fog | Priest | Hit | Similar → |
| 1989 | Forced March | Richard Kline | Hit | Similar → |
| 1989 | Bloodhounds of Broadway | Waldo Winchester | Average | Similar → |
| 1989 | Bionic Showdown: The Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman | Charles Estiman | Hit | Similar → |
| 1989 | Bridge to Silence | Al Duffield | Hit | Similar → |
| 1989 | Chances Are | Judge Fenwick | Hit | Similar → |
| 1986 | Double Image | James Angleton | Average | Similar → |
| 1985 | The Execution of Raymond Graham | Jim Neal | Average | Similar → |
| 1985 | Target | Barney Taber | Average | Similar → |
| 1985 | D.A.R.Y.L. | Dr. Jeffrey Stewart | Average | Similar → |
| 1985 | Brotherly Love | Mr. Rafferty | Hit | Similar → |
| 1985 | Witness | Chief Paul Schaeffer | Hit | Similar → |
| 1984 | Iceman | Whitman | Average | Similar → |
| 1983 | Silkwood | Max Richter | Hit | Similar → |
| 1983 | Sparkling Cyanide | George Barton | Average | Similar → |
| 1983 | Independence Day | Sam Taylor | Average | Similar → |
| 1982 | Sophie's Choice | Narrator (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1982 | Still of the Night | George Bynum | Average | Similar → |
| 1981 | Reds | State Department Official | Hit | Similar → |
| 1981 | Absence of Malice | McAdam | Hit | Similar → |
| 1977 | Close Encounters of the Third Kind | Larry Butler | Hit | Similar → |
| 1976 | The Front | Committee Chairman | Hit | Similar → |
| 1976 | Judge Horton and the Scottsboro Boys | Pomeroy | Average | Similar → |
| 1975 | The Stepford Wives | Ted Van Sant | Hit | Similar → |
| 1974 | Man on a Swing | Pete Russell | Average | Similar → |
| 1971 | Dirty Harry | Rothko | Super Hit | Similar → |
Josef Sommer - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Josef Sommer?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Josef Sommer is "Dirty Harry" with a rating of 7.5/10.
How many movies has Josef Sommer acted in?
Josef Sommer has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Josef Sommer?
Other notable films include "Close Encounters of the Third Kind", "Patch Adams", and "Sophie's Choice".




