
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.
Josef Sommer Movies & Career Overview
The filmography of Josef Sommer reflects a career marked by diverse experimentation. Across 50 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.
Dominant Genre
A large portion of Josef Sommer's work falls within the Drama genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.
Success Ratio
Approximately 40% of Josef Sommer's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.
One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains Dirty Harry, which stands out as a key performance.
Best Josef Sommer Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Josef Sommer's career based on audience ratings.
Full Filmography
Every movie Josef Sommer has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.
| 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 | 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 → |
| 1987 | The Rosary Murders | Lieutenant Koznicki | Average | 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 | 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 | 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 7.4/10.
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".




