Maximilian Josef Sommer (born June 26, 1934) is a German-American retired stage, television, and film actor.

Early life

He was born in

Greifswald Greifswald (), officially the University and Hanseatic City of Greifswald (, Low German: ''Griepswoold'') is the fourth-largest city in the German state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania after Rostock, Schwerin and Neubrandenburg. In 2021 it surpa ...

, Germany, and raised in North Carolina, the son of Elisabeth and Clemens Sommer, a professor of Art History at the University of North Carolina. He studied at the

Carnegie Institute of Technology Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. The institution was established in 1900 by Andrew Carnegie as the Carnegie Technical Schools. In 1912, it became the Carnegie Institu ...

. He has a daughter, Maria.

Career

Sommer made his acting debut at the age of nine in a North Carolina production of ''Watch on the Rhine''. He made his film debut in ''

Dirty Harry ''Dirty Harry'' is a 1971 American action-thriller film produced and directed by Don Siegel, the first in the Dirty Harry (film series), ''Dirty Harry'' series. Clint Eastwood plays the title role, in his first appearance as San Francisco Polic ...

'' (1971) and appeared in films such as '' The Stepford Wives'' (1975), ''

Close Encounters of the Third Kind ''Close Encounters of the Third Kind'' is a 1977 American science fiction film, science fiction drama film written and directed by Steven Spielberg, starring Richard Dreyfuss, Melinda Dillon, Teri Garr, Bob Balaban, Cary Guffey, and François ...

'' (1977), '' Still of the Night'' (1982), '' Silkwood'' (1983),

Peter Weir Peter Lindsay Weir ( ; born 21 August 1944) is a retired Australian film director. He is known for directing films crossing various genres over forty years with films such as '' Picnic at Hanging Rock'' (1975), '' Gallipoli'' (1981), '' The Y ...

's thriller ''

Witness In law, a witness is someone who, either voluntarily or under compulsion, provides testimonial evidence, either oral or written, of what they know or claim to know. A witness might be compelled to provide testimony in court, before a grand jur ...

'' (1985) opposite

Harrison Ford Harrison Ford (born July 13, 1942) is an American actor. Regarded as a cinematic cultural icon, he has starred in Harrison Ford filmography, many notable films over seven decades, and is one of List of highest-grossing actors, the highest-gr ...

(where he played a dirty cop), ''

Target Target may refer to: Warfare and shooting * Shooting target, used in marksmanship training and various shooting sports ** Bullseye (target), the goal one for which one aims in many of these sports ** Aiming point, in field artille ...

'' (1985), '' Malice'' (1993), '' Patch Adams'' (1998), and '' X-Men: The Last Stand'' (2006). He appeared as President

Gerald Ford Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr. (born Leslie Lynch King Jr.; July 14, 1913December 26, 2006) was the 38th president of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, Ford assumed the p ...

opposite

Gena Rowlands Virginia Cathryn "Gena" Rowlands (; June 19, 1930 – August 14, 2024) was an American actress, whose career in film, stage, and television spanned nearly seven decades. She was a four-time Emmy, Emmy Award and two-time Golden Globe winner, and ...

in the TV movie '' The Betty Ford Story'' (1987). In 1992 he played his most impactful role as the eponymous Gerald Ducksworth in '' The Mighty Ducks''. A kind-hearted benefactor of inner city youth hockey, he not only sends one of his best lawyers to coach the team but also donates the necessary funds for rink time, safe equipment and proper uniforms. Indeed, Gerald Ducksworth is the true founder of both the fictional District 5 Ducks and NHL Anaheim Ducks teams.
recruiterwebsites.com. Accessed February 3, 2025. In 1974, he appeared in the role of Roy Mills on ''

The Guiding Light ''Guiding Light'' (known as ''The Guiding Light'' before 1975) is an American radio and television soap opera. ''Guiding Light'' aired on CBS for 57 years between June 30, 1952, and September 18, 2009, overlapping a 19-year broadcast on radio ...

'', and played George Barton in the 1983 TV version of

Agatha Christie Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie, Lady Mallowan, (; 15 September 1890 – 12 January 1976) was an English people, English author known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those revolving ...

's '' Sparkling Cyanide''. He had starring roles in two short-lived series: '' Hothouse'' (1988) and ''

Under Cover ''Under Cover'' is the ninth studio album by English Heavy metal music, heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne. The album consists entirely of cover version, cover songs, with an emphasis on rock music from the 1960s and 1970s. This is Osbourne's ...

'' (1991). As of 2007, he had appeared in almost 100 films. He lent his talents as the poignant narrator in '' Sophie's Choice'' (1982). He played a rare leading role opposite Sylvia Kristel, as the

film noir Film noir (; ) is a style of Cinema of the United States, Hollywood Crime film, crime dramas that emphasizes cynicism (contemporary), cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of Ameri ...

-esque detective in the quirky horror comedy '' Dracula's Widow'' (1988).

Filmography

* 1971 ''

'' as District Attorney William T. Rothko * 1972 ''The Witches of Salem: The Horror and the Hope'' (

short film A short film is a film with a low running time. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) defines a short film as "an original motion picture that has a running time of not more than 40 minutes including all credits". Other film o ...

) * 1973 '' The Doctors'' as Dave Davis * 1974 ''

'' as Roy Mills * 1974 '' Man on a Swing'' as Pete Russell * 1975 '' The Stepford Wives'' as Ted Van Sant * 1975 ''

Valley Forge Valley Forge was the winter encampment of the Continental Army, under the command of George Washington, during the American Revolutionary War. The Valley Forge encampment lasted six months, from December 19, 1777, to June 19, 1778. It was the t ...

'' (TV) as Brigadier General 'Dusty' Varnum * 1976 ''

The Adams Chronicles ''The Adams Chronicles'' is a thirteen-episode miniseries by PBS that aired in 1976 to commemorate the American Bicentennial. Synopsis The series chronicles the story of the Adams political family over a 150-year span, including John Adams (dr ...

'' (TV) as Charles Lee * 1977 ''

'' as Larry Butler * 1978 '' Oliver's Story'' as Dr. Dienhart * 1980 ''

Hide in Plain Sight ''Hide in Plain Sight'' is a 1980 American drama film directed by and starring James Caan with the story line based on an actual case from the files of New York attorney Salvatore R. Martoche, who represented Tom Leonhard, a real-life victim from ...

'' as Jason R. Reid * 1981 '' Absence of Malice'' as McAdam * 1981 '' Reds'' as State Department Official * 1981 '' Rollover'' as Roy Lefcourt * 1982 '' Hanky Panky'' as Adrian Pruitt * 1982 '' Still of the Night'' as George Bynum * 1982 '' Sophie's Choice'' as Narrator (voice) * 1983 ''

Independence Day An independence day is an annual event memorialization, commemorating the anniversary of a nation's independence or Sovereign state, statehood, usually after ceasing to be a group or part of another nation or state, or after the end of a milit ...

'' as Sam Taylor * 1983 '' Silkwood'' as Max Richter * 1983 Sparkling Cyanide as George Barton * 1984 '' Iceman'' as Whitman * 1985 ''

'' as Chief Paul Schaeffer * 1985 ''

D.A.R.Y.L. ''D.A.R.Y.L.'' is a 1985 science fiction adventure film directed by Simon Wincer and written by David Ambrose, Allan Scott, and Jeffrey Ellis. It stars Mary Beth Hurt, Michael McKean, Kathryn Walker, Colleen Camp, Josef Sommer, and Barret O ...

'' as Dr. Jeffrey Stewart * 1985 ''

'' as Taber * 1986 ''

Scarecrow and Mrs. King ''Scarecrow and Mrs. King'' is an American television series that aired from October 3, 1983, to May 28, 1987, on CBS. The music underscore was composed by Arthur B. Rubinstein. The show starred Kate Jackson and Bruce Boxleitner, as divorced ...

'' (TV) as Raoul Nesbitt * 1987 '' The Rosary Murders'' as Lieutenant Koznicki * 1988 '' Dracula's Widow'' as Lannon * 1989 '' Chances Are'' as Judge Fenwick * 1989 '' Forced March'' as Father * 1989 '' Bloodhounds of Broadway'' as Waldo Winchester * 1990 '' The Kennedys of Massachusetts'' (TV) as

Franklin D. Roosevelt Franklin Delano Roosevelt (January 30, 1882April 12, 1945), also known as FDR, was the 32nd president of the United States, serving from 1933 until his death in 1945. He is the longest-serving U.S. president, and the only one to have served ...

* 1991 '' Shadows and Fog'' as Priest * 1992 '' Citizen Cohn'' (TV) as Albert Cohn * 1992 '' The Mighty Ducks'' as Gerald Ducksworth * 1993 '' Malice'' as Lester Adams * 1993 ''

The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles ''The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles'' (sometimes referred to as ''Young Indy'') is an American television series that aired on ABC from March 4, 1992, to July 24, 1993. Filming took place in various locations around the world, with "Old Indy" ...

'' (TV) as President

Woodrow Wilson Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28, 1856February 3, 1924) was the 28th president of the United States, serving from 1913 to 1921. He was the only History of the Democratic Party (United States), Democrat to serve as president during the Prog ...

* 1994 '' Nobody's Fool'' as Clive Peoples Jr. * 1995 '' Strange Days'' as LAPD Commissioner Palmer Strickland * 1995 '' Moonlight and Valentino'' as Thomas Trager * 1996 '' The Chamber'' as Phelps Bowen * 1996-2000 ''

Law & Order ''Law & Order'' is an American police procedural and legal drama television series created by Dick Wolf and produced by Wolf Entertainment and Universal Television, launching the ''Law & Order'' franchise. ''Law & Order'' aired its entire ...

'' (TV) as Judge Hellman / Defence Attorney Patrick Rumsey * 1997 '' Early Edition'' as John Dobbs * 1998 '' The Proposition'' as Father Dryer * 1998 ''

Bulworth ''Bulworth'' is a 1998 American political satire black comedy film co-written, co-produced, directed by, and starring Warren Beatty. It co-stars Halle Berry, Oliver Platt, Don Cheadle, Paul Sorvino, Jack Warden, and Isaiah Washington. The ...

'' as Doctor (uncredited) * 1998 '' Lulu on the Bridge'' as Peter Shine (deleted scene) (uncredited) * 1998 '' Patch Adams'' as Dr. Eaton * 2000 '' Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' (TV) as Defence Attorney Patrick Rumsey * 2000 '' The Next Best Thing'' as Richard Whittaker * 2000 '' Shaft'' as Curt Fleming * 2000 '' The Family Man'' as Peter Lassiter * 2002 ''

The Sum of All Fears ''The Sum of All Fears'' is a political thriller novel, written by Tom Clancy and released on August 14, 1991, as the sequel to '' Clear and Present Danger'' (1989). Main character Jack Ryan, who is now the Deputy Director of Central Intellig ...

'' as Senator Jessup * 2002 '' Searching for Paradise'' as Carl Greenslate * 2002 ''

Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin (April 17, 1790) was an American polymath: a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher and Political philosophy, political philosopher.#britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Wood, 2021 Among the m ...

'' (TV) as

Cotton Mather Cotton Mather (; February 12, 1663 – February 13, 1728) was a Puritan clergyman and author in colonial New England, who wrote extensively on theological, historical, and scientific subjects. After being educated at Harvard College, he join ...

* 2003 '' Law & Order: Criminal Intent'' as Spencer Durning * 2004 ''

The West Wing ''The West Wing'' is an American political drama television series created by Aaron Sorkin that was originally broadcast on NBC from September 22, 1999, to May 14, 2006. The series is set primarily in the West Wing of the White House, where t ...

'' as Steve Gaines * 2006 '' The Elephant King'' as Bill Hunt * 2006 '' X-Men: The Last Stand'' as The President * 2007 '' The Invasion'' as Dr. Henryk Belicec * 2008 '' Stop-Loss'' as Senator Orton Worrell * 2010 ''

The Other Guys ''The Other Guys'' is a 2010 American buddy cop action comedy film directed by Adam McKay, who co-wrote it with Chris Henchy. It stars Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg with Eva Mendes, Michael Keaton, Steve Coogan, Ray Stevenson, Samu ...

'' (2010) as District Attorney Radford (uncredited)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Sommer, Josef 1934 births People from Greifswald American male film actors American male television actors Emigrants from Nazi Germany to the United States Living people Carnegie Mellon University College of Fine Arts alumni