Trivia

He turned down the part of Willmer in Vaterland: A Hunting Logbook (2004), eventually played by Frantisek Rehák.

He was considered for the part of Ing. Vozenílek in Inzenýrská odysea (1979), eventually played by Jirí Císler.

He was considered for the part of Ludvík in The Ear (1970), eventually played by Radoslav Brzobohatý.

His name is pronounced "Yoh-sef Soh-mehr".

Michal Bregant ( head of the Czech Film Archive) describes him as a very versatile actor but says that Somr was also a charming, warm person in and of himself.

In 1956, he graduated from Brno's JAMU (Janácek Academy of Music and Performing Arts).

Somr's portrayal of Mister Frantisek in Romance pro krídlovku garnered him a Thalia Award in 1998.

His longtime partner was the actress Zuzana Savrdová. His wife was Alena Somrová.

In the first half of the 1950s, he was, among other things, the goalkeeper of the local football A-team.

He received the Czech Lion Award for Unique Contribution to Czech Film in 2012.

He also did voice acting for radio, audiobooks, and poetry readings, and featured in film adaptations of Czech fairy tales.

He was noted for starring in the Oscar-winning 1966 film Closely Watched Trains, as well as in The Joke.

He studied at the Janácek Academy of Music and Performing Arts, graduating in 1956.

He began acting in films starting in the mid-1960s, making his film debut in Accused (1964). His following role saw him play the libidinous train dispatcher Hubicka in Closely Watched Trains by Menzel. Film critic John Simon described Somr's performance as "so spontaneous, unconcerned, and complete ... that it affects our entire sensorium - finger tips, nostrils, and palate no less than eyes and ears". The film won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in April 1968.

Somr started his acting career at various regional theatres, before becoming a part of The Drama Club in Prague.

According to Michal Bregant - who headed the Czech Film Archive - Somr preferred acting in theatre, despite having roles in over 170 films. This was because he disliked revealing his face in profile, which was captured more easily on camera.

Somr was conferred the Medal of Merit by Václav Havel in 2005.

He was bestowed a lifetime achievement award at the 2014 Thalia Awards for his theatre work.

He was born in Vracov, South Moravia, as the middle of three brothers.

He graduated from the gymnasium in Kyjov.

Josef Somr was the most humble and shy star of Czech theatre and cinema. He was a great professional, able to perform on any stage of any size. You could see how human he was in the official trailer of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival from five years ago. He was a super charming personality, and people simply loved him.

Somr was married to Alena Somrová until his death.