David Soul, who was best known for his role in the 1970s cop show Starsky & Hutch, has died.
The American-born actor passed away on Thursday at the age of 80, his wife said, surrounded by his loved ones.
Alongside Paul Michael Glaser’s Detective David Starsky, Soul portrayed Detective Kenneth “Hutch” Hutchinson in the popular crime-solving series that aired on ABC from 1975 to 1979.
A plethora of toys for kids were inspired by the TV show’s immense popularity.
Soul’s wife, Helen Snell, said the “beloved husband, father, grandfather, and brother… died yesterday after a valiant battle for life in the loving company of family”.
“He shared many extraordinary gifts with the world as an actor, singer, storyteller, creative artist, and dear friend.
“His smile, laughter, and passion for life will be remembered by the many whose lives he has touched.”
Soul was well-known for his parts in Here Come the Brides, Magnum Force, and The Yellow Rose, in addition to Starsky & Hutch.
He and Glaser also reprised their roles in the 2004 remake of Starsky & Hutch, starring Ben Stiller as Starsky and Owen Wilson as Hutch.
During his peak of popularity, Soul had two singles that reached the top of the charts: Silver Lady and Don’t Give Up on Us.
He had been a theatrical actor for many years and had resided in the UK.
In 2001, he won a libel case against a Mirror journalist who called The Dead Monkey, a play that Soul was in, the worst production he had ever seen—without having seen it.
Soul also played the titular talk show host in Jerry Springer’s The Opera in London’s West End.
One of the shows that made my adolescent years brighter in the 1970s was Starsky & Hutch. My sympathies to his entire family.
It was among the greatest American police dramas of the 1970s, starring Starsky, Hutch, Huggy Bear, and their outstanding Captain Dobie.
This is another part of our childhood gone. I loved Starsky & Hutch, and David looked so cool in his leather jacket and that smile of his was outstanding. Starsky’s cardigan sparked copycats all over the marketplace.
What terrible news. David Soul, a television legend of the 1970s, will be sadly missed.
The fact that David Soul and Paul Michael Glaser, his co-star, were friends for such a long time is also quite wonderful.
I loved Starsky & Hutch, although I must confess Paul was my favourite. David did hit a low point but bounced back in various roles. He and Paul were true legends.
David Soul was born David Richard Solberg on August 28, 1943. He was an American-British actor and singer.
In addition to starring in many films, he rose to the top of the US, Canadian, and UK charts with his singing career.
David Soul, who was born in Chicago, Illinois, started his career as an actor in the mid-1960s after joining Minneapolis’s Firehouse Theatre as a founding member.
In 1967, he signed a contract with Columbia Pictures appearing in several guest appearances, including the episode ‘The Apple’ from the second season of Star Trek.
His breakthrough came when he portrayed Detective Ken ‘Hutch’ on Starsky & Hutch, a role he played from 1975 until 1979. He also directed three episodes of Starsky & Hutch.
During the mid-1970s, David Soul returned to his singing roots. He scored one US hit with ‘Don’t Give Up on Us’ (1977) which reached No. 1 in the US and the United Kingdom.
At the age of 80, David Soul passed away in London on January 4, 2024. He will be greatly missed.
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