Actor David Soul, one half of ‘Starsky and Hutch,’ dies at 80
FILE – David Soul, left, Paul Michael Glaser, and Antonio Fargas, right, stars of the original 1970’s “Starsky and Hutch” television series, arrive at the British premiere of the new movie of the same name based on the TV series, in London, Thursday March 11, 2004. Soul, who hit fame as blond half of crime-fighting duo “Starsky and Hutch” in a popular 1970s television series, has died. He was 80. Wife Helen Snell, said Friday, Jan. 5, 2024 that Soul died the day before “after a valiant battle for life in the loving company of family.”(AP Photo/John D McHugh, File)
LONDON — Actor David Soul, who earned fame as the blond half of crime-fighting duo “Starsky & Hutch” in the popular 1970s television series, has died at the age of 80.
His wife, Helen Snell, said Friday that “David Soul – 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 in the world as actor, singer, storyteller, creative artist and dear friend,” she said in a statement. “His smile, laughter and passion for life will be remembered by the many whose lives he has touched.”
David Soul, the American actor with his co-star Paul Michael Glaser in the long standing and very popular series of ‘Starsky and Hutch’, one of the first of ‘New York Cops’ series. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)
2nd November 1976: Film, TV star and soul singer David Soul sits in a radio studio to broadcast an interview. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)
American film and television actor and pop star David Soul. He is best known for his very popular role in ‘Starsky and Hutch,’ an American police series. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
American-British actor and singer David Soul performing live, UK, 17th March 1977. (Photo by Colin Davey/Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
11th March 1977: American actor and singer David Soul and his girlfriend, the actress Lynne Martya being ushered through Heathrow Airport after his arrival. (Photo by Jackson/Central Press/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES – FEBRUARY 26: Actors Paul Michael Glaser (L), Owen Wilson (C) and David Soul attend the Los Angeles premiere of “Starsky and Hutch” at the Village Theater February 26, 2004 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Carlo Allegri/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES – FEBRUARY 26: Actors Paul Michael Glaser (L) and David Soul attend the Los Angeles premiere of “Starsky and Hutch” at the Village Theater February 26, 2004 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Carlo Allegri/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES – FEBRUARY 26: Actors Paul Michael Glaser (L) and David Soul attend the Los Angeles premiere of “Starsky and Hutch” at the Village Theater February 26, 2004 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Carlo Allegri/Getty Images)
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA – FEBRUARY 26: (U.S. TABS-HOLLYWOOD REPORTER OUT) Actors Owen Wilson (L), Paul Michael Glaser and David Soul (R) pose at the premiere after-party for Warner Bros. “Starsky and Hutch” at The Factory on February 26, 2004 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA – FEBRUARY 26: (U.S. TABS-HOLLYWOOD REPORTER OUT) Actors David Soul (L) and Paul Michael Glaser pose at the premiere after-party for Warner Bros. “Starsky and Hutch” at The Factory on February 26, 2004 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA – FEBRUARY 26: (U.S. TABS-HOLLYWOOD REPORTER OUT) Actors Owen Wilson (L) and David Soul pose at the premiere after-party for Warner Bros. “Starsky and Hutch” at The Factory on February 26, 2004 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES – FEBRUARY 26: Actors Paul Michael Glaser (L) and David Soul arrive at the premiere of Warner Bros. “Starsky and Hutch” at the Village Theater on February 26, 2004 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES – FEBRUARY 26: Actors Paul Michael Glaser (L) and David Soul arrive at the premiere of Warner Bros. “Starsky and Hutch” at the Village Theater on February 26, 2004 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES – FEBRUARY 26: Actors (L to R) Owen Wilson, David Soul, Paul Michael Glaser and Ben Stiller arrive at the premiere of Warner Bros. “Starsky and Hutch” at the Village Theater on February 26, 2004 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES – FEBRUARY 26: Actors (L to R) David Soul, Owen Wilson, Ben Stiller and Paul Michael Glaser arrive at the premiere of Warner Bros. “Starsky and Hutch” at the Village Theater on February 26, 2004 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
LONDON – MARCH 11: David Soul and Paul Michael Glaser arrive at the UK Premiere of the movie remake of U.S TV series, “Starsky And Hutch” at the Odeon, Leicester Square on March 11, 2004 in London. (Photo by Graeme Robertson/Getty Images)
LONDON – MARCH 11: David Soul and Paul Michael Glaser and Antonio Fargas arrive at the UK Premiere of the movie remake of U.S TV series, “Starsky And Hutch” at the Odeon, Leicester Square on March 11, 2004 in London. (Photo by Graeme Robertson/Getty Images)
Soul portrayed detective Ken “Hutch” Hutchinson alongside Paul Michael Glaser as detective David Starsky in “Starsky & Hutch.” It ran on ABC between 1975 and 1979, and grew so popular it spawned a host of children’s toys.
At the height of his fame, Soul also hit the music charts with the single “Don’t Give Up on Us.”
Soul had lived in Britain for many years, performing in several stage roles. In 2001, he won a libel case against a 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 – The Opera” in London’s West End.
Soul and Glaser had cameos in the 2004 big-screen remake of “Starsky & Hutch,” starring Ben Stiller as Starsky and Owen Wilson as Hutch.
