Who is David Soul?
David Richard Solberg, known professionally as David Soul, was a renowned actor and singer of American-British descent. Born on August 28, 1943, and passing away on January 4, 2024, he gained fame for his roles in popular television series such as Starsky & Hutch, where he played Detective Kenneth “Hutch” Hutchinson from 1975 to 1979, and Here Come the Brides, where he portrayed Joshua Bolt from 1968 to 1970. He also appeared as Officer John Davis in the 1973 film Magnum Force. As a singer, Soul had a successful career with one hit in the US and five in the UK, including the chart-topping songs “Don’t Give Up on Us” in 1976 and “Silver Lady” in 1977. He also had a starring role in the 1979 American TV movie adaptation of Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot.
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Yesterday January 4–2024, David Soul Died at 80 age
Renowned actor David Soul, famed for his role as detective Kenneth “Hutch” Hutchinson in the television series Starsky & Hutch, passed away on Thursday at the age of 80. His wife of over a decade, Helen Snell, confirmed his passing in a heartfelt statement to PEOPLE, referring to Soul as a cherished husband, father, grandfather, and sibling.
Soul bravely fought for his life until his last breath, surrounded by the love of his family, Snell shared. She further highlighted his remarkable contributions to the world as an actor, singer, storyteller, creative artist, and a cherished friend. Snell concluded her statement by saying that Soul’s infectious smile, laughter, and zest for life will be fondly remembered by the countless individuals whose lives he has impacted.
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More info of David Soul
Soul was born on August 28, 1943, in the city of Chicago, Illinois, USA, and had Norwegian roots. His mother, June Joanne (Nelson), worked as a teacher, while his father, Dr. Richard W. Solberg, was a Lutheran minister, a professor of History and Political Science, and the director of Higher Education for the Lutheran Church in America (now a part of the ELCA). Both of Soul’s grandfathers were evangelists. Dr. Solberg also served as the senior representative for Lutheran World Relief during the post-World War II reconstruction of Germany from 1949 to 1956. As a result, Soul’s family moved around a lot during his childhood, and he became proficient in both German and Spanish. His brother Daniel followed in their father’s footsteps and became a Lutheran Pastor.
While the family was residing in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Soul’s father was teaching political science and history at Augustana College. It was during this time that Soul graduated from Washington High School in Sioux Falls. He then attended Augustana College for two years before the family relocated once again, this time to Mexico City. Here, Soul studied for a year at the University of the Americas. His time in Mexico was transformative, as he was inspired by fellow students who taught him to play the guitar, leading him to pursue his passion for music. Upon his return from Mexico, his first stage appearance was at a club in Minneapolis called The 10 O’Clock Scholar.
Industrial Journey
In the mid-1960s, Soul initiated his acting career on stage as a founding member of the Firehouse Theater in Minneapolis. He journeyed with the troupe to New York City in 1965, featuring in productions like Bertolt Brecht’s Baal and John Arden’s Serjeant Musgrave’s Dance. Soul garnered nationwide recognition as the “Covered Man” on The Merv Griffin Show in 1966 and 1967, where he performed songs while masked. He stated, “My name is David Soul, and I want to be recognized for my music.” That same year, he made his first appearance on television in the show Flipper.
Television series Starsky & Hutch
The actor’s career took a significant turn when he took on the role of Detective Ken “Hutch” Hutchinson in the TV series Starsky & Hutch, a character he portrayed from 1975 to 1979. In addition to acting, Soul also directed three episodes of the show: “Huggy Can’t Go Home” (1979), “Manchild on the Streets” (1977), and “Survival” (1977). Throughout his career, he made appearances on various TV shows such as Star Trek, I Dream of Jeannie, McMillan & Wife, Cannon, Gunsmoke, All in the Family, and several TV films and mini-series. These include Homeward Bound (1980), World War III, and Rage (1980), a TV film that was praised in the U.S. Senate and earned him an Emmy Award nomination. Soul also co-starred with James Mason in the 1979 TV mini-series adaptation of Stephen King’s ‘Salem’s Lot, which was later edited and released as a feature film in certain countries.
David Soul’s Last Life With His Fifth Wife
Soul tied the knot with his final spouse, Helen Snell, on the 26th of June, 2010. Snell was a British public relations officer involved in the UK stage production of Deathtrap. The couple had been romantically involved since 2002, having met while Soul was participating in the same play. He often referred to her as his life partner.
In 2004, Soul became a British citizen, attributing his decision to his relationship with Helen and expressing his desire to spend his remaining years with her in the UK.
Soul had a long history of smoking, consuming three packs of cigarettes daily for five decades. Despite quitting smoking a decade before his demise, he suffered from severe COPD and had a lung removed due to cancer. Soul passed away in a London hospital, surrounded by his loved ones, on the 4th of January, 2024, at 80 years old.
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David celebrated his last birthday
The actor marked his 80th birthday in August, expressing gratitude to his fans for their kind messages and charitable contributions made in his honor. He referred to it as a “Milestone birthday”, confessing that he was deeply moved, not just by the outpouring of well wishes, but by the extensive list of charities that received donations in his name.
He spent his birthday surrounded by loved ones, reading out each charity and discussing their work and the issues they address. The actor was deeply touched by the support these charities received from his fans, and expressed his heartfelt thanks for this group effort.
Reflecting on his birthday, he said, “You transformed my 80th birthday into something extraordinarily special. Here’s to the next 80 years. I hope you’ll continue to join me on this (rocky) journey. You’re the best! A big kiss and lots of love!”