Actor David Soul, best known for his role in the television series Starsky & Hutch, has died at the age of 80.
His wife, Helen Snell said he died on Thursday “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.
“His smile, laughter and passion for life will be remembered by the many whose lives he has touched.”
The US-born actor was best known for his role as Detective Kenneth “Hutch” Hutchinson in the classic crime-solving series Starsky & Hutch.
He starred opposite Paul Michael Glaser in the series, which ran from 1975 to 1979.
He and Glaser reprised their roles in the 2004 remake Starsky & Hutch, starring Ben Stiller as Starsky and Owen Wilson as Hutch.
Stiller paid tribute to Soul by reposting a clip from the original TV series on X (formerly Twitter), accompanied by the message: “Defining 70’s cool. Rest in peace x.”
Soul was also known for his roles in Here Come The Brides, Magnum Force, The Yellow Rose and Salem’s Lot.
The author Stephen King, who wrote the horror novel that Salem’s Lot was based on, said he was “sorry to hear” of Soul’s death.
He also appeared in several British television programmes including Holby City, Little Britain and Lewis. In 2004 he obtained British citizenship.
But he turned down the chance and the lucrative pay cheque to appear on reality television shows, telling the Sunday Times: “These days anybody is a celebrity and, frankly, there’s nothing to celebrate.”
The actor and singer, who was married five times, was arrested in the 1980s for attacking his then wife, Patti Carnel Sherman, who was seven months pregnant at the time.
It was his first offence and charges against him were dropped after he completed a probationary diversion programme.
Soul later spoke of his regret and visited prisons to talk to inmates about domestic violence.
BBC
