Renowned actor and singer, David Soul, best known for his role in the 1970s ABC show “Starsky and Hutch” and his chart-topping song “Don’t Give Up on Us,” has died at the age of 80. His wife, Helen Snell, confirmed that Soul passed away on Thursday, January 4, 2024, in London, England, after a long illness.
Snell remembered her husband as a man of extraordinary talents. “David was not just an actor, but a singer, storyteller, and creative artist. His passion for life, his smile, and his laughter will be remembered by all those whose lives he touched,” said Snell.
Soul also had a successful career in numerous other TV shows and films, including the 1968-70 ABC show Here Come the Brides, the 1973 thriller Magnum Force, and the 1979 CBS miniseries Salem’s Lot.
Soul was known for his roles in Casablanca, a television prequel to the classic Humphrey Bogart film, and The Yellow Rose, where he starred alongside Sam Elliott and Cybill Shepherd. As Kenneth “Hutch” Hutchinson, an undercover cop, Soul was a fixture in all 92 episodes of Starsky and Hutch, which ran for four seasons from April 1975 to May 1979.
Prior to his acting career, Soul was a singer who performed with artists such as Frank Zappa, The Byrds, and The Lovin’ Spoonful. His song “Don’t Give Up on Us” topped the Billboard 100 and achieved No. 1 ranking in the U.K., Canada, Australia, and other countries. He also had a hit with “Silver Lady” that same year.
David Richard Solberg, known professionally as David Soul, was born in Chicago, Illinois, on Aug. 28, 1943. He was the son of teachers, June and Richard Solberg. His father, a Lutheran minister, was involved in reconstructing Europe after World War II. After turning down an offer from the Chicago White Sox, Soul studied at Augustana College for two years, then spent a year at the University of the Americas in Mexico City, Mexico, where he developed a passion for music.
Upon his return to the U.S., Soul started his acting career in New York, performing in John Arden’s Sergeant Musgrave’s Dance. He later signed with MGM Records and appeared on The Merv Griffin Show. He also worked with Columbia Pictures in Los Angeles, California, and made guest appearances on popular television shows like Flipper, I Dream of Jeannie, and Star Trek. Soul continued to contribute to the industry, directing episodes of Miami Vice and Crime Story, and even making a cameo in the 2004 film adaptation of Starsky & Hutch.
Besides Snell, his fifth spouse whom he wed in 2010, he leaves behind six children, among them his daughter, China, who pursues a career in singing and songwriting. Soul moved to England in the 1990s and continued his career on stage, television, and film.
