David Soul, the American actor best known for starring as Detective Ken “Hutch” Hutchinson on the hit 1970s crime drama “Starsky & Hutch,” has died at 80. Soul passed away on January 4th, 2023, at his home in Los Angeles, according to a statement from his friend and manager.
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From Tough Childhood to T.V. Fame
Born David Richard Solberg in 1943 in Chicago, Illinois, Soul endured a problematic childhood plagued by poverty and abuse. His early life was spent drifting across the U.S. and Mexico with his father. However, Soul’s natural talent for the dramatic arts emerged at an early age. By age 19, he left home seeking fame as an actor.
After some minor stage and T.V. roles, Soul finally got his big break when he landed the role of Detective Hutchinson on ABC’s gritty buddy-cop series with co-star Paul Michael Glaser. The show first aired in 1975 and became an immediate popular and critical hit thanks to the potent onscreen chemistry between Soul and Glaser.
Many youths are Inspired to Pursue Acting.
Riding high off his success, Soul also became a singing sensation with several hit songs that showcased his rich baritone voice, like 1976’s “Don’t Give Up on Us.” His television and music career made him an idol for many young people who dreamed of pursuing Acting and performance themselves.
But Soul’s rise to fame was challenging…
Struggles With Alcohol Abuse
While beloved the world over as Hutch, Soul endured his own private struggles during this period – namely alcoholism and fits of rage that damaged relations and even led to arrests.
In the late 70s, at the height of his career, he was hospitalized for exhaustion three times in one year alone as the pressures of fame weighed heavily. Unfortunately, these personal demons followed the talented performer throughout his life.
Life After ‘Starsky & Hutch’
“Starsky & Hutch” ended as a series in 1979 after 4 successful seasons and over 90 iconic episodes full of unforgettable moments. Soul worked consistently in films and T.V. over the ensuing decades, though he never quite captured the magic of his Hutch days again.
Some highlights from his later career include the lead role in the T.V. adaptation of “Salem’s Lot” in 1979, a part in the Clint Eastwood war epic “Firefox” in 1982, and various T.V. guest appearances on shows like “Magnum, P.I.” and “Murder, She Wrote” up until the late 90s.
In recent years, Soul had occupied himself with creative passions like pottery-making while regularly attending fan conventions to reminisce about his glory days catching bad guys on the streets of fictional Bay City, California.
An Actor Never Forgotten
According to those close to him, Soul stayed humble and grateful for his opportunities in show business throughout it all. The iconic red Ford Gran Torino from “Starsky & Hutch” indeed emerges in the memories of many upon hearing the sad news of his passing.
David Soul took his fans on an unforgettable ride during the ’70s and beyond while creating a character forever cemented in television’s Hall of Fame. All these years later, his legacy remains sealed as a star who will never be forgotten.
