David Soul, the actor best known for playing Detective Kenneth “Hutch” Hutchinson in the popular 1970s TV series “Starsky & Hutch,” passed away on Thursday at the age of 80.
His wife, Helen Snell, said the Chicago-born actor died “after a valiant battle for life in the loving company of family.” She described him as a “beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother.”
“He shared many extraordinary gifts in the world as actor, singer, storyteller, creative artist and dear friend,” Ms. Snell said in a statement on Friday.
“His smile, laughter and passion for life will be remembered by the many whose lives he has touched,” she added.
Mr. Soul played Detective Ken “Hutch” Hutchinson alongside dark-haired Paul Michael Glaser as Detective David Starsky in the popular TV series “Starsky & Hutch,” which aired on ABC from 1975 to 1979.
His former co-star, Mr. Glaser, paid tribute to him in a statement to People, saying they have “lost a dear friend who shall live on in our memories.”
He described Mr. Soul as “a brother, a friend, a caring man.”
“I find it difficult to comprehend David’s passing. Seems only yesterday that we were sharing loving insults on the phone,” he stated.
“It just takes time, I tell myself; saying goodbye to such a dear friend and important part of my life, I suspect that I will let myself feel his loss, our loss, only gradually,” Mr. Glaser added.
Mr. Glaser also extended his condolences to Ms. Snell, who had stood beside the actor “through these difficult years.”
“He could never tell me enough what she meant to him,” he said. “To all his sons and his daughter China, my deepest sympathies.”
“And to all of you, our supportive and caring public who recognized a very special relationship and never stopped telling us. Thank you.”
His other TV credits included early appearances on “Star Trek,” “All in the Family” and “I Dream of Jeannie,” the miniseries “Salem’s Lot,” and a short-lived version of the film classic “Casablanca,” in which Mr. Soul took on Humphrey Bogart’s role as nightclub owner Rick Blaine.
By the 1990s, Mr. Soul had moved to Britain, where he performed several stage roles. In 2001, he won a libel case against a journalist who called “The Dead Monkey,” a play that he was in, the worst production he had ever seen - without having seen it. He also played the titular talk-show host in “Jerry Springer - The Opera” in London’s West End.
He also found success in singing and songwriting, releasing five albums: “David Soul” (1976), “Playing to An Audience of One” (1978), “Band of Friends” (1980), “The Best Days Of My Life” (1982), and “Leave a Light On” (1998). His music career included several international hits, notably “Don’t Give Up on Us” (1976) and “Silver Lady” (1977).
