David Soul, Starsky & Hutch Actor, Dead At 80

Actor David Soul died at 80 years old on January 4. Soul's wife Helen Snell confirmed the news in a statement obtained by BBC, noting that his death followed "valiant battle for life in the loving company of family." She added, "He shared many extraordinary gifts in the world as actor, singer, storyteller, creative artist and dear friend." 

Soul is perhaps best known for his noteworthy role as Detective Kenneth "Hutch" Hutchinson in the 1970s action television series, "Starsky & Hutch." It's a role that stayed with him to the very end — as his official bio on X (formerly known as Twitter) states, "I was Hutch; he was the other guy." He also reprised the role for a cameo in the 2004 "Starsky & Hutch" movie starring Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson. But David Soul was much more than just Hutch, and fans are marking his loss by looking back at a robust career and a humble personality.

David Soul's claim to fame may have been acting, but he was a dedicated musician and writer too. In fact, at the ripe old age of nine, he was the recipient of awards for his piano-playing ability. "I think my music was the most important thing to me. I started to write my own music and sing and play in all kinds of places," he revealed to The Sunday Post. At the height of his "Starsky & Hutch" success in 1977, Soul claimed a spot at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and the U.K. Singles Chart with the hit ballad "Don't Give Up on Us."

It doesn't appear Soul was too impressed with the fame game. "Celebrity is a bunch of crap, because it keeps you from seeing who you are as a person," he told Caron Eastgate Dann for TV Week magazine. "Fame is a fleeting thing. It can be here today and gone tomorrow. I'm still around." Still, he's careful to admit that the notoriety he received while playing Detective Ken "Hutch" Hutchinson certainly helped pad his pockets. "I still get asked many things about the show. I guess that is good news, in a sense, because it only ran for four years but had a huge impact and there is no doubt it helped raise my profile and paid a few bills while it lasted." 

Our heartfelt condolences go out to Soul's wife, Helen Snell; his surviving six children; and the rest of his extended family and friends.