Entertainment Swindon

Social media has been flooded with tributes from both fans and celebrities as Starsky & Hutch legend David Soul has died at the age of 80. The actor most known for his starring role in cop duo series Starsky & Hutch became an international pin-up and superstar.

Soul played Detective Ken Hutchinson, known as Hutch, paired with Detective Dave Starsky played by actor Paul Michael Glaser. The show ran for four seasons on ABC from 1975 to 1979 where the detective duo fought crime on the streets of Bay City, a fictional Californian city in the iconic bright red Gran Torino.

His heartbroken wife Helen Snell said he had a ‘valiant battle for life’. 

‘David Soul, beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother – died yesterday after a valiant battle for life in the loving company of family,’ she said in a statement. 

‘He shared many extraordinary gifts in the world as actor, singer, storyteller, creative artist and dear friend. 

‘His smile, laughter and passion for life will be remembered by the many whose lives he has touched.’

Shortly after the announcement was made on Friday morning, tributes flooded in over all social media platforms.

Soul lived in London with his PR wife Helen Snell, his fifth marriage, after they met while touring the UK with a stage production of Ira Levin play Deathtrap in 2002. That wasn’t Soul’s only connection to the UK, In an interview, Soul once said:

“When Paul Michael Glaser and I were filming Starsky & Hutch in the 70s, Princess Margaret once came to meet us on the set because she liked the show.

“We took her to lunch and, suffice to say, we didn’t go back to work in the afternoon.  Also we were told the Queen Mother once said, ‘I like those boys so much! But I don’t think I’ll ever be Sir David, even though I act like it sometimes!”

As well as his starring role in Starsky & Hutch, Soul had several memorable film roles included that of a vigilante cop in Dirty Harry sequel The Enforcer and the lead as nostalgic writer Ben Mears in 1979 Stephen King adaptation Salem’s Lot.

Soul also had a short music career, topping the charts with his hit ‘Dont Give Up On Us’ as well as ‘Going In With My Eyes Open’ & Silver Lady’