He was the American detective Kenneth “Hutch” Hutchinson and, along with “Starsky,” formed one of the most memorable duos on the small screen. David Soul, former star of the series Starsky and Hutch (1975-1979), died on Thursday at the age of 80, announced his entourage this Friday, January 5th.
“David Soul – beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother – passed away yesterday [jeudi, ndlr] after a brave fight for life, in the loving company of his family”his wife Helen Snell said in a statement to Sky News. “As an actor, singer, storyteller, creative artist and dear friend, he shared many extraordinary gifts around the world. His smile, his laugh and his passion for life will be remembered by the many people he touched.”
Success and violence
David Soul was born in Chicago in the United States and obtained British citizenship in 2004 in order, he said, to spend the rest of his life in the United Kingdom with his British wife. In the series Starsky and Hutch, Airing in the United States for 92 weeks between 1975 and May 1979, David Soul, along with Paul Michael Glaser, formed the duo in the famous red Ford Gran Torino with white stripes. A feature film from the series was made in 2004. Thirty years earlier, Owen Wilson took on the role of David Soul and Ben Stiller took on the role of Paul Michael Glaser. The series followed their adventures in the imaginary city of Bay City, where the two police officers were aided by “Huggy the Good Tips”, their loyal informant, played by Antonio Fargas.
The historic success of the cult series with 4 seasons and 93 episodes made him an instant star. A status he could never truly accept: at the height of his fame, while launching a music career (he recorded five albums), David Soul was simultaneously experiencing a dark period. He takes refuge in alcohol, an addiction that is sometimes accompanied by violent outbursts. Specifically, he was sentenced to prison for domestic violence after he beat his third wife, Patti, who was seven months pregnant. After undergoing therapy, he visited prisons more frequently in recent decades to talk about his experiences.
To update : at 4:58 p.m. with more biographical material.
