David Soul

Soul was born on August 28, 1943, in Chicago, Illinois,{{cite book|title=The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music|editor-first=Colin|editor-last=Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin|publisher=Guinness Publishing|date=1992|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-939-0|page=2328}} and was of Norwegian descent. His mother, June Joanne (Nelson), was a teacher, and his father, Dr. Richard W. Solberg, was a Lutheran minister, professor of History and Political Science, and director of Higher Education for the Lutheran Church in America (now part of the ELCA).{{cite web|url=http://archive.wfn.org/2006/11/msg00248.html|title= Lutheran Pastor, Advisor, Historian, Educator, Richard Solberg, Dies| website=Wfn.org }} Both of Soul's grandfathers were evangelists.{{Cite web|url= http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20084767,00.html|title=The Souls' Dark Night|website=People.com|access-date=October 11, 2021|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160304063337/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20084767,00.html|url-status=dead}} Dr. Solberg was also senior representative for Lutheran World Relief during the reconstruction of Germany after World War II from 1953 until 1956.{{Cite web |date=November 20, 2006 |title=Lutheran Pastor, Advisor, Historian, Educator, Richard Solberg, Dies |url=https://www.elca.org/News-and-Events/5825 |access-date=January 11, 2024 |website=www.elca.org}} Because of this, the family moved frequently during Soul's youth, later learning Spanish.{{Cite web |date=January 5, 2024 |title=Sioux Falls native David Soul of 'Starsky and Hutch' fame has died |url=https://www.siouxfallslive.com/news/sioux-falls/sioux-falls-native-david-soul-of-starsky-and-hutch-fame-has-died |access-date=January 11, 2024 |website=Sioux Falls Live}} David's brother Daniel became a Lutheran pastor.{{Cite web |date=May 22, 1985 |title=Lutheran Pastor--Brother of Actor David Soul--Jailed |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-05-22-mn-16729-story.html |access-date=January 10, 2024 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}

The family was living in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where Soul's father taught political science and history at Augustana College, when Soul graduated from that city's Washington High School.{{Cite web |last1=Naquin |first1=Talia |last2=Bahe |first2= Cindy |date=January 5, 2024 |title=Former Augustana student David Soul and star of 'Starsky and Hutch' dies |url=https://www.keloland.com/news/local-news/starsky-and-hutch-star-david-soul-dies/ |access-date=January 11, 2024 |website=Keloland.com |language=en-US}} Soul attended Augustana College for two years before the family moved again, this time to Mexico City, where he studied for one year at the University of the Americas.{{Cite news|url=https://eu.argusleader.com/story/life/2018/01/10/looking-back-how-david-soul-made-sioux-falls-starsky-and-hutch/1021045001/|title=Looking Back: How David Soul made it from Sioux Falls to 'Starsky and Hutch'|last=Renshaw|first=Eric|date=January 10, 2018|newspaper=Argus Leader|access-date=April 5, 2019}}

While in Mexico, inspired by students who taught him to play the guitar, Soul changed his direction and decided to follow his passion for music.{{Cite news |last=Horton |first=Adrian |date=January 5, 2024 |title=Starsky & Hutch actor David Soul dies aged 80 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/jan/05/david-soul-starsky-hutch-actor-dies-aged-80 |access-date=January 11, 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} Upon returning from Mexico, he was hired to sing in a club at the University of Minnesota, The 10 O'Clock Scholar.{{Cite web |last=France |first=Lisa Respers |date=January 5, 2024 |title=David Soul, 'Starsky & Hutch' star, dead at 80 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/05/entertainment/david-soul-death/index.html |access-date=January 11, 2024 |website=CNN.com}}

Soul began performing on stage as an actor in the mid-1960s, when he became a founding member of the Firehouse Theater in Minneapolis. He traveled with the company to New York City in 1965, appearing in Bertolt Brecht's Baal and John Arden's Serjeant Musgrave's Dance.[https://books.google.com/books?id=kNzggGMMtSIC&dq=%22David+Soul%22+%22firehouse+theater%22&pg=PA161 Adams, Jan Thatcher. Football Wife; Coming of age with the NFL as Mrs. Karl Kassulke]. Franklin Green Publishing. (2011) {{ISBN|9781936470426}} P. 161{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/93350/david-soul-to-star-in-londons-jerry-springer/|title=David Soul to Star in London's Jerry Springer|website=Broadway.com|access-date=October 11, 2021}} Soul first gained national attention as the "Covered Man," appearing on The Merv Griffin Show in 1966 and 1967, on which he sang while wearing a mask. He explained: "My name is David Soul, and I want to be known for my music."{{Cite web|url= http://www.davidsoul.com/themervgriffinshow.html|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20061027183305/http://www.davidsoul.com/themervgriffinshow.html|url-status=dead|title=The Merv Griffin Show|archive-date=October 27, 2006|access-date=October 11, 2021}} The same year, he made his television debut in Flipper.{{Cite magazine |last=Kaufman |first=Gil |date=January 5, 2024 |title=David Soul, 'Starsky & Hutch' Star and 'Don't Give Up on Us' Singer Dies at 80 |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/david-soul-dead-starsky-hutch-dies-obituary-1235576388/ |access-date=January 10, 2024 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}

In 1967, he signed a contract with Columbia Pictures{{Cite web |last=Sklar |first=Debbie L. |date=January 5, 2024 |title=David Soul, 1970s 'Starsky & Hutch' Star, Dies at 80 |url=http://timesofsandiego.com/arts/2024/01/05/david-soul-1970s-starsky-hutch-star-dies-at-80/ |access-date=January 10, 2024 |website=Times of San Diego |language=en-US}} and following a number of guest roles, he landed the role of Joshua Bolt on the television program Here Come the Brides with co-stars Robert Brown, Bobby Sherman, and Bridget Hanley.{{Cite web |last=Barnes |first=Mike |date=January 5, 2024 |title=David Soul, 'Starsky and Hutch' Actor, Dies at 80 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/david-soul-dead-starsky-and-hutch-actor-1235780159/ |access-date=January 10, 2024 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Barnes |first=Mike |date=December 17, 2021 |title=Bridget Hanley, Star of 'Here Come the Brides,' Dies at 80 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/bridget-hanley-dead-here-come-the-brides-1235064483/ |access-date=January 10, 2024 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}} The series was telecast on the ABC television network from September 25, 1968, to September 18, 1970.Brooks, Tim & Marsh, Earle, The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows, Ballantine Books, 1979 In 1972, he co-starred as Arthur Hill's law partner on Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law. Following numerous guest-starring roles on TV, including The Streets of San Francisco, he was cast with Clint Eastwood in the film Magnum Force.{{Cite web |date=October 31, 2008 |title=Magnum Force |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/magnum_force |access-date=January 11, 2024 |website=Rotten Tomatoes}}

His breakthrough came when he portrayed Detective Ken "Hutch" Hutchinson on Starsky & Hutch, a role he played from 1975 until 1979.{{Cite web |date=January 5, 2024 |title='Starsky and Hutch' actor David Soul dies aged 80 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/starsky-and-hutch-actor-david-soul-dies-aged-80/a-67901790 |access-date=January 10, 2024 |website=Dw.com}} Soul also directed three episodes of Starsky and Hutch. During his career he made guest appearances on Star Trek, I Dream of Jeannie, McMillan & Wife, Cannon, Gunsmoke, All in the Family, and numerous TV movies and mini-series, including Homeward Bound (1980), World War III, and Rage (1980).{{Cite web |title=David Soul |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/david_soul |access-date=January 10, 2024 |website=Rotten Tomatoes}} Soul also starred with James Mason in the 1979 TV miniseries adaptation of Stephen King's 'Salem's Lot, which was edited and released as a theatrical feature film in some countries.{{Cite web |last=Kennedy |first=Michael |date=May 7, 2021 |title=Salem's Lot: All 4 Cuts Of Stephen King's 1979 Miniseries Explained |url=https://screenrant.com/salems-lot-1979-miniseries-cuts-versions-explained/ |access-date=January 11, 2024 |website=Screen Rant}}

During the mid-1970s, Soul returned to his singing roots. He scored one US hit with "Don't Give Up on Us" (1977) which reached No. 1 in the US and the UK.Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - {{ISBN|0-89820-089-X}}{{cite book

| first= David

| last= Roberts

| year= 2006

| title= British Hit Singles & Albums

| edition= 19th

| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited

| location= London

| isbn= 1-904994-10-5

| pages= 335–6}} "Silver Lady" (1977) hit No. 1 in the UK. From 1976 to 1982, he toured extensively in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and South America.

In the U.S., he continued to make guest appearances on various television series. He starred in the miniseries The Manions of America as Caleb Staunton in 1981.{{Cite web |title=David Soul |url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/181315%7C0/David-Soul/ |access-date=January 11, 2024 |website=Turner Classic Movies}} He starred in the short-lived 1983 NBC series Casablanca, playing nightclub owner Rick Blaine (the role that was made famous by Humphrey Bogart in the 1942 film Casablanca), and co-starred in the NBC series The Yellow Rose during the 1983–1984 season. He also starred in the television adaptation of Ken Follett's wartime drama The Key to Rebecca (1985) directed by David Hemmings.{{Cite web |title=The Key to Rebecca |url=https://www.tvguide.com/movies/the-key-to-rebecca/2030277578/ |access-date=January 10, 2024 |website=TVGuide}} He later starred as the infamous Florida robber Michael Lee Platt in the TV movie In the Line of Duty: The F.B.I. Murders (1988),{{Cite web |title=In The Line Of Duty:The F.B.I. Murders |url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/20277/in-the-line-of-duty-the-fbi-murders/ |access-date=January 10, 2024 |website=Turner Classic Movies}} which depicted the 1986 FBI Miami shootout, subsequently used as an FBI training film. Soul also directed the episode "No Exit" of the 1980s TV series Miami Vice.{{cite web |last=Murray |first=Noel |date=August 2, 2012 |title=How Miami Vice launched the '80s on TV, then died with its decade {{!}} TV |url=https://www.avclub.com/how-miami-vice-launched-the-80s-on-tv-then-died-with-1798232906 |access-date=August 7, 2012 |work=The A.V. Club |publisher=The Onion}} In 1987, Soul was cast as Major Oldham in the movie The Hanoi Hilton.{{Cite web |last=Canby |first=Vincent |date=March 27, 1987 |title=Film: 'The Hanoi Hilton' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/03/27/movies/film-the-hanoi-hilton.html |access-date=January 10, 2024 |website=The New York Times}}

In the mid-1990s, Soul moved to the United Kingdom, forging a new career on the West End stage, including the role of Chandler Tate in Comic Potential and The Narrator in Blood Brothers.{{Cite web |date=January 5, 2024 |title=Starsky & Hutch star David Soul has died aged 80 |url=https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2024/0105/1424971-starsky-and-hutch-star-david-soul-has-died-aged-80/ |access-date=January 11, 2024 |website=RTÉ News}} He also participated in the successful 1997 election campaign of his friend Martin Bell who ran as an MP for Tatton, as well as Bell's unsuccessful campaign in Brentwood in Essex in the 2001 General Election.{{cite press release |title=How we Met: Martin Bell & David Soul |author= Nick Smurthwaite |publisher= independent.co.uk |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/how-we-met-martin-bell-david-soul-1086682.html |date= April 10, 1999}}

In 2001 and 2002, he appeared in Holby City as Alan Fletcher.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/1079289.stm|title=David Soul joins Holby City - BBC News p.20 December 2000|date=December 20, 2000 |access-date=March 26, 2020}}

In 2003, he appeared (as himself) in the first series of the BBC's Little Britain. In 2004, he appeared in Agatha Christie's Poirot – Death on the Nile in the role of Andrew Pennington (he had also starred in the 1989 film adaptation of Christie's Appointment with Death). Soul was a guest on the BBC's Top Gear. He was one of the fastest drivers to have appeared on the show, finishing the lap in 1:54:00,{{cite web|url=http://www.topgear.com/show/lap-times|title=Lap Times|work=Top Gear|access-date=September 3, 2015|archive-date=March 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304113837/https://www.topgear.com/show/lap-times|url-status=dead}} but managed to break the car's gearbox (and subsequently a backup car's) very close to the finish.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03rds56|title=David Soul Breaks Two Lianas December 2000|website=Bbc.co.uk|access-date=January 30, 2021}}

File:4.29.18DavidSoulByLuigiNovi1.jpg in Secaucus, New Jersey]]

On July 12, 2004, he took over playing the role of Jerry Springer in Jerry Springer: The Opera at the Cambridge Theatre in London, televised by the BBC in 2005.{{Cite web |date=June 8, 2016 |title=David Soul in "Jerry Springer the Opera" from 12 July 2004 |url=https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/david-soul-in-jerry-springer-the-opera-from-12-july-2004 |access-date=January 11, 2024 |website=London Theatre}}{{Cite web |date=June 8, 2016 |title="Jerry Springer The Opera" to be broadcast by BBC 2 on Sat 8 Jan 2005 despite a record number of complaints. |url=https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/jerry-springer-the-opera-to-be-broadcast-by-bbc-2-on-sat-8-jan-2005-despite-a |access-date=January 11, 2024 |website=London Theatre}} He returned to the West End in 2006, playing Mack in a new production of Jerry Herman's musical Mack and Mabel at the Criterion Theatre.{{Cite web |title=Watermill - Mack and Mabel |url=https://www.newburytheatre.co.uk/archive/200505a.htm |access-date=January 11, 2024 |website=www.newburytheatre.co.uk}}{{Cite web |date=June 8, 2016 |title="Mack & Mabel" to close early 1 July 2006 |url=https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/mack-mabel-to-close-early-1-july-2006 |access-date=January 11, 2024 |website=London Theatre}} The production co-starred Janie Dee and was directed by John Doyle. He also appeared in the TV series Dalziel & Pascoe (Game of Soldiers). He had a brief cameo in the 2004 movie version of Starsky & Hutch, alongside original co-star Paul Michael Glaser.

In August 2008, Soul appeared in the reality TV talent show-themed television series Maestro on BBC Two mentored by Natalia Luis-Bassa.{{cite press release |title= Eight passionate amateurs bid to become BBC Two's Maestro |publisher= BBC |date= May 23, 2008 |url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/05_may/23/maestro.shtml |access-date= May 24, 2008}}

He appeared with Fred Ward and Willem Dafoe in the film Farewell directed by Christian Carion, which received its U.S. release in 2010.{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=John |date=July 9, 2010 |title=In the July Heat, a Cold-War Comeback |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/11/movies/11cold.html |access-date=January 11, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

In June 2012, Soul made a one-week appearance with Jerry Hall at the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin, in a reprise of the Pulitzer Prize-nominated play by A. R. Gurney, Love Letters.{{cite web|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/jerry-hall/pictures/3078592|title=Jerry Hall and David Soul launch 'Love Letters' at The Gaiety Theatre which opens tonight |date=June 18, 2012 |publisher=contactmusic.com |access-date=November 20, 2015}} On July 29, 2012, he appeared in an episode of the British television detective drama series Lewis, playing a murder victim.{{Cite web |last=Shattuck |first=Kathryn |date=July 29, 2012 |title=What's On Sunday |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9802E1DD1E31F93AA15754C0A9649D8B63 |access-date=January 12, 2024 |website=The New York Times}} In 2013, Soul appeared in the Scottish film Filth, singing "Silver Lady".{{Cite web |last1=Plumb |first1=Ali |last2=De Semlyen |first2=Phil |date=August 12, 2013 |title=Empire's Music Playlist Of 2013 |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/movie-playlist-2013/ |access-date=January 12, 2024 |website=Empire}} In 2014, Soul appeared in a British television commercial for National Express singing "Silver Lady" while driving a coach.

File:DavidSoul 2013.jpg

Soul was married five times and had five sons and a daughter.

In 1964, Soul married Miriam "Mim" Russeth. The couple had one child before divorcing in 1965.{{Cite news |date=January 5, 2024 |title=David Soul, actor and singer who shot to fame around the world in Starsky and Hutch – obituary |url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/david-soul/bio/3000000446/ |access-date=May 8, 2024 |publisher=TV Guide}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2024/01/05/david-soul-actor-singer-starsky-and-hutch-died-obituary/ |access-date=January 12, 2024 |work=Telegraph.co.uk |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235 |title=David Soul, actor and singer who shot to fame around the world in Starsky and Hutch – obituary |date=January 5, 2024 |last1=Obituaries |first1=Telegraph }}

Soul's second marriage was to actress Karen Carlson. They married in 1968, after they met on the set of the television series Here Come the Brides in which Carlson had a role.{{Cite web |date=March 5, 1978 |title=Karen survives Hollywood style |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/211245325/ |work=The Times |via=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}} They had a son together, Jon-Kristjian, before the couple divorced in 1977.

During the years he was filming Starsky & Hutch, Soul had an open relationship with actress Lynne Marta, who died seven days after him.{{cite web |last1=Darrach |first1=Brad |last2=Diliberto |first2=Gioia |date=April 18, 1983 |title=The Souls' Dark Night |url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20084767,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304063337/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20084767,00.html |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |access-date=October 30, 2010 |magazine=People}}

In 1980, three years after his second divorce, Soul married Patti Carnel-Sherman, ex-wife of Bobby Sherman. Soul was ordered to attend therapy classes for alcoholism and anger management after attacking her when she was seven months pregnant with his child.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1419225/David-Soul-talks-of-guilt-after-beating-his-wife.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1419225/David-Soul-talks-of-guilt-after-beating-his-wife.html |archive-date=January 12, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=David Soul talks of guilt after beating his wife|website=The Telegraph|first=Sarah|last=Womack|date=January 18, 2003|access-date=February 14, 2021}}{{cbignore}} Soul was step-father to Carnel-Sherman's children. The couple divorced in 1986.

A year later In 1987, Soul married Singaporean-American actress Julia Nickson. They had a daughter, China Soul, who is a singer-songwriter.{{cite web |url=http://www.famemagazine.co.uk/2010/09/10/fame-presents-china-soul/ |title=Fame Magazine September 2010 |publisher=Famemagazine.co.uk |date=September 10, 2010 |accessdate=October 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004155329/http://www.famemagazine.co.uk/2010/09/10/fame-presents-china-soul/ |archive-date=October 4, 2011 |url-status=dead }} Nickson urged Soul to seek help for his excessive drinking, persuading him to enter a rehabilitation facility in 1989.{{Cite web |date=March 7, 1993 |title=Soul destroying for David as 'baby' gives up on him |url=https://www.scmp.com/article/21125/soul-destroying-david-baby-gives-him |access-date=January 12, 2024 |website=South China Morning Post}}

Soul married his fifth wife, Helen Snell in 2010.{{Cite web |title='The day that changed my life' |url=https://www.davidsoul.com/the-day-that-changed-my-life/ |access-date=January 12, 2024 |website=www.davidsoul.com |language=en-US}} They had started a relationship in 2002 while working on the British stage production of Deathtrap.{{Cite web |last1=Clarke |first1=Naomi |last2=McLaughlin |first2=Charlotte |date=January 5, 2024 |title=Ben Stiller leads tributes to Starsky & Hutch star David Soul after his death |url=https://au.news.yahoo.com/ben-stiller-leads-tributes-starsky-174849303.html |access-date=January 12, 2024 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-AU}}{{cite web |url=http://www.ok.co.uk/lifestyle/view/31427/Interview-David-and-China-Soul-/ |title=OK! Magazine: First For Celebrity News :: Lifestyle :: Interview: David and China Soul |publisher=Ok.co.uk |date=January 25, 2011 |access-date=January 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110228194612/http://www.ok.co.uk/lifestyle/view/31427/Interview-David-and-China-Soul- |archive-date=February 28, 2011 |url-status=dead }}

In 2004, Soul obtained British citizenship.[https://web.archive.org/web/20090530145346/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/david-soul-my-home-is-where-my-art-is-535323.html David Soul: My home is where my art is]. The Independent, October 20, 2004.

Soul was a three-pack-a-day cigarette smoker for 50 years.{{Cite web |last=McBride |first=Jessica |date=January 5, 2024 |title='Starsky & Hutch' Actor Died After 'Valiant Battle for Life,' Lung Condition |url=https://heavy.com/entertainment/david-soul-dead-cause-of-death/ |access-date=January 11, 2024 |website=Heavy.com |language=en-US}} Although he had stopped smoking ten years prior to his death, he was seriously affected by COPD and had also had a lung removed due to cancer.{{Cite web |last=Larkin |first=Lilly |date=January 6, 2024 |title=David Soul's demise stirs online world: death details emerge |url=https://thethaiger.com/world/news/589296/ |access-date=January 11, 2024 |website=The Thaiger |language=en-US}} Soul died in London on January 4, 2024, at age 80.{{Cite web|first1=Charlotte|last1=Gallagher|first2=Mark|last2=Savage|title=David Soul: Starsky & Hutch actor dies aged 80|date=January 5, 2024 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-67895679|access-date=January 5, 2024|website=BBC News|publisher=BBC}}

• List of 1970s one-hit wonders in the United States

{{reflist|2}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{Official website}}
• {{IMDb name|id=0815800|name=David Soul}}
• {{discogs artist|David Soul}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Soul, David}}

Category:1943 births

Category:2024 deaths

Category:American emigrants to England

Category:American Lutherans

Category:American male film actors

Category:American male television actors

Category:American male video game actors

Category:American male voice actors

Category:American people of Norwegian descent

Category:American television directors

Category:Augustana University alumni

Category:Domestic violence in the United States

Category:Male actors from Chicago

Category:Naturalised citizens of the United Kingdom

Category:Private Stock Records artists

Category:University of Minnesota alumni

Category:Washington High School (Sioux Falls, South Dakota) alumni

Category:20th-century American male actors

Category:20th-century American male singers

Category:21st-century American male actors

Category:21st-century American male singers