David Soul Cause of death – The Popular actor from the TV series “Starsky & Hutch”, David Soul, died at the age of 80.
His wife, Helen Snell, announced that he passed after a “valiant battle for life”. He faced several health issues, including cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, as mentioned on his website.
David Solberg, known globally for his portrayal of Sergeant Kenneth Richard ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson on the popular ABC series, rose to fame alongside his co-star Paul Michael Glaser as they depicted the lives of two detectives, Starsky and Hutch, combating crime in the fictional Bay City, California. The show aired from 1975 to 1979.
“Starsky and Hutch” star David Soul was a talented artist
David Soul’s influence extended beyond his role in “Starsky & Hutch,” showcasing a diverse range of talents as a singer and creative individual. However, his enduring legacy lies not just in his artistic prowess but in the warmth of his smile, infectious laughter, and his zest for life.
Soul shared that there have been discussions about reviving the classic series with two female leads. In a lighthearted manner, he proposed the idea of reprising his role alongside Paul Michael Glaser, not as new actors, but as a pair of elderly investigators solving minor cases in a retirement home.
David Soul health issues – consequences of smoking and COPD
Besides his wife Helen Snell, whom he married in 2010, Soul leaves behind six children from earlier marriages and seven grandchildren. He was married to Mirriam Russeth, Karen Carlson, Patti Carnel Sherman and Julia Nickson, before Snell.
In 2019, David Soul candidly shared his health journey during an interview with the UK’s Sunday Times. He openly discussed the challenges he faced during his 72-day hospitalization in 2017, which included a tough period following a hip replacement surgery, requiring a tracheostomy at one point.
David Soul linked his struggle with COPD, a lung condition causing breathing difficulties, to his long-standing habit of smoking up to three packs of cigarettes daily for five decades. Despite quitting smoking ten years ago, the irreversible damage had already taken its toll on his health.
Despite all his health struggles, he reflected on his life with a sense of gratitude in the interview. He felt content knowing he was once the number one star and had number one records around the world.
Soul not only achieved success as an actor but also gained recognition for his roles in popular series like Star Trek, Perry Mason, and Johnny Got His Gun during the 1960s and 1970s. A pivotal moment in his career occurred when he portrayed Officer John Davis in Clint Eastwood’s police drama, “Magnum Force.”
Despite attaining widespread fame through “Starsky & Hutch,” Soul made a return to his musical roots. In the late 1970s, he launched four albums featuring soft rock ballads, with two of them, namely “Silver Lady” and “Don’t Give Up On Us,” soaring to the top of the UK charts.
