David Soul

David Soul (born David Richard Solberg; August 28, 1943 – January 4, 2024) was an American-British actor and singer. With a career spanning five decades, he rose to prominence for portraying Detective Kenneth "Hutch" Hutchinson in the American television series Starsky & Hutch from 1975 to 1979. His other notable roles included Joshua Bolt on Here Come the Brides from 1968 to 1970 and as the lead actor in the 1979 American TV movie Salem's Lot. Soul also portrayed Officer John Davis in the 1973 movie Magnum Force.

During his career, Soul also found success as a singer, achieving a number one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1977 with "Don't Give Up on Us", which also peaked at number one in the United Kingdom and Canada. He achieved a further four top 10 entries and an additional number one single on the UK Singles Chart with "Silver Lady". In the 1990s, Soul moved to the UK and found renewed success on the West End stage. He also made cameo appearances in British TV shows, including Little Britain, Holby City, and Lewis.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=guardobit>Template:Cite news</ref>

Early life

Soul was born on August 28, 1943, in Chicago, Illinois,<ref name="LarkinGE">Template:Cite book</ref> 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).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Both of Soul's grandfathers were evangelists.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dr. Solberg was also senior representative for Lutheran World Relief during the reconstruction of Germany after World War II from 1953 until 1956.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Because of this, the family moved frequently during Soul's youth, later learning Spanish.<ref name="guardobit" /><ref name=":10">Template:Cite web</ref> David's brother Daniel became a Lutheran pastor.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":4" /> 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.<ref name= ":4">Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Upon returning from Mexico, he was hired to sing in a club at the University of Minnesota, The 10 O'Clock Scholar.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Career

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.<ref>Adams, Jan Thatcher. Football Wife; Coming of age with the NFL as Mrs. Karl Kassulke. Franklin Green Publishing. (2011) Template:ISBN P. 161</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The same year, he made his television debut in Flipper.<ref name=":7">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

In 1967, he signed a contract with Columbia Pictures<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name=":9">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The series was telecast on the ABC television network from September 25, 1968, to September 18, 1970.<ref>Brooks, Tim & Marsh, Earle, The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows, Ballantine Books, 1979</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

His breakthrough came when he portrayed Detective Ken "Hutch" Hutchinson on Starsky & Hutch, a role he played from 1975 until 1979.<ref name="auto"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Soul also directed three episodes of Starsky and Hutch.<ref name=":9" /> 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).<ref name="auto">Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name="auto" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref>Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 – Template:ISBN</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> "Silver Lady" (1977) hit No. 1 in the UK.<ref name=":7" /> From 1976 to 1982, he toured extensively in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and South America.<ref name="aged 80"/>

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He starred in the short-lived 1983 NBC series Casablanca,<ref name=":5" /> playing nightclub owner Rick Blaine (the role that was made famous by Humphrey Bogart in the 1942 film Casablanca),<ref name=":6" /> and co-starred in the NBC series The Yellow Rose during the 1983–1984 season.<ref name="auto" /> He also starred in the television adaptation of Ken Follett's wartime drama The Key to Rebecca (1985) directed by David Hemmings.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name="special">Template:Cite web</ref> In 1987, Soul was cast as Major Oldham in the movie The Hanoi Hilton.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name="ind">Template:Cite press release</ref>

In 2001 and 2002, he appeared in Holby City as Alan Fletcher.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2003, he appeared (as himself) in the first series of the BBC's Little Britain.<ref name="aged 80"/> 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).<ref name="aged 80"/> Soul was a guest on the BBC's Top Gear.<ref name="aged 80"/> He was one of the fastest drivers to have appeared on the show, finishing the lap in 1:54:00,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> but managed to break the car's gearbox (and subsequently a backup car's) very close to the finish.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

File:4.29.18DavidSoulByLuigiNovi1.jpg

Soul at the 2018 East Coast Comicon 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref> The production co-starred Janie Dee and was directed by John Doyle.<ref name=":2" /> He also appeared in the TV series Dalziel & Pascoe ("A Game of Soldiers"). He had a brief cameo in the 2004 movie version of Starsky & Hutch, alongside original co-star Paul Michael Glaser.<ref name="aged 80"/>

In August 2008, Soul appeared in the reality TV talent show-themed television series Maestro on BBC Two mentored by Natalia Luis-Bassa.<ref name="BBC080523">Template:Cite press release</ref>

He appeared with Fred Ward and Willem Dafoe in the film Farewell directed by Christian Carion, which received its U.S. release in 2010.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":3" />

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On July 29, 2012, he appeared in an episode of the British television detective drama series Lewis, playing a murder victim.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2013, Soul appeared in the Scottish film Filth, singing "Silver Lady".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2014, Soul appeared in a British television commercial for National Express singing "Silver Lady" while driving a coach.<ref name="aged 80"/>

Personal life

File:DavidSoul 2013.jpg

Soul in 2013

Soul was married five times and had five sons and a daughter.<ref name=":10" />

In 1964, Soul married Miriam "Mim" Russeth. The couple had one child before divorcing in 1965.<ref name="guardobit" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> They had a son together, Jon-Kristjian, before the couple divorced in 1977.<ref name=":1" />

During the years he was filming Starsky & Hutch, Soul had an open relationship with actress Lynne Marta, who died seven days after he did.<ref name="People">Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1980, Soul married Patti Carnel-Sherman, ex-wife of Bobby Sherman.<ref name="guardobit" /> Soul was ordered to attend therapy classes for alcoholism and anger management after attacking her when she was seven months pregnant with his child.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref><ref name="guardobit" /> Soul was step-father to Carnel-Sherman's children. The couple divorced in 1986.<ref name="guardobit" />

A year later, Soul married Singaporean-American actress Julia Nickson.<ref name="aged 80"/> They had a daughter, China Soul, who is a singer-songwriter.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Nickson urged Soul to seek help for his excessive drinking, persuading him to enter a rehabilitation facility in 1989.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Soul married his fifth wife, Helen Snell, in 2010.<ref name=":11">Template:Cite web</ref> They started a relationship in 2002 while working on the British stage production of Deathtrap.<ref name=":12">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2004, Soul obtained British citizenship.<ref>David Soul: My home is where my art is. The Independent, October 20, 2004.</ref>

Soul was a three-pack-a-day cigarette smoker for 50 years.<ref name=":8">Template:Cite web</ref> Although he stopped smoking ten years prior to his death, he was seriously affected by progressive lung disease and also had a lung removed due to cancer.<ref name=":8" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Soul died in London on January 4, 2024, at age 80.<ref name="aged 80">Template:Cite web</ref>

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes	References
1971	Johnny Got His Gun	Swede		<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1973	Magnum Force	Officer John Davis		<ref name="auto"/>
1975	Dogpound Shuffle	Pritt
1977	The Stick Up	Duke Turnbeau
1979	Salem's Lot	Ben Mears
1983	Through Naked Eyes	William Parrish
1985	The Key to Rebecca	Alex Wolff
1987	The Hanoi Hilton	Maj Oldham
1988	Appointment with Death	Jefferson Cope
1989	Prime Target	Peter Armetage
1992	Grave Secrets: The Legacy of Hilltop Drive	Sam Haney
1994	Pentathlon	Mueller
2004	Starsky & Hutch	The Original Ken "Hutch" Hutchinson	Cameo	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2009	Farewell	Hutton, Ronald Reagan's adviser		<ref name=":3">Template:Cite web</ref>
2013	Filth	Punter		<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes	References
1966	I Dream of Jeannie	Gerhard – the Orderly	1 episode: "My Master, the Weakling"	<ref name="auto"/>
1967	Flipper	Ranger Dennis Blake	1 episode	<ref name=":7"/>
	Star Trek	Makora	Episode: "The Apple"	<ref name="auto"/>
1968–1970	Here Come the Brides	Joshua Bolt	52 episodes
1971	All in the Family	Szabo Daborda	1 episode
1971–1974	Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law	Pete, Doug, Ted Warrick	7 episodes
1972	The F.B.I.	Clifford Wade	1 episode: "The Runner"	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
	The Streets of San Francisco	Jim Martin	1 episode: "Hall of Mirrors"	<ref name="auto"/>
1973	Cannon	Sean Cadden, Udo Giesen	2 episodes
	Circle of Fear	James Barlow	1 episode: "The Phantom of Herald Square"	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
1974	The Disappearance of Flight 412	Captain Roy Bishop	Television film	<ref name="auto"/>
1975–1979	Starsky & Hutch	Detective Sergeant Kenneth "Hutch" Hutchinson	92 episodes
1977	Little Ladies of the Night	Lyle York	Television film
1979	Salem's Lot	Ben Mears	Miniseries
1980	Rage!	Cal Morrisey	Television film
1982	World War III	Colonel Jake Caffey	Miniseries
1983	Casablanca	Rick Blaine	5 episodes	<ref name=":6">Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=":5">Template:Cite news</ref>
1983–1984	The Yellow Rose	Roy Champion	22 episodes	<ref name="auto"/>
1985	The Key to Rebecca	Alex Wolff	Television film
1986	The Fifth Missile	Capt. Kevin Harris
1988	The Secret of the Sahara	Lieutenant Riker	4 episodes	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	In the Line of Duty: The F.B.I. Murders	Mike Lee Platt	Television film	<ref name="auto"/>
1989	Unsub	John Westley "Westy" Grayson	8 episodes	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
	Prime Target	Peter Armetage	Television film	<ref name="auto"/>
1990	The Young Riders	Jeremy Styles	"Gathering Clouds", 2 episodes	<ref name="auto1">Template:Cite web</ref>
1991-1993	Murder, She Wrote	Wes McCorley/Jordan Bartlett	2 episodes	<ref name="auto"/>
2001-2002	Holby City	Professor Alan Fletcher	2 episodes	<ref name="auto" />
2003	Little Britain	Himself	1 episode	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2004	Poirot	Andrew Pennington	Episode "Death on the Nile"	<ref name="auto1" />
2004	Dalziel and Pascoe	Gus D'Amato	Episode: "A Game of Soldiers"
2005	Jerry Springer: The Opera	Jerry Springer
2012	Lewis	Paul Yelland	1 episode

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

Year	Title	Details	AUS<ref name=aus>Template:Cite book</ref>	NL<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	NZ<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	UK<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>	US<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
1976	David Soul	Released: November 1976 Label: Private Stock	8	13	17	2	40
1977	Playing to an Audience of One	Released: 1977 Label: Private Stock	30	-	9	8	86
1979	Band of Friends	Released: 1979 Label: Energy	-	-	-	94	163
1982	The Best Days of My Life<ref>The Da Capo Companion to 20th-century Popular Music – Page 879 0306806401 Phil Hardy – 1995 In the eighties he recorded only intermittently (The Best Days of My Life, Energy, 1982) before giving up music to concentrate on his acting career. ...</ref>	Released: 1982 Label: Phillips	-	-	-	-	-
1997	Leave a Light On...<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">Template:Cite book</ref>	Released: 1997 Label: Self-released	-	-	-	-	-

Compilation albums

Year	Title	Details	UK<ref name=":0" />
1979	Moods	Released: 1979 Label: K-tel	-
1990	The Best Of...	Released: 1990 Label: Connoisseur Collection Europe release	-
1993	The Magic Collection	Released: 1993 Label: ARC	-
1994	The Best Of	Released: March 1994 Label: Music Club UK release of 1990 compilation	-
2008	Looking Back – The Very Best Of	Released: October 2008 Label: Vibrant	-
2010	Don't Give Up on Us – The Very Best of David Soul	Released: November 29, 2010 Label: Music Club Deluxe	-
2020	Gold	Released: March 6, 2020 Label: Crimson	28

Singles

Year	Single	Chart positions
		AUS<ref name=aus/>	BE (FLA)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	BE (WA)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	CAN	CAN AC	IRE<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	NL 40<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	NL 100<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	NZ<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	UK<ref name=":0" />	US<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	US AC<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
1966	"The Covered Man" (promo; US-only release)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Before" (US-only release)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1967	"No One's Gonna Cry (For You Baby)" (promo; US-only release)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1970	"The Train" (US-only release)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1970	"The Road Is Long"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1976	"Don't Give Up on Us"	1	4	40	1<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	1<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	2	3	3	1	1	1	1
1977	"Going in with My Eyes Open"	10	12	49	58<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	14<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	7	17	13	12	2	54	14
	"Silver Lady"	5	12	39	70<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	36<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	1	20	16	5	1	52	23
	"Let's Have a Quiet Night In"	—	—	—	—	—	5	—	—	—	8	—	—
1978	"It Sure Brings Out the Love in Your Eyes"	—	—	—	—	—	6	—	—	—	12	—	—
1980	"Surrender to Me"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1981	"Fool for Love"	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
	"Dreamers" (Netherlands-only release)	-	20	—	—	—	—	—	41	—	—	—	—
	"I Can't Afford That Feeling Anymore" (U.K.and Netherlands-only release)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1982	"How Can You Tell You Got It (If You Don't Ever Give It Away)" (UK-only release)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1985	"Amoureus Sans Bagages" (with Claire Séverac; France and Italy-only release)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1988	"Dream with Me" (with Claire Séverac; France and Italy-only release)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1995	"Smoke with No Fire" (with Claire Séverac; France-only release)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

See also

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

External links

• Template:Official website
• Template:IMDb name
• Template:Discogs artist