Actor And Singer Passes Away At 80

Actor And Singer Passes Away At 80

David Soul is best remembered for his role as Detective Ken ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson on the popular 1970s TV series *Starsky and Hutch*, which ran from 1975 to 1979. He later reprised this iconic role in the 2004 film adaptation *Starsky & Hutch*.

While the character of Hutch brought him widespread recognition, Soul had a diverse and accomplished acting career beyond the series. According to IMDb, his credits include roles in *Magnum Force*, *Jerry Springer: The Opera*, *Murder, She Wrote*, *Unsub*, *Secret of the Sahara*, *The Yellow Rose*, and *Here Comes the Bride*, among many others.

On January 5, 2024, Yahoo! reported that Soul’s wife, Helen Snell, released a heartfelt statement confirming his passing the previous day. She described him as a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and brother, noting that he died surrounded by his loving family after a brave fight for life.

Snell praised his talent and spirit, calling him a gifted actor, singer, storyteller, artist, and cherished friend, adding that his laughter, smile, and passion for life will be fondly remembered by all who knew him. Soul began his acting journey at age 24 when he joined a musical revue in North Dakota, where a talent scout discovered him. This led to a studio contract and the launch of his Hollywood career. Fans can still revisit his most iconic moments from *Starsky and Hutch* online.

Throughout his life, Soul was married five times. His first marriage to Mim Solberg lasted from 1963 to 1966, and they had one child. His second marriage was to Karen Carlson from 1968 to 1975, also resulting in one child. From 1980 to 1986, he was married to Patricia Anne Carnel, with whom he had two children. His fourth marriage to Julia Nickson, which lasted from 1987 to 1993, produced one child. His fifth and final marriage was to Helen Snell in 2010, and they remained together until his death. The couple did not have children. Soul was 80 years old when he died. Although no official cause of death was shared in Snell’s statement, *The Washington Post* reported that he had been battling lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in his later years. He is survived by Snell and his children.