David Soul Dead: Former ‘Starsky & Hutch’ star dies after ‘courageous battle for life’

Davide Alma – protagonist of a 1970s television series Starsky and Hutch – his wife died at the age of 80, Helen Snell, confirmed in a new press release. She described her late husband as a “loving husband, father, grandfather and brother.”

In his statement the PEOPLEHelen revealed that David “died yesterday after a courageous battle for life in the loving company of his family. … He has shared many extraordinary gifts in the world as an actor, singer, storyteller, creative artist and dear friend. “His smile, his laugh and his passion for life will be remembered by many people whose lives he touched.”

Being a Chicago native, David originally intended to play baseball with the Chicago White Sox, the outlet reported. Then he changed his mind and decided to become a diplomat. His arrival in the entertainment industry was “purely accidental,” his website says, according to the publication.

During the 1960s, David began acting in theater productions after helping create the Firehouse Theater in Minneapolis. Gaining recognition for his stage presence, David was given the opportunity to sign a contract with Columbia Pictures. After getting a few cameos and minor roles in television shows, David began appearing in popular series such as Day among the stars, gun smoke AND I dream of Jeannie.

Starsky and Hutch gave in to David and his co-star, Paolo Michael Glaser, critical and public acclaim. The series ran for four seasons, from 1975 to 1979. The two actors have remained friends decades since the show ended. In November 2023, David tweeted a text to Paul, calling him “my best friend, my brother” and noting that they had just “hung up the phone.”

Thanks to the success of their series, Paul and David reunited on screen as their originals. Starsky and Hutch characters from the 2004 film adaptation, starring Owen Wilson, Vincent Vaughn, Ben Stiller AND Snoop Dogg.

David married his first wife, Miriam “Mim” Russeth, in 1964, and they divorced a year later. In 1968 David married his second wife. Karen Carsonand they separated in 1977. In 1980 David married Patti Carnel Sherman, and eventually they broke up. In 1987, the late TV star got married Julia Nickson. While it’s unclear exactly when they split, David met his fifth wife, Helen, in 2002, and they married in 2010.