David Soul has died at the age of 80, it was announced on Friday morning.
The actor was on the 1970s TV series Starsky & Hutch before topping the charts with his hit Don’t Give Up On Us.
Soon after tributes flooded social media.
His heartbroken wife Helen Snell said he had a ‘valiant battle for life’.
‘David Soul – beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother – died yesterday after a valiant battle for life in the loving company of family,’ she said in a statement.
‘He shared many extraordinary gifts in the world as actor, singer, storyteller, creative artist and dear friend.
‘His smile, laughter and passion for life will be remembered by the many whose lives he has touched.’
Others also shared their own notes.
Star Trek actor William Shatner shared on social media: ‘Condolences to the family of David Soul. One of his early roles was on an episode of Star Trek Original Series.’
David Soul has died at the age of 80, it was announced on Friday morning. The actor was on the 1970s TV series Starsky & Hutch before topping the charts with his hit Don’t Give Up On Us. Soon after tributes flooded social media
Star Trek actor William Shatner shared on social media: ‘Condolences to the family of David Soul. One of his early roles was on an episode of Star Trek Original Series’
Supermodel Carol Alt told DailyMail.com: ‘I grew up with the handsome David Soul starring in Starsky & Hutch. That show was a weekly staple thanks to David, who had real star power and a strong presence. I loved his character. I’m very sorry to hear of his passing.’
Singer Nikki Lund – who sang You & I with Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi – posted: ‘He was such a bright light and an inspiration for so many singers. And he was the meaning of masculine charm in the 1970s that still has an impact today. I am really sad he is no longer with us.’
Jonathan Cheban, aka FoodGod from Keeping Up With The Kardashians, remarked: ‘His loss will be felt. I mean, he is one of the most memorable TV actors from the 1970s.’
Fans also made comments about the star.
‘RIP David Soul – thanks for all you did on the small screen.’
And another said: ‘Very sad to hear about David Soul. I loved his 70s song, I still listen to it now and then.’
Soul became an international star and pin-up thanks to Starsky and Hutch during the show’s four year run between 1975 and 1979.
‘David Soul – beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother – died yesterday after a valiant battle for life in the loving company of family,’ his wife Helen Snell said in a statement
Colin McFarlane seemed very surprised by the star’s passing
John Sweeney said, ‘Got to know and love David when we helped Martin Bell defeat Neil Hamilton in 1997’
Sharron Davies said that she had ‘fond memories’ of the actor and singer
Soul played Detective Ken ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson alongside Paul Michael Glaser’s Detective Dave Starsky.
The original series ran for four seasons on ABC from 1975 to 1979, following the title characters, detectives who fought crime on the streets of the fictional Bay City, California in a bright red Gran Torino, with Antonio Fargas playing their informant, Huggy Bear.
Soul also enjoyed a short-lived pop career, scoring a number one hit in the US and UK with catchy ballad Don’t Give Up On Us Baby in 1976.
Further chart toppers would follow in 1977, with singles Going In With My Eyes Open and Silver Lady, but Soul’s foray as a singer would end 12-months later with the release of It Sure Brings Out The Love In Your Eyes – his fifth and final single.
Other memorable film roles included that of a vigilante cop in Dirty Harry sequel The Enforcer and the lead as nostalgic writer Ben Mears in 1979 Stephen King adaptation Salem’s Lot.
His heartbroken wife Helen Snell said he had a ‘valiant battle for life’. ‘David Soul – beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother – died yesterday after a valiant battle for life in the loving company of family,’ she said in a statement. Seen in 2004
‘He shared many extraordinary gifts in the world as actor, singer, storyteller, creative artist and dear friend. ‘His smile, laughter and passion for life will be remembered by the many whose lives he has touched.’ Seen in 2020
Soul as Detective Ken ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson alongside Paul Michael Glaser’s Detective Dave Starsky
Singer Nikki Lund – who sang You & I with Richie Sambora – posted: ‘He was such a bright light and an inspiration for so many singers. And he was the meaning of masculine charm in the 1970s that still has an impact today. I am really sad he is no longer with us’
Jonathan Cheban, aka FoodGod from Keeping Up With The Kardashians, remarked: ‘His loss will be felt. I mean, he is one of the most memorable TV actor from the 1970s’
The actor lived in London with his PR wife Helen Snell, his fifth marriage, after they met while touring the UK with a stage production of Ira Levin play Deathtrap in 2002.
Referring to his love of the UK in 2015, he told : ‘Britain is beautiful. I like south Devon a lot, the bleakness of Dartmoor.
‘And I like being in a country steeped in history. I return to the States about three times a year as my five sons all live there, though my daughter lives here.’
He added: ‘When Paul Michael Glaser and I were filming Starsky & Hutch in the 70s, Princess Margaret once came to meet us on the set because she liked the show.
‘We took her to lunch and, suffice to say, we didn’t go back to work in the afternoon. Also we were told the Queen Mother once said, ‘I like those boys so much!’ But I don’t think I’ll ever be Sir David, even though I act like it sometimes!
‘The only person I’d care to call me Sir David is my wife, as I call her Lady Helen!’