Paul Michael Glaser paid a touching tribute to his Starsky & Hutch co-star David Soul after he died on Thursday at the age of 80.
“I find it difficult to understand David's death. “It seems like just yesterday we were exchanging loving insults over the phone,” the 80-year-old actor said in a statement to .
“It just takes time, I tell myself; “I say goodbye to such a dear friend and such an important part of my life. I suspect I will feel his loss, our loss, only gradually.”
“David was a brother, a friend, a caring man. “We will never see his like again,” he continued.
Paul then turned to David's widow, Helen Snell, and wrote: “I would like to express my condolences to dear Helen, who he loved and cherished and who stood by him during those difficult years.” He could never tell me enough what she meant to him .'
Paul Michael Glaser (R) paid a touching tribute to his Starsky & Hutch colleague David Soul (L) after his death at the age of 80 on Thursday; They are pictured in a Starsky & Hutch promotional photo from 1975
“To all his sons and his daughter China, my deepest condolences.” And to all of you, our supportive and caring audience, who recognized a very special relationship and never stopped telling us so. Thank you very much.'
He concluded the touching statement by saying: “We have all lost a dear friend who will live on in our memories.” David – rest in peace, brother. All the best, Paul.'
The dynamic duo starred together in the hit series from 1975 to 1979.
The show followed two California detectives, Soul as Sergeant Kenneth Richard “Hutch” Hutchinson and Glaser as Hutch's partner, Detective David Starsky.
The original series ran for four seasons on ABC and followed the title characters, detectives, fighting crime on the streets of the fictional Bay City, California in a bright red Gran Torino, with Antonio Fargas playing their informant Huggy Bear.
In November, Soul wrote on Twitter that David “is and always will be my best friend, my brother.”
In 2023, there were rumors of a Starsky & Hutch reboot with two female characters in the lead roles. At the time, Soul wondered why he and Paul couldn't make the reboot.
“Each article [about a reboot] mentions the “original” actors by name. So why not just reboot Paul and me – as a couple of old farts solving shameful crimes in the assisted living facility where we would now be living? Who can control Starsky and Hutch better than him and me?' he asked on Twitter.
Glaser hilariously wrote back: “If you want to describe me as an 'old fart' please leave out the word 'old'.”
“I find it difficult to understand David's death. “It seems like just yesterday we were exchanging loving insults over the phone,” the 80-year-old actor said in a statement to
“David was a brother, a friend, a caring man. “We will never see his like again,” he continued
The dynamic duo starred together in the hit series from 1975 to 1979
The show followed two California detectives, Soul as Sergeant Kenneth Richard “Hutch” Hutchinson and Glaser as Hutch's partner, Detective David Starsky; Seen in a still from 1975
Last year there were rumors of a Starsky & Hutch reboot with two female leads. At the time, Soul wondered why he and Paul couldn't make the reboot, as he jokingly referred to them as “old farts.”
Glaser hilariously wrote back to David's comment: “If you want to describe me as an 'old fart,' please leave 'old' out.”
In November, Soul wrote that David is “my best friend, my brother and always will be” after a Twitter user suggested that David shouldn't speak to him because of his views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Soul died at the age of 80, it was announced on Friday morning.
The actor starred in the 1970s TV series Starsky & Hutch before topping the charts with his hit song Don't Give Up On Us.
His heartbroken wife Helen Snell said he fought a “courageous fight for life”.
“David Soul – beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother – died yesterday in the loving company of his family after a brave fight for life,” she said in a statement.
“He shared many extraordinary gifts in the world as an actor, singer, storyteller, creative artist and dear friend.”
“His smile, laughter and passion for life will be remembered by the many whose lives he 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 in an episode of the original Star Trek series.
Supermodel Carol Alt told : “I grew up watching the handsome David Soul, who starred in Starsky & Hutch.” Thanks to David, who had real star power and a strong presence, this show was a regular fixture of the week. I loved his character. I am very sorry to hear of his death.'
Ben Stiller praised the late Starsky & Hutch star for “defining '70s cool.”
Stiller, who starred in the 2004 remake of Starsky & Hutch, wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “The 70s are cool. Rest in peace x.”
Soul died at the age of 80, it was announced on Friday morning. His heartbroken wife Helen Snell said he waged a “courageous fight for life”; Seen in 2020
In addition to his acting career, Soul also enjoyed a brief pop career, scoring a number one hit in the US and UK in 1976 with the catchy ballad Don't Give Up On Us Baby.
More chart-toppers followed in 1977 with the singles “Going In With My Eyes Open” and “Silver Lady”, but Soul's foray as a singer ended twelve months later with the release of “It Sure Brings Out The Love In Your Eyes” – his fifth and final Album single.
Other memorable film roles included a vigilante cop in the Dirty Harry sequel “The Enforcer” and the lead role of nostalgic writer Ben Mears in the 1979 Stephen King adaptation “Salem's Lot.”
The fifth-married actor lived in London with his PR wife Helen after they met in 2002 while touring the UK with a stage production of Ira Levin's play Deathtrap.