Actor David Soul, who played Hutch in the American detective series Starsky and Hutch in the 1970s died Thursday at age 80, his wife, Helen Snell, announced Friday.
David Soul was born in Chicago in the United States and obtained British citizenship in 2004 in order, he said, to spend the rest of his life in the United Kingdom with his British wife.
“David Soul – beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother – died yesterday after a brave fight for life, surrounded by the love of his family,” Helen Snell said in a statement.
“His smile, his laugh and his passion for life will be remembered by the many people he touched,” added Helen Snell.
In the series Starsky and Hutch, which aired for 92 weeks in the United States between 1975 and May 1979, David Soul formed the duo alongside Paul Michael Glaser in the famous red Ford Gran Torino with white stripes.
The series followed their adventures in the imaginary city of Bay City, where the two police officers were aided by Huggy the Good Tips, their loyal informant, played by Antonio Fargas.
In 2004, a feature film from the cult series “Starsky and Hutch” was made. Owen Wilson took on the role of David Soul 30 years earlier, Ben Stiller took on the role of Paul Michael Glaser.
At the height of his fame, he also began a music career and recorded five albums.