David Soul

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This page is about the British-American singer/actor. For the Scottish rugby union player, please see David Sole.

David Soul (born August 28, 1943 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American actor and British citizen and singer best known for his role as the "seat-of-the-pants" California police detective Ken 'Hutch' Hutchinson (opposite co-star and long-time friend Paul Michael Glaser) in the cult television program Starsky and Hutch (1975-79).

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[edit] Background

Originally David Richard Solberg, he was born the son of a Lutheran minister. His father, Dr. Richard Solberg, was a senior representative for Lutheran World Relief during the reconstruction of Germany after World War II, and the family moved frequently while Soul was growing up. Soul's brother is a Lutheran minister and social activist.

[edit] Career

Soul first gained attention as the mysterious "Covered Man" on several appearances on The Merv Griffin Show in 1967 in which he sang while wearing a ski mask and explained, "My name is David Soul, and I want to be known for my music". [1]

Soul then appeared as level-headed Joshua Bolt on the television program Here Come the Brides, and later, Arthur Hill's law partner on Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law. Superstar status came when he portrayed Detective Hutchinson on Starsky and Hutch. He has also made guest appearances on shows such as I Dream of Jeannie, McMillan and Wife, Cannon, Gunsmoke, All in the Family, World War III (miniseries), Star Trek, and The Streets of San Francisco. His best known film appearance was opposite Clint Eastwood in Magnum Force (1973). Soul also appeared in the mini-series and feature film based on Stephen King's horror classic "Salem's Lot" (1979).

After a successful singing career, including hits such as "Don't Give Up on Us" and "Silver Lady", Soul fell into relative obscurity during the 1980s, during which time he fought a long battle with alcoholism, although he frequently made guest appearances in various US television series, with the occasional small film role.

In the 1990s, Soul moved to London, and forged a new career on the West End stage. He also notably participated in the successful 1997 election campaign of Martin Bell for Tatton - and the following election in Brentwood in Essex. In September 2004, he became a British citizen, but has kept his US citizenship and ties with the US. He is a big fan of English football (soccer) and is an Arsenal supporter.

In 2004, he appeared in Agatha Christie's Poirot - Death on the Nile in the role of Andrew Pennington. On July 12, 2004, he took over playing the role of Jerry Springer in Jerry Springer - The Opera at the Cambridge Theatre in London which was televised by the BBC in 2005. He returned to the West End in 2006, playing Mack in a new production of Jerry Herman's musical Mack and Mabel at the Criterion Theatre alongside Janie Dee, directed by John Doyle.

In August 2008 Soul is scheduled to appear in the reality tv talent show-themed television series, Maestro on BBC Two.[1]

[edit] Quotes

“ People thought me a bit strange at first; a blond haired, blue-eyed Norwegian who sang Mexican folk songs, but I used it to my advantage and got a job. And so the music became my ticket to education. ”

- interview with "H" magazine issue 17, October 2002, published on the Costa del Sol. [2]

[edit] Singles

  • "Don't Give Up On Us" (1976) UK #1, US #1
  • "Going In With My Eyes Open" (1977) UK #2, US #54
  • "Silver Lady" (1977) UK #1, US #52
  • "Let's Have A Quiet Night In" (1977) UK #8
  • "It Sure Brings Out The Love In Your Eyes" (1978) UK #12

[edit] Albums

  • 1976- David Soul
  • 1977- Playing To An Audience Of One
  • 1979- Band Of Friends
  • 1986- Best Days Of Our Lives

[edit] References

  1. ^ BBC (2008-05-23). "Eight passionate amateurs bid to become BBC Two's Maestro". Press release. Retrieved on 2008-05-24.

[edit] Further reading

[edit] External links