Fans of classic TV shows surely remember David Soul as the actor who played the iconic character Hutch from ‘Starsky and Hutch.’ However, beyond the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, there is also an inspiring journey of faith!
Born David Richard Solberg in Chicago on August 28, 1943, the actor we now know as David Soul embarked on his Hollywood journey with dreams of gracing both the stage and screen. And in the 70s, we saw the rise of the dynamic duo-Starsky and Hutch.
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As Detective Ken “Hutch” Hutchinson, David Soul charmed audiences with his undeniable charisma. The show became a cultural phenomenon, etching itself into the hearts of fans worldwide.
In addition to his iconic role as Hutch from ‘Starsky and Hutch,’ David also appeared in dozens of films and TV shows over his career, which spanned five decades.
But David Soul wasn’t just an actor – he was a singer, too! His biggest hit was his number one single "Don't Give Up on Us" from 1976. But he also released several albums in the 1970s and 1980s.
The Faith Of David Soul, Actor From Starsky And Hutch
Though David Soul’s entertainment credits are widely known, the role faith played in his life may not be as apparent. However, his upbringing included a deeply religious household. His father served as a Lutheran minister and a history professor. And the family moved to Berlin after David’s father accepted a position as religious affairs adviser for the US high commission.
“It was well before the wall and the aftermath of the Second World War was still very much in evidence,” David said when opening up about his childhood.
David recalled how their family’s house became an island for strangers. He had a front-row seat as his parents showed the love of Christ to those fleeing East Berlin. Faith was very much at the heart of his upbringing.
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“The atmosphere was strict when I was growing up but tempered by love,” he said. “We were a very, very religious family – we weren’t fundamentalists, just very worshipful and gave credit to God for almost everything.”
David Soul Returns To God
Though his family put God first, David Soul went through a prodigal season as he got older. Teen pregnancy, multiple failed marriages, and drinking — David certainly wasn’t living out his faith.
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“I went through a stage of rejection but I didn’t reject it [faith] by saying anything, it was by acting it,” he said.
And that certainly continued during his time of fame as Hutch from Starsky and Hutch.
“In the days when I was – as they used to call me – ‘one of the biggest stars in television,’ I got the balance wrong,” David said.
While David Soul lived focused on the things of this world, it damaged many relationships, including with his children and parents. However, the seed planted by his mother’s and father’s faithfulness remained. And he eventually realized the error of his ways.
“The caring about what I looked like, what I sounded like, what I represented to other people was more important than being with my family, That was the sadness of that period,” he admitted once. David went on to say, “But it doesn’t mean I don’t have time for other people now.”
The Death Of Hutch From ‘Starsky And Hutch’
By age 80, David Soul, the famed actor who played Hutch from ‘Starsky and Hutch,’ had spent time mending the bridges he could from his past. And when he passed away, his wife Helen said he did so “in the loving company of family.”
The announcement didn’t provide specific details of his death. However, David Soul was a heavy smoker for much of his life and battled lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the years preceding his death.
David is survived by his wife Helen Snell, his six children and seven grandchildren and our prayers go out to them all during this time of loss.
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It’s good to know that David Soul’s final years were spent returning to his faith and allowing God to restore him and his family. As fans revisit ‘Starsky and Hutch’ or explore Soul’s other works, let’s remember that the actor’s real legacy extends beyond the screen — it tells of the type of redemption only found through Christ Jesus!
This article originally appeared at GodUpates.com. Used with permission.
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Mel is the senior writer for GodUpdates, finding, writing and sharing Christian, uplifting, and health-related stories from around the world. Mel has a passion for writing and graduated with a degree in English from Randolph-Macon College in Virginia. When she’s not researching and writing stories, Mel is very active in her church. You can usually find Mel playing board games with her husband and two young girls, giving someone a hug, or hunting down a good cup of coffee!
