David Soul (born 28 August 1943) is an American actor and British citizen and singer best known for his role as the "seat-of-the-pants" California police Det. Ken "Hutch" Hutchinson (opposite co-star and long-time friend Paul Michael Glaser) in the cult television program Starsky and Hutch (1975-79).
Soul was born in Chicago, Illinois, United States, North America as David Richard Solberg. His father, Dr. Richard Solberg, a Lutheran minister, 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.
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."
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 Det. Ken "Hutch" 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, forging a new career on the West End stage. He also notably participated in the successful 1997 election campaign of Martin Bell for Tatton, as well as Bell's unsuccessful campaign in Brentwood in Essex in the 2001 general election. In September 2004, he became a British citizen. He has also 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, Soul appeared in Agatha Christie's Poirot - Death on the Nile in the role of Andrew Pennington. On 12 July 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.
He appeared as a guest on the 11 July 2008 edition of the BBC's The One Show.
"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.
