Biography for
David Soul More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

28 August 1943, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Birth Name

David Richard Solberg

Height

6' 1" (1.85 m)

Mini Biography

David Soul achieved pop icon status as handsome, blond-haired, blue-eyed Detective Kenneth Hutchinson on the cult "buddy cop" TV series "Starsky and Hutch" (1975), Soul also had a very successful singing career recording several albums, with worldwide number one hit singles including "Silver Lady" & "Don't Give Up on Us Baby".

Born in Chicago, Illinois, David Soul is the son of a minister who was at one time serving as the religious affairs advisor to the U.S. High Commission in Berlin. At 24 years of age, young Soul joined a North Dakota musical revue, was noticed by a keen-eyed talent scout, and signed to a studio contract. He went on to study acting with the Irene Daly School of The Actors Company, and with the Columbia Workshop in Hollywood. He first appeared on TV in small roles in shows including "I Dream of Jeannie" (1965), "Flipper" (1964) and "All in the Family" (1971). Regular TV work kept coming in for Soul including making masked appearances on "The Merv Griffin Show" (1962), as the popular singer known only as "The Covered Man."

In 1973, Soul was fortunate enough to be cast as one of the corrupt motorcycle cops in the Clint Eastwood thriller Magnum Force (1973), where his talents came to the attention of several TV execs who were looking for someone to play one of the lead roles in the upcoming "Starsky and Hutch" (1975) TV series. After four seasons, the show came to an end, yet Soul's talents were still in demand. He quickly went on to appear as the meek writer turned terrified vampire hunter Ben Mears in the chilling television mini-series Salem's Lot (1979) (TV), and then as Jake in the interesting television movie Homeward Bound (1980) (TV).

Several undemanding movies and TV series appearances followed for Soul. However in 1988 he scored rave reviews for his portrayal of real life, cold-blooded cop killer Michael Lee Platt in In the Line of Duty: The F.B.I. Murders (1988) (TV). It was considered highly controversial for its intense level of violence in a made for TV production.

David Soul remained very busy throughout the 1990's and beyond, in both film and on stage productions. He has toured internationally in several theater productions, including playing the narrator in the critically-acclaimed production of Willy Russell's Blood Brothers, plus a successful UK tour performing in Ira Levin's Deathtrap. Fans of the original TV series were glad to see Soul back with Paul Michael Glaser doing a cameo appearance in the big-budget movie version of Starsky & Hutch (2004).

Throughout his life, Soul has continually championed social causes often utilizing his own funds to raise awareness on issues including the impact of the Vietnam War, the shutdowns in the US steel industry, animal welfare, world hunger and HIV education. Soul has for several years made his home in the United Kingdom, where he has appeared at the Edinburgh Festival, on several British TV shows and has become a keen soccer fan supporting English club, Arsenal FC.

IMDb Mini Biography By: firehouse44@hotmail.com

Spouse

Julia Nickson	(December 1987 - 1993) (divorced) 1 child
Patti Carnel Sherman	(12 October 1980 - 1986) (divorced) 3 children
Karen Carlson	(22 June 1968 - 1977) (divorced) 1 child
Miriam Russeth-Solberg	(1964 - 1965) (divorced) 1 child

Trivia

Used to appear on "The Merv Griffin Show" (1962) wearing a hood and was billed as "The Covered Man" before becoming nationally known on "Starsky and Hutch" (1975).

Children: with Miriam - one son, with Karen Carlson - one son, with Patty Kathman - three sons and with Julia Nickson - one daughter, China Soul.

His brother, the Rev. Solberg, was an activist minister (Lutheran). He has joined him on more than one occasion in public protest or rally. Also, he and Paul Michael Glaser have attended Christian/Jewish benefits together at least once.

His father, Dr. Richard Solberg, served as a religious affairs advisor to the U.S. High Commission in Berlin and as senior representative for the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), refugee relief agency actively involved in the post WW-II reconstruction in Germany. Dr. Solberg's job was to administrate relief to the tens of thousands of refugees who were fleeing oppressive regimes and then try to put the fragmented families back together again in the West. These early experiences proved to be indelible ones for David as hundreds of these people streamed through the Solberg home.

Between 1977 and 1982, he recorded four albums, which included a string of major hit singles: Don't Give Up On Us, Baby; Silver Lady; and Going In with my Eyes Open. He toured extensively with his band in the USA, UK, Japan and South America.

Between 1984 and 1986, David financed, produced and directed an award-winning documentary, The Fighting Ministers, which uses the shut-down of the steel industry in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as its basis.

In 1994, David has refocused his acting and producing efforts specifically to the burgeoning international film and television markets. He starred in two films for Canadian and French television, and starred (in French) with Anne Giraudau and Line Renaud in the television mini-series, "Les filles du Lido" (1995) for France's TF-1.

He played the role of Narrator in the New Zealand-born/Australian production of Willy Russell's Blood Brothers (a production which moved on to Melbourne and Sydney). The play marks David's return to the stage after a fifteen years absence and his first, even experience in a musical.

He is an avid skier, tennis player and loves to go "exploring" with his children.

In Cannes in 1996, David performed songs from his friend Charles Aznavour in the Martinez Hotel.

He has 6 children - 5 sons and a daughter, China Soul.

Fluent in both German and Spanish.

During the run of "Starsky and Hutch" (1975), he recorded a #1 single called "Don't Give Up On Us Baby".

Became a United Kingdom citizen in September 2004.

Romantically involved with actress/singer/composer Lynne Marta throughout the run of "Starsky and Hutch" (1975) but they split up after the show ended.

At the Edinburgh Festival in 2000, he directed and starred in Sam Shepard's "Fool For Love". His production incorporated pre-shot and live on-stage video, visual effects, graphics, 3-D imaging, time-lapse footage and digital sound to heighten the visceral experience of the presentation. It was one of the first real examples of how streaming media can be effectively applied to the live theatre.

Where Are They Now

(November 2000) Lives in London and works mostly on the stage acting and producing in England. His present partner is actress Alexa Hamilton.

(December 2004) Appearing in the title role in "Jerry Springer: The Opera" at the Cambridge theater in London's West End.

(January 2005) He has taken over the lead role of "Jerry Springer - the Opera" at London's Cambridge Theatre. However, he has the only non-singing role.

(2004 - 2005) Appearing at the Cambridge Theatre London as Jerry Springer in the National Theatre production of Jerry Springer The Opera.

(January 2006) He is on a UK tour in the revival of the stage musical 'Mack and Mabel' playing the lead role Mack Sennett alongside Janie Dee (playing Mabel Normand)

(July 2006) He appeared in the London West End revival of the stage musical 'Mack and Mabel' playing the lead role Mack Sennett alongside Janie Dee (playing Mabel Normand).

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