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David Soul Poster

David Soul

Biography

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Jump to: Overview (3)  | Mini Bio (1)  | Family (3)  | Trivia (30)  | Personal Quotes (24)

Overview (3)

Born in Chicago, Illinois, USA
Birth NameDavid Richard Solberg
Height 6' 0½" (1.84 m)

Mini Bio (1)

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), and then as Jake in the interesting television movie Homeward Bound (1980).

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). 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

Family (3)

Spouse Helen Snell (26 June 2010 - present)
Julia Nickson (19 December 1987 - 1993)  (divorced)  (1 child)
Patricia Anne Carnel (12 October 1980 - 1986)  (divorced)  (2 children)
Karen Carlson (22 June 1968 - September 1975)  (divorced)  (1 child)
Mim Solberg (7 December 1963 - 10 August 1966)  (divorced)  (1 child)
Children China Soul
Parents Richard W. Solberg
June Solberg

Trivia (30)

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 Mirriam - one son; with Karen Carlson - one son; with Patti - one, as well as the two sons she previously had with Bobby Sherman; 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 Annie Girardot and Line Renaud in the television mini-series, The Girls of 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".
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.
He is of Norwegian descent.
Named one of his five sons Brendan after longtime Irish friend and comedian Brendan Grace.
Appearing in the title role in "Jerry Springer: The Opera" at the Cambridge theater in London's West End. [December 2004]
(2004 - 2005) Appearing at the Cambridge Theatre London as Jerry Springer in the National Theatre production of Jerry Springer The Opera.
He is on a UK tour in the revival of the stage musical "Mack and Mabel", playing the lead role of Mack Sennett alongside Janie Dee, playing Mabel Normand. [January 2006]
He appeared in the London West End revival of the stage musical "Mack and Mabel", playing the lead role of Mack Sennett alongside Janie Dee, playing Mabel Normand. [July 2006]
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. [January 2005]
Lives in London and works mostly on the stage acting and producing in England. His partner was actress Alexa Hamilton. [November 2000]
Appeared at a 'Save the Rose Theatre' event, as part of an exhibition nearby upon the London Southbank, his guest cameo's linking many other 'ST:OS'/'Starsky & Hutch' actors attending also Paul Michael Glaser, Joan Collins who came from the U.S. to participate in variety of film industry conventions during the same weekend.
Friends wit Paul Michael Glaser, and Gordon Jump.
Battled a problem with alcohol during his younger days.
Is a supporter of the Arsenal football club.
His brother, their father, and both grandfathers were all pastors.
David spent quite a bit of his childhood in Germany and went to 3 universities to read political science and languages and is fluent in German and Spanish.

Personal Quotes (24)

[on Starsky & Hutch (2004)] In a word, I thought it sucked.
I believe that a parent's role is to provide a path or opportunity for their children.
My father was my main influence. He was a preacher, but he was also a history and political science teacher, and since he was my hero, I wanted to follow in his footsteps and become a teacher.
Nobody teaches you to be a father. Nobody teaches you to be a husband. Nobody teaches you how to be a star. You have to learn to work with the tools.
One of my beliefs is that there are certain institutions within a community which stand for the spirit and heart of that community, there's the church, the local football team, the local pub and the theatre.
Sometimes I feel an obligation to be accessible as a personality, but for me the driving force since the beginning has always been good work, taking risks, trying new things. If the door opens, go through it. Always go forwards.
I was an accidental actor. I was never formally trained.
Being on the move all the time is draining, but the rewards make up for it.
A job is a very healthy thing to do.
It's only when gravity starts to take over you begin to think about your body.
I like to eat and I love the diversity of foods.
The most important thing is story-telling. It's as singular and old-fashioned as that.
Music always came first. I never set out to be an actor.
It's important to move the theatre into the 21st Century.
If these theatres didn't exist, the tradition of British theatre would cease to exist.
I was born into a family of preachers.
Once in a while I'll get moved to do some exercise. It's something I long for but the biggest problem is bending down and putting my tennis shoes on. Once I go out I'm OK.
I went into acting because I had to make a good living. I had a child now and I had to support him any way I could... I wasn't happy, but I wasn't unhappy. I was just doing what I had to do to survive.
I was never jailed. The fact is that I was arrested, but I went into a diversion programme, and by that time I'd already begun working in what was called anger management. It was a painful and awful moment.
At only 20 years old I got married. I was still a kid myself, but in those times, if you got someone pregnant, you had no choice but to get married. So I left school and the only thing I could do was sing.
Yes, your home is your castle, but it is also your identity and your possibility to be open to others.
To deal with the stark reality of having hit or hurt a woman or child, to deal with the initial responsibility you have not to do that and the knowledge you did do it, can be incredibly hard.
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.
Paul and I were both struggling actors. One night he would serve me in a restaurant, and the next night I would serve him. It was what out of work actors did.

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