Actor David Soul, who earned fame as the blond half of crime-fighting duo 鈥淪tarsky & Hutch鈥� in the popular 1970s series, has died at the age of 80.

His wife, Helen Snell, said Friday that 鈥淒avid Soul 鈥� beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother 鈥� died yesterday after a valiant battle for life in the loving company of family.鈥�

鈥淗e shared many extraordinary gifts in the world as actor, singer, storyteller, creative artist and dear friend,鈥� she said in a statement. 鈥淗is smile, laughter and passion for life will be remembered by the many whose lives he has touched.鈥�

Soul portrayed detective Ken 鈥淗utch鈥� Hutchinson alongside Paul Michael Glaser as detective David Starsky in 鈥淪tarsky & Hutch.鈥� It ran on ABC between 1975 and 1979, and grew so popular it spawned a host of children鈥檚 toys.

At the height of his fame, Soul also hit the music charts with the single 鈥淒on鈥檛 Give Up on Us.鈥�

Soul had lived in Britain for many years, performing in several stage roles. In 2001, he won a libel case against a journalist who called 鈥淭he Dead Monkey,鈥� a play that Soul was in, the worst production he had ever seen - without having seen it.

Soul also played the titular talk-show host in 鈥淛erry Springer - The Opera鈥� in London鈥檚 West End.

Soul and Glaser had cameos in the 2004 big-screen remake of 鈥淪tarsky & Hutch,鈥� starring Ben Stiller as Starsky and Owen Wilson as Hutch.