David Soul

Soul in 2004, photo by Prphotos

Birth Name: David Richard Solberg

Date of Birth: August 28, 1943

Place of Birth: Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

Date of Death: January 4, 2024

Place of Death: London, England, U.K.

Ethnicity:
*75% Norwegian
*25% German

David Soul was an American-British actor and singer. His roles included the shows Here Come the Brides and Starsky & Hutch, the films Johnny Got His Gun (1971), Magnum Force, Dogpound Shuffle, The Stick Up, The Hanoi Hilton, Appointment with Death, Pentathlon, Farewell (2009), and Filth (2013); the mini-series Salem’s Lot, and the made-for-tv movie Grave Secrets: The Legacy of Hilltop Drive. He recorded the hit songs “Don’t Give Up on Us” and “Silver Lady.”

His father, The Rev. Richard William Solberg, was a Lutheran minister. His mother, June Joanne (Nelson), was a teacher. His father was Senior Representative for Lutheran World Relief during the reconstruction of Germany, after WWII, from 1949 until 1956; and a professor of history and political science. His grandfathers were both evangelists. His maternal great-grandfather, John M. Nelson, was a Republican Party politician, who was a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin, from September 4, 1906 to March 3, 1913, again, from March 4, 1913 to March 3, 1919, and again, from March 4, 1921 to March 3, 1933. David was partly raised in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Mexico City, Mexico. He also became a U.K. citizen.

David was married to Helen Snell, until his death. He had a son with his former wife, actress Mirriam “Mimi” Russeth; a son with his former wife, actress Karen Carlson; two children with his former wife Patti Carnel Sherman; and a daughter, singer and songwriter China Soul, with his former wife, actress Julia Nickson-Soul.

David’s paternal grandfather was The Rev. Carl Knut Solberg (the son of Knud Knudsen/Knutson/Knutsson Solberg and Aashild/Åshild Knudsdatter/Knutsdtr Haugen). The Rev. Carl was born in Rushford, Minnesota, to Norwegian parents, from Nissedal, Telemark. David’s great-grandfather Knud was the son of Knud Knudsen/Knutson Fjalestad/Solberg and Guro Halvorsdatter/Halvorsdotter Trontved/Trontveit/Halvorsdtr. Aashild was the daughter of Knud/Knut Olsen/Olavsson Lintvedt/Litveit, later Haugen, and of Else Sigursdatter/Sigurdsdtr Haugen.

David’s paternal grandmother was Sina Marguerite/Margaret Varland (the daughter of Tobias Halvorsen Varland and Malinda Johnson). Sina was born in Seneca, Illinois. Tobias was a Norwegian emigrant, from Finnøy, Rogaland, and was the son of Halvor/Halvard Halvorsen/Halvardsson Varland and Siri Torbjørnsdatter/Thorbjørnsdotter Mosnes/Knutson. Malinda was the daughter of Norwegian emigrants, Andreas Haldorsen Hole, later Andrew Haldorson Johnson, of Klepp, Rogaland; and Sigrid Olsdatter Bakka, later Sarah Baker, of Hovin, Telemark.

David’s maternal grandfather was The Rev. Byron Christopher Nelson (the son of John Mandt Nelson and Thea Johanna Stondall). Byron was born in Madison, Wisconsin. John was the son of Norwegian emigarnts, Niels Christoffer Nielsen Tvedt, later Christopher Nelson, of Nissedal, Telemark; and Else “Elsie” Hermodsdatter/Hermundsdatter Bakken, later Bergland/Bergeland, of Mo, now part of Tokke, Telemark. David’s great-grandmother Thea was the daughter of Bjørn Osmundsen/Amundsen Nestestue, later Stondall, of Vinje, Telemark; and of Gunhild Olsdatter Bjørnestad, later Bergland, of Fyresdal, Telemark.

David’s maternal grandmother was Anita Valentine Pleuss (the daughter of Herman Diedrich Pleuß, later Pleuss, and of Ottilia Johanna Katerina Jacob). Anita was born in Madison, Wisconsin. Herman was a German emigrant, from Hanover, Lower Saxony, and was the son of Diedrich/Diedrick/Dietrich Heinrich Pleuß/Pleuss and Katharina Marie/Maria Bleichwehl/Bleuchwehl. Ottilia was also a German emigrant, and was the daughter of Carl Frederick/Leonard Jacob and Wilhelmina Rusch.

Sources: Genealogies of David Soul – https://www.findagrave.com
https://www.familysearch.org

Genealogy of David Soul (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com

Genealogy of David’s mother – https://www.geni.com