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Best known for playing Detective Ken ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson in the original 1970s “Starsky & Hutch” television series, actor/singer David Soul has passed away this week at the age of 80.

A post to the late actor’s official Twitter account states this morning, “David Soul—beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother—died yesterday after a valiant battle for life in the loving company of family. He shared many extraordinary gifts in the world as actor, singer, storyteller, creative artist and dear friend. His smile, laughter and passion for life will be remembered by the many whose lives he has touched.”

Here in the world of horror, David Soul is known for playing vampire hunter Ben Mears in Tobe Hooper’s Salem’s Lot, the original 1979 miniseries adaptation of the Stephen King tale.

Soul had previously appeared in one episode of the Richard Matheson-created supernatural anthology series “Circle of Fear,” and...

Los Angeles-based DEJ Prods., the film acquisition and distribution subsidiary of video rental giant Blockbuster, said Tuesday that it is expanding its operations in the United Kingdom. Beginning in December, all 699 Blockbuster U.K. stores will carry three DEJ titles as part of a rollout that will increase to 20-30 releases annually here. Separately, Blockbuster U.K. said that it has acquired U.K. computer and console games retailer Gamestation for an undisclosed price. DEJ said it has appointed U.K. independent video distributor High Fliers to handle sales of Federal Protection, with Armand Assante; Stick Up, with James Spader; and Dead in the Water, with Dominique Swain and Henry Thomas to the rest of the U.K. rental and sell-through markets.