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On This Day: ‘Starsky & Hutch’ Airs Series Finale in 1979

Over the course of four years and 92 episodes, Dave Starsky and Ken “Hutch” Hutchinson endeared themselves to the American public. With the help of their informant Huggy Bear and their trusty Gran Torino, the plainclothes detectives wreaked havoc on the criminal world of Bay City.

Dave Starsky, played by Paul Michael Glaser, and Ken Hutchinson, played by David Soul, were heartthrob bachelors. And audiences followed along faithfully as they took down criminals of all kinds. Blending together action, comedy, and gritty detective work, “Starsky and Hutch” became a hit show. It even inspired a 2004 movie starring Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson as the iconic characters.

Huggy Bear, the street-hustling police informant, can’t go without mention. Originally played by Antonio Fargas, the character quickly became a favorite with audiences everywhere. And in the 2004 movie, Snoop Dogg himself played the iconic role.

On May 15, 1979, however, the classic series aired its final episode. The series finale was titled “Sweet Revenge,” and it saw Starsky and Hutch trying to take down the criminal James Gunther. In the episode, Starsky gets shot in the back early on. This left him critically wounded. His wound came as a result of a hit put out on him by Gunther.

Left to his own wits, Hutch has to take Gunther down and avenge his fallen comrade. We don’t want to give the entire episode away. It’s unlikely, but some people out there could be on their first watch-through of the series.

For those that are interested, the final scene of the episode and series is linked below.

The ‘Starsky & Hutch’ Actors Are Best Friends in Real Life

In “Starsky & Hutch,” Paul Michael Glaser and Ken Hutchinson portray partners and good friends. The two of them have such good chemistry in part because they are best friends in real life. And even though they’re in their 70s now, their relationship is apparently good as ever.

In a 2019 interview with The Sunday Times, David Soul talked about looking at “Starsky & Hutch” in hindsight and how much appreciation he continues to have for Paul Michael Glaser.

“I think, today, the further we get away from it, the more value we can see it was,” Soul said. “It was a good show. Today Paul is still my best friend. We can disagree on everything, or agree on everything, but he still remains a significant part of my life. I love the guy.”