Christian Oliver, a popular actor known for his roles in Amazon Primes’ “Hunters” and “The Good German,” tragically lost his life in a plane crash on Thursday.
The incident occurred when Oliver, aged 51, along with his two young daughters, Madia (aged 10) and Annik (aged 12), were on a small aircraft that crashed into the Caribbean Sea near an island.
The plane, a single-engine jet, was reportedly carrying only the three of them along with the pilot.
Shocking video footage captured the heartbreaking moment of the crash, as witnesses screamed in horror.
#BREAKING Actor Christian Oliver tragically passes away in a plane crash in the Caribbean with his two daughters. pic.twitter.com/TClPkcE16R
— The National Independent (@NationalIndNews) January 5, 2024
The unfortunate incident took place shortly after Oliver, Madia, and Annik departed from J.F. Mitchell Airport on the Grenadine island of Bequia.
They were destined for St. Lucia but encountered an unexplained issue that resulted in the plane nose-diving into the ocean not long after takeoff, according to reports.
Upon receiving reports of the crash, the Coast Guards of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines took immediate action and collaborated with local fishermen and divers to rescue the pilot and passengers.
The rescue mission eventually turned into a recovery operation as all four bodies, including Oliver and his daughters, were found amidst the wreckage.
Originally hailing from Celle, Germany, Oliver relocated to Frankfurt before embarking on his journey to the United States at the age of 21, pursuing a career in modeling and acting.
In his remarkable career, he amassed 63 acting credits, notable among them being his appearances in the 2006 drama “The Good German,” directed by Steven Soderbergh and featuring George Clooney and Cate Blanchet.
My God, how devastating.
RIP to Christian Oliver and his 2 young daughters killed in a plane crash earlier today. pic.twitter.com/9Ko6UvZOl2
— Mílagro (@MobzWorld) January 5, 2024
He also acted alongside Tom Cruise in 2008’s “Valkyrie” and futuristic racing film “Speed Racer,” where he starred alongside Emil Hirsch the same year.
In addition to his success in film, Oliver also made a name for himself on television, with notable roles in “Saved by the Bell: The New Class,” along with appearances is Netflix’s “Sense8” and NBC’s “Timeless,” amongst many others.
Elsewhere, well-known actor David Soul, known for his iconic portrayal of Hutch in the popular television series “Starsky & Hutch,” passed away at the age of 80.
Rip David Soul met him a few times he loved boxing. I remember he said to me "I loved Watching you box" I said "thank you very much very kind". I replied"I loved you in Starsky & Hutch" then there was a break he said "Your meant to say you loved my singing" He was winding me… pic.twitter.com/k6DVqOKxNv
— Frank Bruno MBE 🇬🇧 (@frankbrunoboxer) January 5, 2024
The news of his demise was confirmed by his wife, Helen Snell, who released a statement saying that David Soul, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and brother, peacefully passed away surrounded by his loving family.
“He shared many extraordinary gifts in the world as actor, singer, storyteller, creative artist and dear friend,” she said in a statement.
“His smile, laughter and passion for life will be remembered by the many whose lives he has touched.”
Soul, a renowned actor and singer, left an indelible mark on the world with his incredible talents and infectious passion for life.
In the 1960s, he began his acting career on stage and was a founding member of the Firehouse Theater in Minneapolis.
STARSKY & HUTCH (1975-79)
RIP David Soul
pic.twitter.com/B3L60DROg2— Michael Warburton (@MichaelWarbur17) January 5, 2024
Soul gained national recognition through his appearances as the “Covered Man,” “The Merv Griffin Show,” and “Flipper,” in 1966 and 1967.
The actor’s most significant breakthrough came when he starred alongside Paul Michael Glaser in the hit television series “Starsky & Hutch,” which aired from 1975 to 1979 and continues to captivate audiences in syndication.
Soul and Glaser also reprised their roles in the 2004 remake of “Starsky & Hutch,” where Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson took over as the iconic characters.
Prior to his role in “Starsky & Hutch,” David Soul delivered notable performances as Joshua Bolt in “Here Come the Brides” from 1968 to 1970 and as Officer John Davis in the 1973 film “Magnum Force.”
He further solidified his acting prowess in the highly acclaimed television movie adaptation of Stephen King’s horror novel, “Salem’s Lot,” released in 1979.
Aside from his successful acting career, Soul also achieved fame as a singer, producing chart-topping hits such as “Don’t Give Up on Us” in 1976 and “Silver Lady” in 1977, which garnered significant popularity in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Throughout his life, David Soul experienced numerous personal relationships and had been married five times.
His spouses included actresses Patti Carnel Sherman, Mirriam Solberg, Karen Carlson, and Julia Nickson.
In June 2010, after being in a relationship since 2002 during the British stage production of “Deathtrap,” he married his fifth wife, Helen Snell.