Paul Michael Glaser Predominantly known as the dark haired half of the crime fighting duo, ‘Starsky and Hutch’ this American actor, as well as being very well educated, is a family man and Aids fundraising activist since the death of his first wife and baby son from HIV Aids. Born Paul Manfred Glaser, in Cambridge, Massachusetts on March 25th 1943 Paul was the youngest of three children born to Dorothy and Samuel Glaser. Paul and his two sisters were raised in middle-class areas, Brookline and Dudley, just outside Boston Before attending university Paul gained his early education at the Meadowbrook School. Paul’s eldest sister had an early interest in dramatic arts which encouraged Paul to also become involved in theater. While attending Tulane University, in New Orleans, Paul was unknowingly creating future ties to the film industry when his roommate was film director Bruce Paltrow who went on to marry Blythe Danner, the mother of actress Gwyneth Paltrow. In 1966 Paul graduated from Tulane University having earned his Master’s Degree in English and theater. After leaving Tulane he went on to Boston University where he earned his second degree in acting and directing in 1967.
Paul began his acting career appearing in several Broadway plays until his first film role came along in 1971. He was offered a role in the film version of ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ in which he played Perchik. His television roles came in the day time series ‘Love is a Many Splenored Thing’ and ‘The Rockford Files’ with James Garner. But his big break came when he accepted the role of Starsky in the 1975 cult television series, ‘Starsky and Hutch’ where his sidekick, Hutch, was played by David Soul. The role continued through four seasons until 1979. In 1975 Paul met his wife to be, Elizabeth, a teacher of handicapped children, and in 1980 they were married. But in 1981 while pregnant with her first child, a daughter Ariel, and having a blood transfusion, Elizabeth contract HIV. She was unaware of her condition for a further four years and at that time she had son, Jake, who was also found to have the virus. Ariel died in 1988 and Elizabeth passed away in 1994. Paul and Elizabeth had begun a foundation for the study of HIV and encouraged President Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan to appear on a TV broadcast bringing awareness to the disease. When the end came to the ‘Starsky and Hutch’ series more film offers came Paul’s way, which he accepted and in doing so found himself playing opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in the movie based on the Stephen King horror, ‘The Running Man’ and in the 1992 movie, ‘The Cutting Edge’ which he directed. He found directing rewarding and went on to direct several episodes of ‘Robbery Homicide Division’ and ‘Judging Amy’ which starred Amy Brenaman and Tyne Daly.
Paul Michael Glaser made a return to the big screen in 2004 in both ‘Something's Gotta Give’ which starred Jack Nicholson, Keanu Reeves and Diane Keaton. He had a cameo part in the 2004 film version of ‘Starsky & Hutch’, where his old role was played by Ben Stiller and David Soul’s character was played by Owen Wilson. In 1996 Paul remarried producer, Tracy Barone and the couple had a daughter, Zoe, in 1997. In 2003 Paul received the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ which was presented to him by Larry King . Paul’s son Jake, who is now in his twenties, is following in his father’s footsteps in his crusade to find a cure for children like himself who are suffering from HIV. ABB | 
