James B. Sikking, 'Hill Street Blues' and 'Doogie Howser, M.D.' actor, dies at 90 Staff, 7/15/2024 James B. Sikking, known for his roles in "Hill Street Blues" and "Doogie Howser, M.D.," has passed away at the age of 90. Sikking had a remarkable six-decade-long career in television, film, and stage. His portrayal of a Vietnam War veteran police officer on "Hill Street Blues" earned him critical acclaim, while his role as the father on "Doogie Howser, M.D." left a lasting impression. He will be remembered for his versatility and talent. Sikking died Saturday due to complications from dementia, his publicist Cynthia Snyder told Variety and The Associated Press.
"In a remarkable career, Sikking's wonderfully exciting face gave us drama, comedy, tragedy and hilarious farse," Snyder said in a statement to Variety. "His career spanned over six decades in television, film and on stage."
In 1981, he began his role as the Vietnam War veteran that headed a police department in an unnamed city on "Hill Street Blues" until 1987, receiving an Emmy nomination in 1984 for outstanding supporting actor for his role in the show.
He based the character off a drill sergeant he met at basic training at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.
"The drill instructor looked like he had steel for hair and his uniform had so much starch in it, you knew it would (stand) in the corner when he took it off in the barracks," he told The Fresno Bee in 2014. "So when I started to play Howard, I picked out the way he should be dressed. It had to be a very military look."
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After his success on the show, Sikking starred on the medical sitcom "Doogie Howser, M.D." as the father to the titular character, played by Neil Patrick Harris. The show ran from 1989 to 1993.
"I look back on that with fondness," Harris told USA TODAY in 2019. "That was a very remarkably wonderful chapter for somebody who had never really been in the entertainment business before."
Sikking also had stints in film. In 1984, he portrayed Captain Styles in "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock" and in 1993, he starred as the director of the FBI in "The Pelican Brief." The actor starred in four Peter Hyams films throughout his career including "Capricorn One," "Outland," "The Star Chamber" and "Narrow Margin."
Sikking is survived by his wife of over 60 years, Florine Caplan, and their two children: son Andrew and daughter Emily.
