# James B. Sikking

James Barrie Sikking (March 5, 1934 – July 13, 2024) was an American actor, best known for his roles as Lt. Howard Hunter on the 1980s television series Hill Street Blues and David Howser on Doogie Howser, M.D.

## Early years

James Barrie Sikking was born in Los Angeles on March 5, 1934, to Arthur and Sue (née Paxton) Sikking. His mother co-founded Santa Monica, California's Unity-by-the-Sea Church. He graduated from University of California, Los Angeles in 1959.
While in college during the Korean War, Sikking served in the U.S. Army. He stated he based his approach to his Hill Street Blues character on one of his drill sergeants from basic training at Fort Bragg.

## Career

From 1971–76, Sikking played Jim Hobart, an alcoholic surgeon, on the ABC soap opera General Hospital. He portrayed Geoffrey St. James on the NBC comedy series Turnabout$^{:1113}$ and voiced General Gordon in Invasion America. He was sometimes credited as "James Sikking" or "Jim Sikking" in some of his earlier roles on film and television.
Sikking appeared as Lieutenant (later demoted to Sergeant) Howard Hunter on the TV series Hill Street Blues from 1981 to 1987. In 1984, Sikking's performance earned him his first Emmy nomination. Sikking starred on the ABC television series Doogie Howser, M.D. as Dr. David Howser,$^{:278}$ father of the title character. On the 1997 drama series Brooklyn South he portrayed Captain Stan Jonas, for which he won a People's Choice Award in 1998.
Sikking's film career started in 1955. His film work includes The Competition, Outland, Up the Creek, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, Narrow Margin, and Point Blank.
Sikking starred in the 1992 television movie Doing Time on Maple Drive. He made guest appearances on many television series, including Perry Mason, Rawhide, The Fugitive, Bonanza, The Outer Limits, General Hospital, The Incredible Hulk, Here Come the Brides, Mannix, The Rockford Files, The Bob Newhart Show, Hogan's Heroes, Rich Man, Poor Man Book II, Hunter, and Batman Beyond.

## Personal life and death

Sikking married his second wife, cookbook author Florine Sikking (née Caplan), in 1962. They had two children and four grandchildren.
Sikking was a philanthropist, and worked to raise funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Known affectionately "Jim the Reader" at Los Angeles public schools, he read to public school third-grade classes for almost 20 years through the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Book Pals Program.
Sikking died of complications from dementia at his home in Los Angeles, on July 13, 2024, at age 90.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1955 | Five Guns West | Union Sergeant | Uncredited |
| 1964 | The Strangler | Police Sketch Artist | |
| 1964 | The Carpetbaggers | Reporter | Uncredited |
| 1965 | Von Ryan's Express | American Soldier | Uncredited |
| 1967 | In Like Flint | Secret Service Member | Uncredited |
| 1967 | Point Blank | Hired Gun | |
| 1969 | Charro! | Gunner | |
| 1969 | Daddy's Gone A-Hunting | Joe Menchell | |
| 1971 | The Night God Screamed | Deacon Paul | |
| 1971 | Escape from the Planet of the Apes | Control Room Officer | Uncredited |
| 1971 | Chandler | Bogardy | Scenes deleted |
| 1972 | The Magnificent Seven Ride! | Andy Hayes | |
| 1972 | The New Centurions | Sgt. Anders | |
| 1973 | Scorpio | Harris | |
| 1974 | The Terminal Man | Ralph Friedman | |
| 1978 | Capricorn One | Control Room Man | |
| 1979 | The Electric Horseman | Dietrich | |
| 1980 | Ordinary People | Ray | |
| 1980 | The Competition | Brudenell | |
| 1981 | Outland | Sergeant Montone | |
| 1983 | The Star Chamber | Harold Lewin | |
| 1984 | Up the Creek | Tozer | |
| 1984 | Star Trek III: The Search for Spock | Captain Styles | |
| 1985 | Morons from Outer Space | Raymond Laribee | |
| 1986 | Soul Man | Bill Watson | |
| 1990 | Narrow Margin | Nelson | |
| 1991 | Final Approach | Jason Halsey | |
| 1993 | The Pelican Brief | Denton Voyles | |
| 1994 | Dead Badge | Wheeler, Aaron Feld | |
| 1995 | Whisper of the Heart | Seiya Tsukishima (voice) | English dub |
| 2005 | Fever Pitch | Doug Meeks | |
| 2008 | Made of Honor | Reverend Foote | |
| 2012 | Just an American | Dr. Hanover | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1961 | Perry Mason | Bert Springer | Episode: "The Case of the Misguided Missile" |
| 1963 | Combat! | American POW | Episode: "The Long Way Home" |
| 1963–1964 | The Outer Limits | Botany, Orderly | 2 episodes |
| 1964–1966 | The Fugitive | Deputy Marsh, Bert, Leonard Taft | 3 episodes |
| 1967 | The Invaders | William Taft | Episode: "Valley of the Shadow" |
| 1967 | Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. | Colonel Richardon | Episode: "The Show Must Go On" |
| 1967–1968 | Bonanza | Jack Rimbau, Kevin Maco | 2 episodes |
| 1968 | Adam-12 | Tex | Episode: "Log 72: El Presidente" |
| 1968–1969 | Hogan's Heroes | Private Berger, Gestapo Officer | 2 episodes |
| 1972 | The Astronaut | Higgins | Television film |
| 1972 | Mission: Impossible | Wilson | Episode: "Committed" |
| 1972 | Family Flight | Second Controller | Television film |
| 1972 | The Bob Newhart Show | Dick | Season 1 Episode 5 |
| 1972–1973 | Room 222 | Albert Kramer | 2 episodes |
| 1973 | M*A*S*H | Finance Officer | Episode: "Tuttle" |
| 1973 | The President's Plane Is Missing | Dunbar's Aide | Television film |
| 1974 | Columbo | Policeman | Episode: "Publish or Perish"; uncredited |
| 1976 | Ellery Queen | Mike Hewitt | Episode: "The Adventure of Sinister Scenario" |
| 1977 | The Feather & Father Gang | Bricklaw | Episode: "Never Con a Killer" |
| 1977 | Little House on the Prairie | Mr. Franklin | Episode: "To Live with Fear" |
| 1977–1978 | Hawaii Five-O | George Cameron, Oscar Ross | 2 episodes |
| 1978 | A Woman Called Moses | McCracken | 2 episodes |
| 1981–1987 | Hill Street Blues | Howard Hunter | Main cast |
| 1986 | L.A. Law | Party Guest | Episode: "Pilot"; uncredited |
| 1986 | Dress Gray | Clifford Bassett | 2 episodes |
| 1987 | Police Story: The Freeway Killings | Marit Cameron | Television film |
| 1988 | Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven of Bliss | Television film | |
| 1989 | Around the World in 80 Days | Jenks | 3 episodes |
| 1989 | The Final Days | Elliot Richardson | Television film |
| 1989–1993 | Doogie Howser, M.D. | David Howser | Main cast |
| 1990 | Cop Rock | Howard Hunter | Episode: "Cop-a-Felliac"; uncredited |
| 1992 | Doing Time on Maple Drive | Phil Carter | Television film |
| 1995 | In Pursuit of Honor | Douglas MacArthur | Television film |
| 1995 | Tyson | Bill Clayton | Television film |
| 1997 | Aaahh!!! Real Monsters | Dr. Carson (voice) | Episode: "Nuclear and Present Danger" |
| 1997–1998 | Brooklyn South | Captain Stan Jonas | 22 episodes; series regular |
| 1998 | Invasion America | General Gordon (voice) | 13 episodes |
| 1999–2000 | Batman Beyond | Harry Caulder, Foreman (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 2000 | Rocket Power | Vice Principal Healy (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 2001 | Submerged | Cyrus Cole | Television film |
| 2004 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Jim Remington | Season 4, Episodes 5 and 6 |
| 2012 | The Closer | Edward Crosby | Episode: "Hostile Witness" |