James B. Sikking, Actor on‘Hill Street Blues’ and ’Doogie Howser,' Dead at 90

James B. Sikking arrives at the "Sister Act" opening night premiere in Hollywood, Calif., on July 9, 2013. (Chelsea Lauren/Getty Images for the Pantages Theatre)

Actor James B. Sikking, best known for his television roles in “Hill Street Blues” and “Doogie Howser, M.D.”, has died at 90 years of age.

In a statement to The Epoch Times, his publicist, Cynthia Snyder, said Mr. Sikking died over the weekend at his Los Angeles home of complications from dementia, surrounded by family.

“In a remarkable career Sikking’s wonderfully exciting face gave us drama, comedy, tragedy and hilarious farse … his talent, integrity and imagination intrigued and delighted audiences,” said Ms. Snyder.

Other Hollywood figures mourning the loss include actors such as Neil Patrick Harris, who worked alongside Mr. Sikking on “Doogie Howser.”

In a heartwarming Instagram post, Mr. Harris called the actor a “true professional” and reminisced on their time filming the medical sitcom.

“Jim Sikking played my dad in Doogie Howser, MD, and was one of the kindest, wisest, funniest, and most generous people I’ve ever known. … He treated everyone with respect, taught me countless lessons, yet always had a spark of mischief in his eyes. It was an absolute honor to be his son,” he wrote.

Mr. Sikking is survived by his wife, Florine, his son Andrew, daughter Emily, and four grandchildren.

Early Career

Born in 1934 in Los Angeles, California, Mr. Sikking developed an early passion for the arts, earning a Bachelor’s degree in theater from UCLA. The passion led him to over six decades in the entertainment business with a resume including more than 200 television projects, five series and 33 feature films.

In the early stages of his career, Mr. Sikking held guest stints on “Rawhide,” “Bonanza,” “Starsky & Hutch,” and “The Rockford Files,” as well as a three-year run on ABC’s “General Hospital” and a wide array of film cameos.

He rose to fame in the ‘80s, starring in the critically acclaimed NBC show “Hill Street Blues,” where he played Lt. Howard Hunter who led a SWAT-like Emergency Action Team.

Mr. Sikking appeared on 144 episodes across all seven seasons until 1987 and earned an Emmy nomination for outstanding supporting actor in the drama.

Following “Hill Street Blues,” he went on to play “Dr. David Howser” on all four seasons and 97 episodes of “Doogie Howser,” from 1989 to 1993.

His film career started not long after, with TV movies such as “Tales from the Hollywood Hills: Golden Land” for PBS and “Doing Time on Maple Drive” with actor Jim Carrey.

Aside from television, he was known for playing Captain Styles in 1984’s “Star Trek III: The Search for Spock,” and “The Pelican Brief.”

Additional film credits include “Point Blank,” “Made of Honor,” “Fever Pitch,” “Charro!,” “Final Approach,” “Ordinary People,” “Terminal Man” and “Von Ryan’s Express” alongside Frank Sinatra.

His final credits were two appearances on the HBO sitcom “Curb Your Enthusiasm” in 2004 and films “Fever Pitch” in 2005 and “Made of Honor” three years later.

Throughout the years, Mr. Sikking continued his stage presence, with active participation in the West Coast’s Falcon Theatre with “Exit Strategy,” starring in the L.A. Public Theatre’s Production of “Put Them All Together,” and appearing in “The Big Knife” on the London stage.

Mr. Sikking spent his free time participating in charity events and was particularly devoted to raising funds for Cystic Fibrosis and the “Susan G. Komen For The Cure,” a foundation dedicated to the fight against breast cancer.

He also was a part of the “SAG BookPALS” program, where for 19 years he read to public school third-grade classes.