The death has occurred of James B. Sikking, an actor who was well-known for his work on television shows such as Hill Street Blues and Doogie Howser, M.D. He was ninety! Shannen Doherty died at the age of 53.
Who is James B. Sikking?
An American actor, James Barrie Sikking is most recognized for his performance as Lieutenant Howard Hunter on the television series Hill Street Blues, which aired in the 1980s.
Having been born in Los Angeles on March 5, 1934, Sikking was given the name James B. Sikking, which was a tribute to the creator of Peter Pan, James Barrie. He got his high school diploma from El Segundo High School and then went on to earn a degree in drama from UCLA in 1959. During this time, he also served in the military.
His children Emily and Andrew, as well as his grandchildren Lola, Gemma, Hugh, and Madeline, are among those who are left behind after the passing of James B. Sikking. His wife Florine, who was also an author and whom he met while attending UCLA, followed him into marriage in 1962.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the actor who passed away was committed to bringing awareness to several causes, including the Susan G. Komen Foundation and cystic fibrosis. He was affectionately referred to as Jim the Reader throughout his 19 years of participation in the SAG BookPals program, during which time he read to third-grade classrooms in public schools.
How does James B. Sikking Died?
On Saturday, Sikking passed away at his home in Los Angeles due to dementia. According to his publicist Cynthia Snyder, who spoke with Deadline, the actor was surrounded by his family in his house during his final moments.
“In a remarkable career, Sikking’s wonderfully exciting face gave us drama, comedy, tragedy and hilarious farse. His career spanned over six decades in television, film and on stage,” said Snyder in a statement, adding: “His talent, integrity and imagination intrigued and delighted audiences.”
While Sikking is best known for his roles as Lt. Howard Hunter on Hill Street Blues and Dr. David Howser on Doogie Howser, M.D., he has also had guest appearances on a number of other television shows, including Rawhide, Bonanza, Starsky & Hutch, The Rockford Files, Brooklyn South, Turnabout, General Hospital, and Curb Your Enthusiasm.
When Sikking appeared on the big screen, he shared the screen with Frank Sinatra in Von Ryan’s Express (1965) and Elvis Presley in Charro! (1969). He also appeared in films such as Ordinary People (1960), Scorpio (1973), Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984), The Pelican Brief (1993), Fever Pitch (2005), and Made of Honor (2008).
In addition, Sikking has performed on stage in a number of plays, including Exit Strategy, The Big Knife, Put Them All Together, Nobody Loves an Albatross, and a tour of Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite.
Having been born in Los Angeles on March 5, 1934, Sikking was given the name James Barrie, after the author. Snyder said that it appeared to be an excellent option. “There is a little bit of Peter Pan in James… his sense of imagination was evident whether he was playing roles on stage or through the medium of film.”
In addition to serving in the military, he attended UCLA to study drama. It was there that he met his future wife, Florine Caplan.
A wife named Florine, a son named Andrew, a daughter named Dr. Emily Sikking, and four grandkids are among those who survive Sikking.
