(RepublicanDaily.org) – Veteran Hollywood and TV actor James B. Sikking has passed away at the age of 90.
His death was confirmed by his publicist, Cynthia Snyder, who said that the actor died surrounded by family and loved ones in his home in Los Angeles, due to complications associated with dementia.
“Sikking’s wonderfully exciting face gave us drama, comedy, tragedy and hilarious farse,” Snyder said in a statement on the actor’s death. Snyder also praised Sikking’s “talent, integrity and imagination” which she said was a delight to audiences who enjoyed his work through the years.
A true Angelino born in 1934, Sikking started out working in the entertainment business in the 1950’s with an uncredited appearance in the film “Five Guns West,” where he played a union sergeant. But his popularity grew over the next thirty years as he took on larger roles in much bigger productions, checking off appearances in shows like “M*A*S*H”, “Hawaii Five-O”, “Little House on the Prairie”, “Bonanza”, and “General Hospital”. Another notable character he played was when he took on the role of Lieutenant Howard Hunter in the police drama in “Hill Street Blues”, which ran from 1981 to 1987, and boasted airing close to 150 episodes. He received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 1984 for his role in the series, but ultimately lost to a fellow actor on the show, Bruce Weitz.
Sikking then went on to become a part of the lighthearted and comedic medical show Doogie Howser, M.D., where he worked again with Hill Street Blues creator Steven Bochco. The actor played David Howser, the father of the boy genius which the show is named after, the character played by Neil Patrick Harris.
The actor also had notable appearances on movies and shows including “Outer Limits”, “Star Trek III: The Search for Spock”, “The Rockford Files”, and “The Pelican Brief.”
Sikking leaves behind Florine, his wife; as well as son, Andrew, daughter Emily, and four grandchildren.
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