James Sikking, who starred in series such as “Doogie Howser, M.D.” and “Hill Street Blues” died at the age of 90.
In a statement Sunday night, Sikking’s publicist, Cynthia Snyder, said the actor died of complications related to dementia.
Snyder told Fox News Digital: “Over the course of a remarkable career, Sikking’s wonderfully exciting face has given us drama, comedy, tragedy and hilarious farce. His career has spanned more than six decades in television, film and on stage.”
She added: “His talent, integrity and imagination have intrigued and delighted audiences.”
James Sikking, known for his roles on series such as “Doogie Howser, M.D.” and “Hill Street Blues,” has died at the age of 90. (ABC Photo Archive/Disney General Entertainment content via Getty Images)
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In “Doogie Howser, M.D.”, Sikking played Dr. David Howser, father of the show’s main character, played by Neil Patrick Harris.
Prior to that, he starred as Lt. Howard Hunter on “Hill Street Blues,” a Vietnam War veteran who led the Metropolitan Police Department’s Emergency Action Team.
Sikiking based his character’s uptight and eccentric nature on a drill instructor he had during basic training when his military service interrupted his time at the University of California, Los Angeles, from which he graduated in 1959.
“The instructor looked like he had hair made of steel and his uniform had so much starch in it that you knew it would stick to a corner when he took it off in the barracks,” he told the Fresno Bee in 2014.
Sikking was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama in 1984. (Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)
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He was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama in 1984.
In addition to his work on “Hill Street Blues” and “Doogie Howser, M.D.,” Sikking also appeared in “Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.”
Later in his career, he had guest appearances on shows like “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “The Closer,” as well as roles in films like “Fever Pitch” and “Made of Honor.”
Sikking played Neil Patrick Harris’ father in “Doogie Howser, M.D.” (ABC Photo Archive/Disney General Entertainment content via Getty Images)
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Sikking was born the youngest of five children in 1934 in Los Angeles. His early work included an uncredited role in Roger Corman “Five Guns West” and a small role in an episode of “Perry Mason.”
He also had guest roles on several series such as “Mission: Impossible”, “M*A*S*H”, “The FBI”, “The Rockford Files”, “Hawaii Five-O” and “Charlie’s Angels” before landing his role on “Hill Street Blues”.
Sikking is survived by his wife, two children and four grandchildren. (Mark Sullivan/Getty Images)
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Sikking married Florine Caplan, with whom he had two children and four grandchildren.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
