‘Doogie Howser’ and ‘Hill Road Blues’ Star Was 90

James B. Sikking has died on the age of 90, PEOPLE confirms.

In line with his publicist, Cynthia Synder, the Hill Road Blues actor died “peacefully at his Los Angeles house surrounded by household.” The reason for dying was dementia.

Recognized for his expressive face, Sikking’s profession spanned six a long time. He was greatest acknowledged for taking part in Lt. Howard Hunter, the chief of the precinct’s Emergency Motion Staff, on Hill Road Blues from 1981 to 1987. The Emmy nominee additionally had a lead position as Dr. David Howser, the daddy to boy genius Doogie (performed by Neil Patrick Harris) on Doogie Howser, M.D.

Each reveals had been created by Steve Bochco, who died in 2018.

James Barrie Sikking was born in Los Angeles in 1934. He attended El Segundo Excessive Faculty and earned a Bachelor’s diploma in Theatre Arts from UCLA, the place he first fell in love with performing.

Throughout faculty, he frolicked within the Military — and his drill teacher throughout primary coaching finally impressed his strategy to his Hill Road Blues character.

“The drill teacher seemed like he had metal for hair, and his uniform had a lot starch in it, you knew it could sit within the nook when he took it off within the barracks,” he advised The Seattle Instances in 2014. “So after I began to play Howard, I picked out the best way he ought to be dressed. It needed to be a really navy look. He needed to have these bounce boots.”

He added, “When folks requested me the place I bought the concept for his look, I advised them it was the identical look I had within the Military.”

Sikking carried out in stage productions at Michigan’s Barn Theatre Faculty earlier than leaping to motion pictures with 1955’s 5 Weapons West and 1956’s The Revolt of Mamie Stover. He made dozens of TV appearances, on reveals together with Perry Mason, The Fugitive, Gomer Pyle. U.S.M.C., Hogan’s Heroes, Mission: Not possible, Columbo, Little Home on the Prairie and Hawaii 5-O. From 1973 to 1976, he appeared on Normal Hospital as Dr. James Hobart.

In 1981, he joined the solid of Hill Road Blues, an ensemble present, a couple of police station in a fictional metropolis. ”The beauty of Hill Road Blues was that nobody character was extra essential than another,” Sikking advised The New York Instances in 1988.

The sequence had poor rankings in his first season, however acquired a whopping 21 Emmy nominations (and would win eight of these awards). NBC renewed it, making it, on the time, the lowest-rated drama that was ever renewed for an additional season. 

The sequence was not solely a important darling, however the present turned extremely influential for the a long time of police dramas that might observe.

“It was plenty of arduous work, however everyone cherished it and that reveals,” Sikking advised Parade in 2014. “When you might have the people who find themselves concerned within the creation, manufacture — no matter you wish to name it — who’re actually into it and revel in doing it, you’re going to get a superb product.”

PEOPLE described Sikking’s character in 1987 as “a thug’s worst enemy and a canine’s greatest good friend.” He acquired one Emmy nomination for the position.

“I’d finished acres of crap,” he advised the Los Angeles Instances in 2006. “This was particular.” There have been no filler episodes; each hour was simply as significant as those that got here earlier than. “We did 148 hours, and there’s no bagel dough in it,” he defined. 

Sikking additionally appeared within the 1984 movie Star Trek III: The Seek for Spock. He was solid when producer Harve Bennett requested him to step into the position of Captain Kinds.

“I used to be not into that form of outer-space enterprise,” he admitted to StarTrek.com in 2014. “I had an boastful perspective in these days. I needed to do actual theater. I needed to do severe reveals, not one thing about any individual’s creativeness of what outer area was going to be like.” He referred to as that prejudice “foolish” and mentioned that he was acknowledged extra by followers for his Star Trek position than for “all the opposite work I’ve finished.”

When Hill Road Blues led to 1987, after seven seasons, he continued to work. Most notably, he joined Doogie Howser, M.D. in 1989, alongside Neil Patrick Harris because the titular prodigy. The sequence ran till 1993. Different roles for the actor included The Pelican Temporary, Fever Pitch, Made from Honor and The Nearer. 

Sikking married spouse Florine in 1962, they usually shared three youngsters. 

He had largely retired by the tip of the 2000s. “I need to say that, previously few years wherein I haven’t labored, the obscurity has been fairly enticing,” he admitted to StarTrek.com. “The beauty of obscurity is it offers you an opportunity to be who you might be and never some character. It additionally retains you from being so self-conscious. . . . I nonetheless do my charity occasions, however I’m pleased to be with my household.” 

Hill Road Blues was finally the a part of his lengthy performing profession of which he was most proud. He advised The Seattle Instances, “I’ve been an actor for 50 years, and after I look again on the present, I believe it was the perfect present I used to be ever on.”

Sikking is survived by his spouse of 61 years, Florine, his son Andrew, daughter Dr. Emily Sikking (Mallory ‘Chip’ Milam), and 4 grandchildren.