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James B. Sikking as Sergeant Howard Hunter in "Hill Street Blues". Source: https://www.tvline.com/news/james-b-sikking-dead-cause-of- death-hill-street-blues-obituary-1235282439/ (May be subject to copyright) |
Before the end of the decade, he would move on to another role, this one as the father of a child prodigy turned doctor.
I was sad to hear today that James B. Sikking had died, but it reminded me of those two roles and more.
He was 90 years old.
The years before
James B. Sikking, and the “B” stands for Barrie, began his career in film with an uncredited role in “Five Guns West”. He had his first credited role in 1964 in “The Strangler”. He had several uncredited roles then would also appear in movies such as “The Magnificent Seven Ride!”; “Scorpio”; “Capricorn One”; “The Electric Horseman”; and others.
James B. Sikking, and the “B” stands for Barrie, began his career in film with an uncredited role in “Five Guns West”. He had his first credited role in 1964 in “The Strangler”. He had several uncredited roles then would also appear in movies such as “The Magnificent Seven Ride!”; “Scorpio”; “Capricorn One”; “The Electric Horseman”; and others.
He had a lot more work in television, starting with a guest role in “Perry Mason” in 1961, then appearing in “Combat!”; “Rawhide”; “The Outer Limits”; “The Loner”; “The Long, Hot Summer”; “The Virginian”; “My Favorite Martian”; “My Mother the Car”; “The Fugitive”; “The Invaders”; “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.”; “Bonanza”; “Adam-12”; and “The Survivors”.
In the 1970s, he was in “The Young Lawyers”; “Love, American Style”; “Hogan’s Heroes”; “The Bold Ones: The New Doctors”; “Night Gallery”; “Ironside”; “Longstreet”; “Mission: Impossible”; “The Bob Newhart Show”; “Banyon”; “Room 222”; “M*A*S*H”; “The Streets of San Francisco”; “The Mod Squad”; “The Rookies”; “Mannix”; “Columbo”; “The F.B.I.”; “Cannon”; “Ellery Queen”; “Police Story”; “Little House on the Prairie”; “Delvecchio”; “Eight is Enough”; “The Feather and Father Gang”; “Man from Atlantis”; “Rafferty”; “Starsky and Hutch”; “The Bionic Woman”; “The Incredible Hulk”; “Operation Petticoat”; “The Rockford Files”; “Lucan”; “Hawaii Five-O”; “Charlie’s Angels”; “The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo”; and “Paris”.
He was also in the miniseries “A Woman Called Moses” and “Rich Man, Poor Man – Book II”; and television movies such as “The Astronaut”; “Family Flight”; “Coffee, Tea or Me?”; “The Six Million Dollar Man: The Solid Gold Kidnapping”; “The President’s Plane is Missing”; “Young Joe, the Forgotten Kennedy”.
Sikking also played surgeon Jim Hobart on the soap opera “General Hospital”; and Geoffrey St. James on the comedy series “Turnabout” in 1979, about a husband and wife inhabiting each other’s bodies.
His life changed in 1981 when Steven Bochco cast him as a SWAT team leader in a new police drama he was creating.
Hill Street Blues
Bochco was groundbreaking with his work on “Hill Street Blues”. The writing, photography, and characters earned it Emmy awards from the pilot episode on.
Bochco was groundbreaking with his work on “Hill Street Blues”. The writing, photography, and characters earned it Emmy awards from the pilot episode on.
James B. Sikking was cast as Sergeant Howard Hunter who was later promoted to lieutenant. The website www.writeups.org describes Hunter in detail, writing he seems to have a military background and mentioned being in Vietnam. He prefers offensive tactics and is known to eagerly attack perpetrators. He is clumsy; an eloquent speaker who uses slang and odd metaphors, such as “Judas Priest”; likes referring to people by their last names; and likes using high-tech weaponry or vehicles. Hunter also takes great care filling and smoking his pipe.
Wikipedia reveals Sikking stated his Howard Hunter character was based on one of his drill sergeants from basic training at Fort Bragg when Sikking was in the army.
“Hill Street Blues” ran from January of 1981 to May of 1987 for seven seasons and a total of 146 episodes.
For his efforts, Sikking was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 1984.
Coming to Lethbridge
“Hill Street Blues” aired on Channel 7 of the peasant vision dial. The station had affiliates in Lethbridge and Calgary, so they would work together and bring celebrities to the area from shows that aired on Channel 7.
“Hill Street Blues” aired on Channel 7 of the peasant vision dial. The station had affiliates in Lethbridge and Calgary, so they would work together and bring celebrities to the area from shows that aired on Channel 7.
One year, James B. Sikking came to Lethbridge for Whoop-Up Days and, if memory serves, taped a commercial in the character of Howard Hunter, with his pipe, stating “Judas Priest that’s a good station”, or something like that.
He definitely used the words "Judas Priest" though.
Next up
Steven Bochco was one of those writers, directors, and producers who had a stable of actors that appeared in various productions. James B. Sikking was one of Steven Bochco’s actors, just like Dennis Franz, Barbara Bosson, and Jimmy Smits.
Steven Bochco was one of those writers, directors, and producers who had a stable of actors that appeared in various productions. James B. Sikking was one of Steven Bochco’s actors, just like Dennis Franz, Barbara Bosson, and Jimmy Smits.
So, it wasn’t long before Sikking was back on television, in another series created by Steven Bochco.
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James B. Sikking, at right, as Dr. David Howser with Neil Patrick Harris, the title character in "Doogie Howser, M.D.". Source: https://www.today.com/popculture/tv/ james-sikking-dies-doogie-howser-hill-street-blues-rcna161898 (May be subject to copyright) |
“Doogie Howser, M.D.”, came out in September of 1989, starring a very young Neil Patrick Harris as Douglas “Doogie” Howser, a child prodigy who becomes a doctor. James B. Sikking played Dr. David Howser, Doogie’s dad.
His role as David Howser was much more thoughtful, measured and respectful, than Howard Hunter. David Howser is a Vietnam War MASH veteran with a family practice. He discovered suspicious bruising on Doogie which led to a leukemia diagnosis that saved Doogie’s life. It also inspired Doogie to become a doctor.
I did not start watching “Doogie Howser, M.D.” until the summer of 1991 when I came home from university after three full years away. I liked the show, and one of the best relationships was between David and his son. David was the sage veteran doctor who Doogie went to for advice, often advising his son on matters more about people than prescriptions and diagnosis.
One episode I recall had Doogie stumped by a patient. He could not figure out what was wrong. He talked to his dad who advised Doogie to just chat with his patient. When Doogie did, he discovered she did pottery. That lead to him discovering the glaze on her pots was making her sick.
“Doogie Howser, M.D.” ran from 1989 to 1993 for four seasons and a total of 97 episodes.
The rest of the decade
James B. Sikking did a lot of other work in the ‘80s. He was in movies such as “Ordinary People” and “The Competition” in 1980; “The Star Chamber”, in 1983; “Morons from Outer Space” in 1985; and “Soul Man”, in 1986.
James B. Sikking did a lot of other work in the ‘80s. He was in movies such as “Ordinary People” and “The Competition” in 1980; “The Star Chamber”, in 1983; “Morons from Outer Space” in 1985; and “Soul Man”, in 1986.
He was also on TV in a guest spot on “L.A. Law”, another Bochco production; some miniseries; and several television movies, such as “The Final Days”, in 1989, about the last days of the Richard Nixon presidency.
Out in space
Sikking was also in “Star Trek III: The Search for Spock” in 1984, playing the captain of the ship set to replace the Enterprise when Captain Kirk and company stole it. He looked down his nose at the Enterprise scoffing that it could not out-run his ship the Excelsior and its new trans-warp drive. However, when he goes to pursue the Enterprise, and engage the new drive, it stalls. It turns out Scotty had removed some key components. Once more, Captain Kirk had outsmarted his opponent.
Out in space
Sikking was also in “Star Trek III: The Search for Spock” in 1984, playing the captain of the ship set to replace the Enterprise when Captain Kirk and company stole it. He looked down his nose at the Enterprise scoffing that it could not out-run his ship the Excelsior and its new trans-warp drive. However, when he goes to pursue the Enterprise, and engage the new drive, it stalls. It turns out Scotty had removed some key components. Once more, Captain Kirk had outsmarted his opponent.
The years after
James B. Sikking kept on acting on TV and in films.
James B. Sikking kept on acting on TV and in films.
He was in the movies “Narrow Margin”; “Final Approach”; “The Pelican Brief”; “Fever Pitch”; “Made of Honor”; and “Just an American” in 2012, which was his last role.
He was also in “Cop Rock”, another Bochco production; and TV movies such as “Doing Time on Maple Drive” in 1992, which was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Television Movie; “In Pursuit of Honor”, as Douglas MacArthur; and “Tyson”; “Brooklyn South”, for 22 episodes; and voice work in a number of productions.
His television last role was in “The Closer” in 2012.
Parting thoughts
I never saw a lot of episodes of “Hill Street Blues”, something I should rectify. Of the few I did see, my outstanding memories of Howard Hunter are running the SWAT team, sporting that pipe, speaking slowly and deliberately in sometimes indecipherable English, and getting ready to attack.
I never saw a lot of episodes of “Hill Street Blues”, something I should rectify. Of the few I did see, my outstanding memories of Howard Hunter are running the SWAT team, sporting that pipe, speaking slowly and deliberately in sometimes indecipherable English, and getting ready to attack.
I did see a lot of episodes of “Doogie Howser, M.D.”. Doogie’s parents, including his mom played by Belinda Montgomery, played a prominent role. What I recall most about Sikking’s portrayal of David Howser was that he was really the only one who referred to his son as Douglas. He was also, for the lack of a better word, very fatherly.
Sikking was also the one who watched as Kirk and company stole the Enterprise while he stood by helplessly on his state-of-the-art ship because Scotty had disabled its brand new trans-warp drive.
It just shows how talented James B. Sikking was, from “Hill Street Blues” to “Doogie Howser, M.D.” and beyond.
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