Hill Street Blues star James Sikking died at the age of 90 from dementia-related complications at his Los Angeles home.
His publicist Cynthia Synder announced that the Doogie Howser actor died “peacefully at his Los Angeles home surrounded by his family.”
Synder shared the heartbreaking news with Variety on Sunday, July 14, in a statement that read: “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.”
Sikking, who was known for his role of Howard Hunter on the police procedural series Hill Street Blues, received an Emmy nomination in 1984 for his performance as a lieutenant.
Reflecting on his character on Hill Street Blues, James explained that his basic military training inspired the role in many ways.
During a candid conversation with The Seattle Times in 2014 about his role in the crime series, he shared: “The drill instructor looked like he had steel for hair, and his uniform had so much starch in it, you knew it would sit in the corner when he took it off in the barracks.”
“So when I started to play Howard, I picked out the way he should be dressed. It had to be a very military look. He had to have those jump boots.”
“When people asked me where I got the idea for his look, I told them it was the same look I had in the Army.”
In addition, the actor advanced his career with another spectacular performance as Dr. David Howser, father of Doogie Howser on all four seasons of the ABC sitcom from 1989 to 1993.
