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

In accordance with his publicist, Cynthia Synder, the Hill Road Blues actor died “peacefully at his Los Angeles residence surrounded by household.” The reason for loss of life was dementia.

Identified for his expressive face, Sikking’s profession spanned six many years. He was greatest acknowledged for enjoying Lt. Howard Hunter, the chief of the precinct’s Emergency Motion Crew, 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 exhibits have been created by Steve Bochco, who died in 2018.

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

Throughout school, he hung out within the Military — and his drill teacher throughout fundamental coaching in the end impressed his method to his Hill Road Blues character.

“The drill teacher regarded 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 instructed The Seattle Times in 2014. “So once I began to play Howard, I picked out the best way he needs to be dressed. It needed to be a really army look. He needed to have these bounce boots.”

He added, “When individuals requested me the place I acquired the concept for his look, I instructed them it was the identical look I had within the Military.”

Sikking carried out in stage productions at Michigan’s Barn Theatre College earlier than leaping to films with 1955’s 5 Weapons West and 1956’s The Revolt of Mamie Stover. He made dozens of TV appearances, on exhibits together with Perry Mason, The Fugitive, Gomer Pyle. U.S.M.C., Hogan’s Heroes, Mission: Unattainable, Columbo, Little Home on the Prairie and Hawaii 5-O. From 1973 to 1976, he appeared on Basic Hospital as Dr. James Hobart.

In 1981, he joined the forged of Hill Road Blues, an ensemble present, a few police station in a fictional metropolis. ”The wonderful thing about Hill Road Blues was that nobody character was extra vital than every other,” Sikking instructed The New York Times in 1988.

The collection had poor scores in his first season, however obtained 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 collection was not solely a important darling, however the present grew to become extremely influential for the many years of police dramas that may observe.

“It was lots of laborious work, however all people cherished it and that exhibits,” Sikking instructed Parade in 2014. “When you could have the people who find themselves concerned within the creation, manufacture — no matter you need to name it — who’re actually into it and revel in doing it, you’re going to get a very good product.”

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

“I’d finished acres of crap,” he instructed the Los Angeles Times 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 forged when producer Harve Bennett requested him to step into the position of Captain Kinds.

“I used to be not into that type of outer-space enterprise,” he admitted to StarTrek.com in 2014. “I had an boastful standpoint in these days. I wished to do actual theater. I wished to do severe exhibits, not one thing about someone’s creativeness of what outer area was going to be like.” He referred to as that prejudice “foolish” and stated 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 resulted in 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 collection ran till 1993. Different roles for the actor included The Pelican Transient, Fever Pitch, Fabricated from Honor and The Nearer. 

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

He had principally retired by the top of the 2000s. “I have to say that, prior to now few years by which I haven’t labored, the obscurity has been fairly engaging,” he admitted to StarTrek.com. “The beauty of obscurity is it provides 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 in the end the a part of his lengthy performing profession of which he was most proud. He instructed The Seattle Instances, “I’ve been an actor for 50 years, and once I look again on the present, I feel it was one of the best 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.