James B. Sikking

Biography: James B. Sikking (the "B" stands for Barrie, as in James M. Barrie, his parents' favorite author) was active in student theatricals at the University of California-Santa Barbara, UCLA and the University of Hawaii. Sikking's first film was 1963's The Strangler; his subsequent movie work found him alternating between punkish villains and steely authority types. His earliest regular TV stint was as Dr. James Hobart, one of Rachel Ames' many amours, on the daytime drama General Hospital. If we bypass his brief stint as cosmetics executive Geoffrey St. James in the mercifully short-lived 1979 sitcom Turnabout, we can regard Lt. Howard Hunter on Hill Street Blues as Sikking's first recurring prime-time TV characterization. Looking like a cross between George C. Scott and Roy Scheider on both of their bad days, Lt. Hunter was Hill Street Station's gonzo SWAT team leader, eager to prove his worth by blowing a hole in anyone who looks at him cross-eyed. It is to Sikking's credit that heJames B. Sikking (the "B" stands for Barrie, as in James M. Barrie, his parents' favorite author) was active in student theatricals at the University of California-Santa Barbara, UCLA and the University of Hawaii. Sikking's first film was 1963's The Strangler; his subsequent movie work found him alternating between punkish villains and steely authority types. His earliest regular TV stint was as Dr. James Hobart, one of Rachel Ames' many amours, on the daytime drama General Hospital. If we bypass his brief stint as cosmetics executive Geoffrey St. James in the mercifully short-lived 1979 sitcom Turnabout, we can regard Lt. Howard Hunter on Hill Street Blues as Sikking's first recurring prime-time TV characterization. Looking like a cross between George C. Scott and Roy Scheider on both of their bad days, Lt. Hunter was Hill Street Station's gonzo SWAT team leader, eager to prove his worth by blowing a hole in anyone who looks at him cross-eyed. It is to Sikking's credit that he invested this initially two-dimensional character with depth and humanity, so much so that Hunter caused viewers' hearts to skip a beat or two when he attempted suicide in a 1984 episode. Sikking remained with H.S.B. until its cancellation in 1987, moving on to such assignments as "The Old Man" in the Jean Shepherd-inspired cable flick Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven of Bliss (1989). From 1989 to 1993, Sikking co-starred as Dr. David Howser, father of 16-year-old medical genius Neil Patrick Harris, on the weekly sitcom Doogie Howser MD. James B. Sikking's recent film credits include the pompous Captain Styles in Star Trek 3: The Search for Spock (1984) and FBI chief Denton Voglers in The Pelican Brief (1994). Expand

James B. Sikking's Scores

  • TV
Average career score: 72
Highest Metascore: 88 Curb Your Enthusiasm: Season 4
Lowest Metascore: 55 The Guardian: Season 1
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 3
  2. Negative: 0 out of 3
3 tv reviews
Title: Year: Credit: User score:
tbd Charlie's Angels (1977): Season 3 Sep 13, 1978 James Sikking / Wellman tbd
tbd The Incredible Hulk: Season 1 Mar 10, 1978 James Sikking / McConnell 7.4
tbd Starsky & Hutch: Season 3 Sep 17, 1977 Ted tbd
tbd Charlie's Angels (1977): Season 2 Sep 14, 1977 James Sikking / Miller tbd
tbd The Bionic Woman (1976): Season 3 Sep 10, 1977 Burns / James Sikking tbd
tbd Little House on the Prairie: Season 3 Sep 27, 1976 Franklin / Mr. Franklin tbd
tbd The Rockford Files (1974): Season 3 Sep 24, 1976 John Hicklin tbd
tbd The Bob Newhart Show: Season 1 Sep 17, 1972 Dick / James B. Sikking tbd
72 M*A*S*H: Season 1 Sep 17, 1972 Finance Officer tbd
tbd The Streets of San Francisco (1972): Season 1 Sep 16, 1972 Maj. Frank Kramer tbd
tbd Mission: Impossible: Season 6 Sep 18, 1971 Wilson tbd
tbd Ironside: Season 5 Sep 14, 1971 James B. Sikking / Voice Print Officer tbd
tbd Hogan's Heroes: Season 6 Sep 20, 1970 Hercules tbd
tbd Mission: Impossible: Season 5 Sep 19, 1970 Corrigan tbd
tbd Hogan's Heroes: Season 4 Sep 28, 1968 Gestapo Officer / Pvt. Berger tbd
tbd Bonanza: Season 9 Sep 17, 1967 Kevin Maco tbd
tbd Bonanza: Season 8 Sep 11, 1966 Jack Rimbau tbd
tbd My Favorite Martian: Season 3 Sep 12, 1965 Fred tbd
tbd Perry Mason: Season 4 Sep 17, 1960 Civilian Engineer tbd