JAMES B. SIKKING

James B. Sikking has a wonderfully exciting face that has given us drama, comedy, tragedy and hilarious farce. During his career, he has guest-starred in more than 200 prime-time television shows and five series, most recently he did a guest stint on TNT’s “Major Crimes” and “The Closer.”
He starred in four Steven Bocho television series: ‘Captain Stan Jonas’, “Brooklyn South, ” on CBS; “Doogie Howser, M.D.,” as Doogie’s dad 'David Howser, M.D.,' on ABC; 'Lt. Howard Hunter' on the critically acclaimed “Hill Street Blues” and “Turnabout,” both for NBC.
He also did a three year stint on ABC's “General Hospital” and in 1988 “Mad Avenue,” a pilot for CBS.
Two of his favorite guestings are his cameo on Bochco’s ABC series “Cop Rock” as his memorable “Hill Street Blues” character 'Lt. Howard Hunter' and several episodes of HBO’s hit series, “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
James has continually been in the viewer's eye with many diverse roles: “Nowhere to Land,” TBS Superstation, “Submerged,” and “Mutiny,” NBC Movies of the Week, “In Pursuit of Honor” and “Tyson” for HBO. He starred as 'Phil Carter,’ father of a dysfunctional family in Fox Television's “Doing Time on Maple Drive.” A personal favorite was his portrayal of a Hollywood Producer in “Tales from the Hollywood Hills: Golden Land” for PBS's “Great Performances.”
He co-starred in NBC's mini-series “Brotherhood of the Rose” and “Around the World in 80 Days.” The Operation Prime-Time tele-movie, “The Jesse Owens Story,” portraying Avery Brundage, CBS Entertainment’s, “First Steps,” and Disney’s “Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven of Bliss” for PBS.
An actor he certainly is, with such chameleon characterizations as; F.B.I. Director 'Denton Voyles' in Warner Brothers' feature film, “The Pelican Brief,” the enigmatic 'Col. Halsey' in Trimark Picture's “Final Approach,” a Mafia hit man opposite Gene Hackman and Anne Archer in “Narrow Margin,” a Carolco picture released by Tri-Star, the distressed father of a murdered son in Frank Yablans' 20th Century-Fox presentation of “Star Chamber,” and 'Sgt. Kenneth R. Montone' in “Outland” with Sean Connery.
James compliments his credits with appearances as; ‘Doug Meeks’ in the hit comedy, “Fever Pitch,” a 20th Century Fox feature directed by the Farrelly Brothers. ‘Reverend Foote’ in Columbia Pictures “Made of Honor,” a CIA agent in “Scorpio,” a professional assassin in “Point Blank” and the head of the vice squad in “The New Centurions.” He also appeared in; “The Competition,” with Richard Dreyfuss; “The Electric Horseman,” with Robert Redford and Jane Fonda; a cameo role in “Star Trek III - The Search for Spock;” “Capricorn One” and “The Terminal Man.”
James is a native of Los Angeles. He attended El Segundo High School and earned a B.A. degree in Theatre Arts from UCLA. It was at UCLA that he met his wife, Florine. His higher education took nearly nine years to complete, due to military service recall. “I was originally sent to a special warfare school in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to study psychological warfare and become part of the sneaky troops. Then when Kennedy was President, I got called up again for the Berlin Wall.”
James comes from a family of three brothers and a sister. His parents, now deceased, were Unity ministers. He is the youngest and named after author James Barrie. It seems a perfect choice. There is a bit of Peter Pan in James... his sense of imagination appears whether playing roles on stage or screen.
Stage work has included: Falcon Theater’s west coast Premiere of “Exit Strategy,” the play written by Bill Semans and Roy M. Close and directed by Casey Stangle, “The Big Knife” on the London stage and he starred in the L.A. Public Theatre's Production of “Put Them All Together.” He also toured in Neil Simon's “Plaza Suite” and appeared in the West Coast Premiere of “Nobody Loves an Albatross.”
James does not limit his exploratory urges or senses of fun to his acting. When he and Florine married, “we took what little money we had and spent a year in Europe driving around.” They had an extraordinary experience they now cherish.
James and Florine live in Los Angeles. Emily, their daughter, is a doctor, and is married to Mallory “Chip” Milam. Emily and Chip have made James and Florine proud grandparents of Hugh and Maddie. Their son, Andrew, is an actor-chef. He and his wife, Paula, have two daughters, Lola James and Gemma Blue.
James is an avid sportsman and participates in various charity sporting events. He loves to cook, even though Florine is the expert with three cookbooks to her credit. They collect wine and have over 1500 bottles. “I'm not an expert, but enjoy the hobby. I have learned to buy inexpensive new wines and put them away and before you know it you have quite a nice bottle to share,” said James.
Whether it is in film, on the stage or on television, it is readily apparent that James B. Sikking’s talent, integrity and imagination will continue to intrigue and delight audiences in whatever medium he chooses to appear.
ABOUT THE DVD RELEASE OF HILL STREET BLUES: THE COMPLETE SERIES
The Long Anticipated Wait Is Over
FROM EMMY® AWARD-WINNING SERIES CREATOR STEVEN BOCHCO
HILL STREET BLUES: THE COMPLETE SERIES
BRING HOME THE COMPLETE LIBRARY OF THIS LANDMARK TELEVISION SERIES
IN A STUNNING 34-DVD BOX SET PACKED WITH SPECIAL BONUS CONTENT
ARRIVES ON HOME ENTERTAINMENT SHELVES EVERYWHERE April 29, 2014 FROM SHOUT! FACTORY
Created by award-winning writers/ producers Steven Bochco and Michael Kozoll, the critically acclaimed television series HILL STREET BLUES became one of the most seminal drama series by virtue of its powerful writing, gritty realism, emotionally charged storylines and incredible ensemble cast, including Daniel J. Travanti, James B. Sikking, Veronica Hamel, Bruce Weitz and Betty Thomas, among other notables. Throughout its seven year run on network television (1981-1987), HILL STREET BLUES took viewers inside the heart of a racially torn, crime-ridden precinct of an urban metropolis. Each episode charts a day in the life on "The Hill," balancing the characters' personal lives with their professional ones. "Let's be careful out there," advises Sgt. Esterhaus every morning at roll call, before sending out his officers and detectives to patrol their city's streets, where the peace is kept thanks to a tenuous trust between the police and the people they protect. Yet as dangerous as their precinct is, the men and women of Hill Street often find that their biggest battles involve protecting themselves from the Public Defender's office, self-serving bureaucrats ... and each other.
The winner of 26 Emmy® Awards (including Outstanding Drama Series four years running) and a mainstay on any roll call of the greatest television shows of all time, HILL STREET BLUES: THE COMPLETE SERIES arrives for the first time ever on home entertainment shelves April 29, 2014 from Shout! Factory. This handsomely packaged 34-DVD collector’s box set contains all 144 acclaimed episodes, the original Hill Street Blues pilot, a commemorative 24-page book with a special essay written by the Pulitzer Prize-winning TV critic Tom Shales, and retrospective bonus content, featuring new interviews with Steven Bochco, the cast and more. A must-have for collectors and any fan of quality television, HILL STREET BLUES: THE COMPLETE SERIES DVD box set is priced to own at $199.99 SRP.
HILL STREET BLUES: THE COMPLETE SERIES Bonus Content:
THE HISTORY OF HILL STREET - Steven Bocho and others talk about the creation of the show.
INTERVIEWS WITH THE OFFICERS – Featuring cast members James B. Sikking, Dennis Franz, Bruce Weitz, Charles Haid and Dennis Dugan.
WRITERS ON THE HILL- A discussion with Steven Bochco, Robert Crais, Jeffrey Lewis and Alan Rachins about writing for the show.
ROLL CALL: Looking back on HILL STREET BLUES
GAG REEL
FOUR EPISODE COMMENTARIES - including Creator Steven Bochco, Actors James B. Sikking, Joe Spano, Bruce Weitz, Charles Haid and Dennis Dugan, Writer Jeffrey Lewis and Story Consultant Robert Crais.
Commemorative 24-page book
The television series HILL STREET BLUES is a production of MTM Enterprises, Inc. and distributed by Twentieth Century Fox Television.