‘Hill Street Blues’ Star Was 90

James B. Sikking, known for his roles as Lt. Howard Hunter on “Hill Street Blues” and the titular character’s father on “Doogie Howser, M.D.,” has died. He was 90.

Sikking died Saturday of complications from dementia, his publicist Cynthia Synder said in a press release Sunday evening.

“In a remarkable profession, Sikking’s splendidly exciting face gave us drama, comedy, tragedy and hilarious farse,” Snyder shared with Variety. “His profession spanned over six many years in television, film and on stage.”

Sikking was widely known for his portrayal of Howard Hunter on the police procedural series “Hill Street Blues,” which aired from 1981 to 1987 on NBC. He received an Emmy nomination in 1984 for his performance because the clean-cut, pipe-smoking lieutenant.

After “Hill Street Blues,” Sikking played Dr. David Howser, father of Doogie Howser (Neil Patrick Harris), for all 4 seasons of the ABC medical sitcom from 1989 to 1993.

He portrayed a police officer again for Steven Bochco, co-creator of “Hill Street Blues” and “Doogie Howser, M.D.,” on the short-lived CBS series “Brooklyn South” (1997-98).

Early in his profession, Sikking did guest stints on such television series as “Perry Mason,” “General Hospital,” “The Outer Limits,” “The Fugitive,” “Rawhide,” “Bonanza,” “Ironside,” “Starsky & Hutch,” and “The Rockford Files,” before becoming a series regular on “Hill Street Blues.” In 2004, he appeared in two episodes of HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”

On the film side, he was known for enjoying Captain Styles in 1984’s “Star Trek III: The Seek for Spock,” directed by and starring Leonard Nimoy, and the director of the FBI in Alan J. Pakula’s 1993 legal thriller “The Pelican Temporary.” Additional film credits include “Point Blank,” “Product of Honor,” “Fever Pitch,” “Charro!,” “Final Approach,” “Abnormal People,” “Terminal Man” and “Von Ryan’s Express”; he worked on 4 movies directed by Peter Hyams: “Capricorn One,” “Outland,” “The Star Chamber” and “Narrow Margin.”

The youngest of 5, James Barrie Sikking (named after the “Peter Pan” creator) was born on March 5, 1934, in Los Angeles, to Andy and Sue Sikking. He graduated in 1959 with a level in theatre arts from UCLA, where he met Florine Caplan, his wife of greater than 60 years.

Sikking is survived by wife, son Andrew (Paula), daughter Dr. Emily Sikking (Mallory “Chip” Milam) and 4 grandchildren, Lola and Gemma Sikking and Hugh and Madeline “Maddie” Milam.