James B. Sikking, as actor People & Technology

James B. Sikking (March 5, 1934 – July 13, 2024) was an American actor best known as Lt. Howard Hunter on Hill Street Blues (1981–87) and as the father on Doogie Howser, M.D. He played Sergeant Montone in Peter Hyams's Outland (1981), a role that preceded and likely contributed to his Hill Street Blues casting.

In the wiki

• James B. Sikking is his dedicated page for Outland (1981), covering his casting and the Montone performance.
• Sikking and the Broader TV Pipeline traces how Outland fed into the early-80s television ensemble revolution, with Sikking's career as the primary case study.
• Cast and Characters (Outland) describes Montone's function in the plot — the sergeant who initially helps O'Niel and whose loyalty is tested.
• The Racquetball Court Scene includes Sikking in the ensemble dynamics.
• Film-to-TV Talent Migration discusses Sikking's move from feature genre work to prestige television.
• Bochco, Tinker, and the Ensemble Hour connects Outland's ensemble structure to the Hill Street Blues model.
• Peter Boyle mentions Sikking in the ensemble context.