News & Rumors

General Hospital Alum James B. Sikking Dead At 90

Published by

Michael Maloney

4 months ago

James B. Sikking is known to TV fans from his roles on Hill Street Blues and Doogie Howser, M.D. but the actor, who died on July 13 at the age of 90, played a key role on General Hospital as Audrey’s husband.

In Memoriam

Prior to the Quartermaine and Spencer clans coming to Port Charles, Audrey Hardy (played by Daytime Emmy nominee Rachel Ames) was a lead heroine on GH. After she split from Steve Hardy (John Beradino) and Tom Baldwin, Audrey wed Dr. Jim Hobart, Sikking’s character, after he performed life-saving surgery on her son Tommy following a kidnapping ordeal.

Audrey felt badly for Jim after he’d injured his hand and was unable to operate. Alas, her heart still belonged to Steve. Jim left Audrey for another woman, which paved the way for a Steve/Audrey reunion.

Sikking worked regularly after leaving daytime appeared on Hill Street Blues, Doogie Howser, M.D., Rich Man, Poor Man – Book II, Eight is Enough, Starsky and Hutch, The Bionic Woman, and Charlie’s Angels.

On the big screen, he was in Ordinary People opposite Elizabeth Hubbard (ex-Lucinda, As the World Turns), which starred Mary Tyler Moore and Donald Sutherland. He played the dad in Doing Time on Maple Drive, which starred Bibi Besch (Dr. Gibson, Dallas), Jim Carrey, and Lori Loughlin (ex-Jodie, Edge of Night).

Sikking died from complications of dementia, his publicist Cynthia Snyder said in a statement. “In a remarkable career, Sikking’s wonderfully exciting face gave us drama, comedy, tragedy and hilarious farse,” Snyder told Variety. “His career spanned over six decades in television, film and on stage.”

James B. Sikking (the B. stood for “Barrie” — for “Peter Pan” author James Matthew Barrie) was born on March 5, 1934, in Los Angeles to parents Andy and Sue Sikking. He graduated from UCLA with a degree in theatre arts. There, he met his wife, Florine Caplan, whom he is survived by. Sikking is also survived by a son Andrew (Paula), a daughter Dr. Emily Sikking (Mallory “Chip” Milam), and four grandchildren — Lola, Gemma, Hugh, and Madeline. Soap Hub sends sincere condolences to Sikking’s family, loved ones and friends at this difficult time.