James Sikking: James Sikking. Actor: The Pelican Brief. James B. Sikking was born on March 5, 1934 in Los Angeles, California, the son of Unity ministers. Best known for his yeoman work as hard-charging, hardheaded SWAT leader Lt. Howard Hunter on the classic '80s police drama Hill Street Blues (1981), he received the name James Barrie Sikking as J.M. Barrie (of "Peter Pan" fame) was his parents' favorite author. Graduating from El...