General Hospital
James B. Sikking, ‘General Hospital’ and ‘Hill Street Blues’ Alum, Passes Away at 90
This weekend has brought the deaths of Shannen Doherty, Richard Simmons, Dr. Ruth Westheimer and now Hill Street Blues and General Hospital alum, James B. Sikking (ex-Dr. Jim Hobart).
Sikking died on Saturday at his home in Los Angeles, due to dementia at the age of 90 surrounded by loved ones. His longtime publicist, Cynthia Snyder issued a statement to Deadline on his passing, sharing, “In a remarkable career, Sikking’s wonderfully exciting face gave us drama, comedy, tragedy and hilarious farse. His career spanned over six decades in television, film and on stage. His talent, integrity and imagination intrigued and delighted audiences.”
While most-known for his role on NBC’s cop drama Hill Street Blues playing Lt. Howard Hunter for seven seasons, and later as Dr. David Howser on Doogie Howser, M.D., longtime GH fans will remember his role of Dr. Jim Hobart. The character was an interloper in Steve Hardy (John Beradino) and Audrey March’s (Rachel Ames) enduring love story.

Courtesy/ABC
Sikking appeared for three years on GH from 1973-1976 and in story, Jim was alcoholic. Audrey was so grateful to him for saving her son, Tommy’s life, that when Jim injured his hands in an car accident and feared his career as a surgeon was over, she felt sorry for him and thus married him, even though she was still in love with her ex-husband Steve Hardy.
Later, Jim began to drink heavier because he could no longer operate and Audrey smothering him, made him drink more. In 1974, it was Jim who held the key to who killed Phil Brewer. After Diana Taylor was sentenced for Phil’s murder, Jim suddenly remembered he had seen Augusta MacLeod (Judith McConnell) with Phil that night. Eventually, Augusta confessed to killing Phil.
Throughout Sikking’s career he also appeared on TV in guest starring roles on: Starsky & Hutch, The Rockford Files, Brooklyn South, and Curb Your Enthusiasm to name but a few, plus numerous motion pictures including the 1980 Academy Award-winning film, Ordinary People.
Sikking is survived by wife Florine, son Andrew, daughter Dr. Emily Sikking and four grandchildren.
Now below, watch a vintage episode of GH from 1975 (although it’s hard to see) featuring several original GH stars and Sikking. Then, share your thoughts on his passing via the comment section.
Oh, the memories that episode brings back!!!!!!!!!! I loved him as Dr Hobart and his coming between Steve and Audrey drove me mad. What a wonderful and varied career he had. He was great in so many, many roles throughout the years. My deepest sympathy to his family and friends. May he rest in peace.
His Howard Hunter on Hill Street was pure art. Howard was an absolutely gung-ho devoted idiot, who loved his guns, his EATers, but had zero sense of diplomacy or tact. Yet he was also insanely vulnerable. Sikking could make you laugh or cry within the span of an episode … sometimes between commercial breaks. Dementia absolutely sucks, so I am happy he is at peace. But Howard Hunter lives forever!
I really enjoyed GH in those pre Luke and Laura days when the hospital was central. It was the first daytime drama to reel me in as a young teen. So many good stories. The Audrey-Jim-Steve triangle and Phil Brewer murder mystery were winners. Mr. Sikking was among those actors who proved the best are often daytimers.
As I live and breathe… A video of from GH in the 1970s, prominently featuring Valerie Starrett as Diana Taylor (although she wasn’t credited in the text of the accompanying article). She was absolutely terrific! Great seeing her in a scene with John Beradino, and also seeing the characters Lee Baldwin, Cameron Faulkner, Jane Dawson, Jesse Brewer, Audrey Marsh, Joel Stratton, and Jim Hobart, among others.
James B. Sikking was also a wonderful actor, as shown in the clip. No wonder he went on to other roles in TV and movies. Condolences to his family and friends. May his memory be a blessing. This was truly a great time in GH history!
Correction of character name above: should be “Lucille March.”
General Hospital
Kelly Sullivan Gives High Praise to ‘General Hospital’s’ Maura West Recalling When Ava Shot Connie (Exclusive)

It was just over 13 years ago on General Hospital when Ava Jerome (Maura West) shot and killed Kate Howard/Connie Falconeri (Kelly Sullivan) in an effort to keep her quiet from revealing that Derek Wells was actually Ava’s back-from-the-dead brother, Julian Jerome (William deVry). It’s a crime that somehow Ava never has quite paid for either.
The episode back aired on August 13, 2013 and viewers had to say goodbye to Kelly Sullivan who played Kate and her alter, Connie. In the story, just before she died, Kate/Connie scrawled the letters AJ in her own blood, initially making the PCPD and Sonny Corinthos (Maurice Benard) think that it was AJ Quatermaine (Sean Kanan) who did the deed.
Now, Sullivan recalled sharing scenes with the three-time Daytime Emmy-winning West, during a live conversation on You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel. Kelly was the special guest talking about her recent return to the soaps in her new role as The Bold and the Beautiful’s Darcy Dylan.

Photo: JPI
FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF MAURA WEST
Speaking of her final GH scenes and working with Maura West, Sullivan gave her then GH co-star major props. “If you’re going to be shot by somebody (on the soaps), you want to be shot by Maura West, c’mon!”
Maura West debuted back in May 2013 as Ava, and Sullivan remembered when the As the World Turns favorite began on GH. “I remember when Maura West first arrived at GH. She walked in with this cute little bob (hairdo) and she’s just delicious,” shared Sullivan.
A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE
Kelly revealed more about Maura, adding “I think she’s amazing! I remember right before I left the show, someone suggested, and I would still love to do this with her, if she ever want to, but someone suggested that they wanted to direct the stage play A Streetcar Named Desire with Maura and I, where I would play Stella and she would play Blanche! Wouldn’t that be great?”
Speaking of the Ava/Connie showdown scenes, Sullivan expressed, “On television and on General Hospital specifically, Maura West is able to play a character who does the most horrendous things and you still care about her and that’s the mark of a really great actor. In other words, you’re able to be liked in the midst of the most horrendous things, and as a performer not shying away from that, and to just have the courage to do what’s on the page (in the script).”

Photo: JPI
KELLY SULLIVAN PARTING THOUGHTS AS SHE LEFT GENERAL HOSPITAL
Kelly also shared her sentiments when she walked off the set of General Hospital after her run back in August of 2013. “I really was honored. Every day I would go to work and I would say a little prayer, which is I want to do justice for my character, explained Kelly. “It’s between me and my character. I get to walk this path with her and to leave the show on that note, which is, I left every out there. I just gave it my all and again what an honor it was to play Kate/Connie.”
You can catch the full conversation with Kelly where she talks about her time on General Hospital, The Young and the Restless where she played Sage Warner and now The Bold and the Beautiful below.
So, do you remember the Ava and Connie scenes where Ava shot and killed her? What did you think of Kelly Sullivan’s sentiments about Maura West? Share your thoughts via the comment section. But first, watch the reveal where Ava recalls murdering Connie below!
General Hospital
Steve Burton Reportedly Signs Three-Year Contract with ‘General Hospital’

The question of will Steve Burton (Jason Morgan) stay awhile at General Hospital after his recent extended hiatus from the show earlier this year, has reportedly been answered.
TMZ via court documents obtained in Burton’s ongoing legal battle with his ex-wife Sheree Gustin, shared that Steve actually inked a new three year deal with the ABC soap opera back in June.
That is significant because it was June when Burton returned back to work as Jason. In addition, the court filing confirmed that Burton had already moved back to California from Tennessee.

Photo: ABC
STEVE’S HIATUS AND HIS RETURN TO PORT CHARLES
GH fans will recall, it was back in February of 2026, that Burton announced via his Instagram that he was stepping away from his role of Jason Morgan for short break and pointed to wanting to spend quality time with his new wife, Michelle Lundstrom Burton with whom he tied the knot back on May 17, 2025.
Steve expressed at that time, “I’m newly married and looking forward to spending some quality time with my family.” It was back on March 25 that viewers saw Jason carted away by the WSB after taking the fall for Rocco Falconeri (Finn Carr) who shot then WSB Director Ross Cullum (Andrew Hawkes).
Burton returned to work on June 1, and due to General Hospital taping roughly six weeks ahead of air, made his on-screen comeback on the July 13 episode.
GOING FOR GOLD AT THE UPCOMING DAYTIME EMMYS
Then, Steve and his enduring fans got an extra special treat on the same day, when it was revealed on Extra that he was nominated for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Daytime Drama Series category.
Steve previously won in the Supporting Actor category for his work as General Hospital’s Jason in 1998 and as The Young and the Restless’ Dylan McAvoy in 2018.
Now with Jason and Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) relationship seemingly hitting the skids, plus Jason’s commitment to staying out of mob life to focus on being present for his son Danny Morgan (Asher Antonyzyn), what does the future hold for the fan favorite character? Stay tuned.
So, happy to hear that Steve Burton signed a new three year deal with General Hospital? Knowing that, what storyline would you like to see Jason get involved and with who? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section.
General Hospital
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason and Britt Reach an Impasse; Is This the End of Their Relationship?

On the Friday, September 11 episode of General Hospital, Jason (Steve Burton) and Britt’s (Kelly Thiebaud) relationship becomes strained to potentially the point of no return.
Things take a turn when an unglued Britt having been traumatized by almost being killed by Anna Devane (Finola Hughes) asks Jason to back her up with the PCPD when she reports Anna for attempted murder.
However, Jason told Britt, he can’t. Jason shares that he does not believe Anna would have gone through with shooting her. Therefore, Britt was not in any real imminent danger. Britt is flabbergasted and hurt that Jason is refusing to tell the police what he actually witnessed for himself on Mount Emerson.

Courtesy/ABC
BRITT WANTS BACK UP FROM JASON
Jason counters that he can’t believe that Britt would want Anna punished. or sent to prison, or a mental facility after the trauma she endured while being locked up and mentally tortured while at Wyndemere.
He asks Britt, “How could you even say that you want her locked up or prosecuted for what she did when you knew she was being held prisoner and you did nothing to save her?” Britt is stunned by Jason’s response.
Coming up, official General Hospital spoilers share that on the upcoming Monday, September 14 episode, Jason confides in Carly (Laura Wright), while Britt is stung. In the video preview that aired at the end of the Friday, September 11 episode for this coming Monday, Britt says to Jason, “You don’t believe me. Do you?”
General Hospital head scribes, Chris Van Etten and Elizabeth Korte previously teased in their fall preview of the soap, “Britt and Jason have come a long way and fought a lot of enemies to be together. But the most stubborn obstacle to their happiness isn’t without, it’s within. Decisions Britt made to stay alive while under Cullum’s thumb will come back to haunt her and may prove too difficult for this unlikely couple to survive.”
So, what do you think will happen? Will Jason and Britt break-up over Britt’s lies and Jason’s unwillingness to report Anna’s crime against her? Do you want Jason and Britt to go their separate ways? If they do, will Britt become romantically involved with Dr. Tristan Roberts (Dean Geyer) ? If so, who do you pair Jason with? Anyone? Weigh-in via the comment section.
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