Tom Skerritt, Emmy-winning star of 'Top Gun,' 'Alien' and 'Picket Fences,' dies at 93

Tom Skerritt, the lean, mustachioed actor who played Tom Cruise’s flight instructor in “Top Gun,” the doomed Capt. Dallas in “Alien” and Sheriff Jimmy Brock on “Picket Fences,” has died. He was 93. His family confirmed the news on Thursday, Oct. 22, saying he died the day before, Wednesday, Oct. 21, of natural causes.

“While the world knew Tom through his remarkable acting career, we knew him for his humor, curiosity, wisdom, generosity, and the love he brought into our lives,” the family said in a statement reported by NBC News. “We are heartbroken by his loss.”

How did Tom Skerritt die?

His family said he died of natural causes. They have not released further details, asked for privacy, and said they were grateful for the support from friends and former costars. No memorial details had been announced as of Friday morning.

From the Air Force to Hollywood

Skerritt was born Aug. 25, 1933, in Detroit. He served four years in the US Air Force before heading to Hollywood, where, according to NBC News, he originally intended to become a director. He made his film debut in 1962 in “War Hunt” alongside a young Robert Redford, the BBC reported.

His breakthrough came in 1970 as Army surgeon Capt. Duke Forrest in Robert Altman’s Korean War satire “M*A*S*H,” which was nominated for five Academy Awards and later inspired the long-running TV series.

Tom Skerritt’s best-known movies

Over a career of roughly six decades, Skerritt worked steadily in film and television. Highlights cited by NBC News and the BBC include:

• “Alien” (1979): As Capt. Dallas, commander of the Nostromo, opposite Sigourney Weaver. In a 2019 interview quoted by the BBC, he said one thing he liked most about the script was that “the woman becomes a hero.”
• “Top Gun” (1986): As Cmdr. Mike “Viper” Metcalf, the no-nonsense flight instructor to Tom Cruise’s Maverick.
• “The Turning Point” (1977), opposite Shirley MacLaine.
• “Up in Smoke” and “The Dead Zone.”
• “Steel Magnolias” (1989): As Sally Field’s husband and Julia Roberts’ onscreen father.
• “A River Runs Through It” (1992): As a stern minister in the Redford-directed drama, which won an Oscar for best cinematography.
• Later work included the comedy “Ted.”

‘Picket Fences’ and his TV career

On television, Skerritt won an Emmy in 1993 for playing Sheriff Jimmy Brock on David E. Kelley’s quirky drama “Picket Fences,” which ran from 1992 to 1996. He also had a six-episode stint on “Cheers” as Evan Drake, Rebecca Howe’s boss, and played family patriarch William Walker on “Brothers & Sisters” from 2007 to 2009, again opposite Field. Guest roles included “The West Wing,” “Madam Secretary” and “Law & Order: SVU,” according to the BBC.

Tributes from costars

Julia Roberts, who earned her first Oscar nomination playing his daughter in “Steel Magnolias,” shared a still of the two of them on Instagram with the caption, “A shining light of a gentle man. RIP,” E! News reported.

“Picket Fences” costar Kathy Baker called him her “darling friend” in a statement to People, cited by E! News: “He taught me so much during our four years on Picket Fences. I couldn’t have asked for a more gracious and kind actor to work with.”

Lauren Holly, who played his deputy on the show, wrote on Instagram: “He was our leader. His example made those years such a joy and we all loved and respected him so much.”

Work beyond the screen

Skerritt’s family said his legacy “reaches far beyond the screen.” He helped found TheFilmSchool in Seattle and co-founded the Red Badge Project, which helps veterans work through PTSD, anxiety and depression by writing and sharing their stories, the BBC reported. Inspired in part by “A River Runs Through It,” he created the documentary series “Reflections of the River” and supported river conservation. At 84, he started Heyou Media, a Seattle-based digital entertainment company, NBC News reported.

FAQ

How old was Tom Skerritt? He was 93. He was born Aug. 25, 1933.

Who played Viper in “Top Gun”? Tom Skerritt played Cmdr. Mike “Viper” Metcalf in the 1986 film.

Who was Tom Skerritt’s wife? He is survived by his wife, Julie, according to NBC News and the BBC, along with five children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

What was Tom Skerritt’s role in “Alien”? He played Capt. Dallas, the commander of the spaceship Nostromo.