Tom Skerritt, best known for his roles in Top Gun, Picket Fences, and Alien, has passed away at the age of 93. His family announced the news on Wednesday in a statement shared by the actor’s publicist, confirming that he died of natural causes.
“We are heartbroken by his loss,” the statement read. “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. He cared deeply about imagination, creativity, storytelling, service, veterans, the natural world, and helping others find and share their own voices.”
Born as Thomas Roy Skerritt, the late actor’s career spanned over six decades across more than 170 film and television productions. Known for his rugged versatility and calm resolve, Skerritt was often cast in an authoritative position as a pragmatic leader, a wise mentor, and a moral anchor.
Some of Skerritt’s most notable roles include Sgt. Stan Showalter in War Hunt, Captain Duke Forrest in M*A*S*H, Captain Arthur Dallas in Alien, and Commander Mike “Viper” Metcalf in Top Gun.
In the 1990s, the late actor also starred as a small-town sheriff named Jimmy Brock in the TV show Picket Fences. This role earned him a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, with two Golden Globe nominations. His other acting credits include Broke, An Old Friend, Contact, Steel Magnolias, East of the Mountains, The Phantom 52, and Days of Days.
Apart from acting, the late star also worked toward natural world conservation. His work on this can be explored in Reflections of the River, a documentary series that highlights the ongoing issues with America’s rivers and the urgent need to protect them.
Skerritt also co-founded TheFilmSchool in Seattle to help aspiring filmmakers and storytellers. The Red Badge Project, also co-founded by him, was an initiative that encouraged war veterans to write about and share their experiences as a way to cope with PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
Skerritt leaves behind his wife, Julie Tokashiki, whom he married in 1998, as well as his five children, Andy, Erin, Matt, Collin, and Emiko; five grandchildren, Sara, Maddison, Sunny, Louisa, and Georgia; and two great-grandchildren, Marigold and Ravi.
Originally reported on ComingSoon.
