Tom Skerritt, the veteran actor known for his roles in “Top Gun,” “Alien” and the television series “Picket Fences,” has died at 93. Skerritt died of natural causes Wednesday, his family confirmed to Entertainment Weekly.
“We are heartbroken by his loss,” his family said in a statement. “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.” His family also remembered his passion for storytelling, service, veterans and the natural world.
Skerritt built a career spanning more than six decades, appearing in a wide range of films and television shows. His breakthrough came in Robert Altman’s 1970 war comedy “MAS*H,” in which he played surgeon Duke Forrest.
He later gained widespread recognition as Captain Dallas in Ridley Scott’s 1979 science-fiction horror film “Alien” and as Commander Mike “Viper” Metcalf, the flight instructor who trained Tom Cruise’s character in the 1986 blockbuster “Top Gun.”
On television, Skerritt became widely known for playing Sheriff Jimmy Brock in the CBS drama “Picket Fences,” which followed the lives of residents in a fictional Wisconsin town.
He won the Primetime Emmy Award for outstanding lead actor in a drama series in 1993 and received another nomination the following year. The series ran from 1992 to 1996 and earned him additional recognition, including Screen Actors Guild Award nominations.
His film credits also included “A River Runs Through It,” the 1992 drama directed by Robert Redford in which he played the father of characters portrayed by Brad Pitt and Craig Sheffer.
Born Thomas Roy Skerritt in Detroit on Aug. 25, 1933, he served in the U.S. Air Force before pursuing an acting career. He made his feature film debut in the 1962 Korean War drama “War Hunt” and spent the following decades working across film and television, often portraying military officers, lawmen and other authority figures.
Outside acting, Skerritt supported veterans and helped establish TheFilmSchool in Seattle to encourage aspiring filmmakers and storytellers. He also co-founded the Red Badge Project, which helped veterans share their experiences through writing and storytelling.
Skerritt is survived by his wife, Julie Tokashiki, whom he married in 1998, along with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.