Actor Tom Skerritt, known for roles as fathers, officers and sheriffs, dies at 93
Tom Skerritt died of natural causes at age 93, leaving a legacy of iconic performances in films such as "Alien" and "Top Gun" and a career that earned him an Emmy for the TV series "Picket Fences."
Tom Skerrick, a veteran actor celebrated for portraying commanding officers, fathers and law-enforcement figures, died of natural causes on Wednesday at the age of 93, according to his representative. His career spanned more than six decades and included memorable roles such as Captain Dallas in "Alien," Viper in "Top Gun," and a small-town sheriff on the television series "Picket Fences," for which he received an Emmy award in 1993.
Skerritt also appeared in the original "MAS*H" film, the comedy "Up In Smoke," and played paternal characters in "Ice Castles," "Steel Magnolias" and "A River Runs Through It." He described himself as a blue-collar kid from Detroit who served in the Air Force before studying at UCLA and entering theater. Early television work included appearances on "My Three Sons" and "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour," and he worked with notable figures such as Robert Redford and director Hal Ashby, who cast him in "Harold and Maude."
Beyond acting, Skerritt supported independent film and theater in the Pacific Northwest, where he lived later in life. He co-founded The Red Badge Project, a program that offers storytelling courses to veterans, helping them share their experiences.