Actor Tom Skerritt, known for Top Gun and Picket Fences, dies at 93
Tom Skerritt, the Emmy-winning actor celebrated for roles in Top Gun, Picket Fences and Alien, died of natural causes at age 93.
Tom Skerritt, an Emmy-winning actor recognized for his roles as a flight instructor in Top Gun, a sheriff in the television series Picket Fences and the captain of the Nostromo in Alien, died on Wednesday of natural causes, his family said.
He was nominated for an Emmy twice for Picket Fences and won the award for outstanding lead actor in a drama series in 1993. His career also included parts in Turning Point, Steel Magnolias, Contact and a Broadway debut in an adaptation of John Grisham’s A Time to Kill.
"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," his family wrote.
"There was such a deep connection we made with each other that it matured into a level-headed friendship. His values were close to mine, and he kept his integrity," actor Robert Redford told the Seattle Times in 2007.
Skerritt, who grew up in Detroit and served four years in the Air Force before studying filmmaking at UCLA, began his screen career after a stage performance of The Rainmaker led to a supporting role in the 1962 film War Hunt, which also marked the debuts of Robert Redford, Sydney Pollack and Francis Ford Coppola.
He later appeared in notable films such as Alien, where he played the doomed captain, and Top Gun, delivering the line, "Gentlemen, you are the top 1% of all Naval aviators. The elite. The best of the best. We'll make you better."
On television, Skerritt earned acclaim as the kindly sheriff in Picket Fences, a series that ran from 1992 to 1996 and won multiple Emmy and Golden Globe awards. He also had recurring roles on Cheers, Brothers and Sisters and Leverage, and starred in the Hallmark movie What the Deaf Man Heard.
Skerritt is survived by his third wife, Julie Tokashiki, and five children.