Veteran actor Tom Skerritt, whose distinguished screen career spanned more than six decades and included celebrated roles in “Top Gun,” “Alien” and “Steel Magnolias,” died Wednesday of natural causes. He was 93.
His family confirmed the death in a statement released Thursday, expressing grief over the loss of the Emmy-winning performer. Skerritt passed away on Oct. 21, according to his relatives, who described him as a devoted family member driven by a love for storytelling and service.
“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 said in a statement. They added that he maintained a lifelong passion for “imagination, creativity, storytelling, service, veterans, the natural world, and helping others find and share their own voices.”
Co-Stars Pay Tribute to Screen Veteran
Following the announcement, colleagues and former co-stars shared public tributes honoring Skerritt’s warmth on and off the set. Julia Roberts, who starred alongside him in the 1989 film “Steel Magnolias,” posted an emotional still on Instagram from a scene where her character, Shelby Eatenton Latcherie, shares her pregnancy news with Skerritt’s character, Drum Eatenton.
“A shining light of a gentle man. RIP,” Roberts wrote alongside a broken heart emoji.
Costars from the 1990s television series “Picket Fences” also voiced their sorrow. Skerritt portrayed Sheriff Jimmy Brock on the show from 1992 to 1996, earning a Primetime Emmy Award for outstanding lead actor in a drama series. Kathy Baker, who played his on-screen wife, praised his generous demeanor and noted that he taught her a great deal over their four seasons together. Castmate Lauren Holly reflected on Skerritt as a leader who regularly had colleagues sharing fits of laughter on set.
A Versatile Career on Big and Small Screens
Born in Detroit on Aug. 25, 1933, Skerritt began his acting journey after being spotted in a student theatrical production at UCLA. He made his feature film debut in the 1962 Korean War drama “War Hunt,” which also featured Robert Redford. That project began decades of work across television westerns such as “Gunsmoke,” “Bonanza” and “The Virginian.”
Skerritt gained wider prominence in 1970 when director Robert Altman cast him as Augustus “Duke” Forrest in the black comedy “M*A*S*H.” Nearly a decade later, he starred as Captain Arthur Dallas in Ridley Scott’s 1979 science-fiction thriller “Alien.” In 1986, he took on what became one of his most recognized parts, playing flight instructor Commander Mike “Viper” Metcalf opposite Tom Cruise in “Top Gun.”
His extensive resume of more than 170 acting credits also featured roles in “A River Runs Through It,” “Contact,” “The Dead Zone,” “Poltergeist III” and a recurring appearance on the sitcom “Cheers.” Beyond mainstream blockbusters, Skerritt advocated for creative education and military veterans. He co-founded the Seattle-based organization TheFilmSchool in 2003 and later helped establish the Red Badge Project, which assists veterans through creative writing. His final film appearance came in the 2025 western drama “Broke.”
Skerritt is survived by his wife, Julie Tokashiki, five children, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. His family requested privacy while they mourn and stated that memorial details would be announced at a later time.
