Image Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Tom Skerritt, the rugged, Emmy-winning actor known for M*A*S*H, Alien, Top Gun and Picket Fences, has died at 93. Skerritt died Wednesday in Seattle of natural causes, his family announced.
“We are heartbroken by his loss,” his family said, remembering him not only for his remarkable acting career but also for his humor, curiosity, wisdom, generosity and deep love for storytelling, service, veterans and the natural world.
Tom Skerritt Leaves a Powerful Hollywood Legacy
Over a career spanning six decades, Skerritt became one of Hollywood’s most recognizable character actors. With his outdoorsy appearance, bristly mustache and commanding screen presence, he frequently portrayed lawmen, military officers, fathers, doctors and other figures of authority.
His breakthrough arrived in Robert Altman’s 1970 antiwar comedy M*A*S*H. Skerritt played Southern surgeon Duke Forrest, who steals a military jeep with Hawkeye Pierce, portrayed by Donald Sutherland, to reach a mobile hospital during the Korean War. The film became one of the year’s biggest successes and established Skerritt as an actor capable of standing out in a talented ensemble.
Skerritt later credited Altman with giving him the creative freedom to develop the character. In a 2009 biography of the director, he recalled that Altman encouraged actors to take risks and accept the possibility of looking foolish in pursuit of an honest performance.
Memorable Roles in Alien, Top Gun and More
Skerritt appeared in a long list of celebrated films, but his performance as Captain Dallas in Ridley Scott’s Alien remains among his most enduring. Dallas was the captain of the doomed Nostromo spacecraft, leading the crew into one of cinema’s most influential science-fiction horror stories.
The actor initially turned down the project because he worried that its budget would be consumed by special effects. He reconsidered after seeing Scott’s earlier film, The Duellists, and became convinced that the director had the visual talent to make Alien special.
In 1986, Skerritt played Air Force instructor Mike “Viper” Metcalf in Top Gun, portraying the experienced officer who guided Tom Cruise’s Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. He also earned praise for roles in The Turning Point, A River Runs Through It, Steel Magnolias, The Dead Zone, Contact and Tears of the Sun.
A Triumph on Picket Fences
For four seasons beginning in 1992, Skerritt starred in David E. Kelley’s CBS drama Picket Fences. He portrayed Jimmy Brock, the sheriff of Rome, Wisconsin, a small-town lawman attempting to maintain order amid strange, challenging and often surreal events.
Skerritt’s performance earned him the 1993 Emmy Award for outstanding lead actor in a drama series. He received another nomination the following year. As Jimmy Brock, he brought warmth, authority and understated humor to a character who served as the steady center of an unpredictable community.
His television work also included appearances on Cheers, Brothers and Sisters, The West Wing, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Will & Grace, The Good Wife, Leverage and Madam Secretary. In 2012, he made a memorable cameo as himself in the comedy Ted.
A Life Dedicated to Storytelling and Service
Born Thomas Roy Skerritt in Detroit on Aug. 25, 1933, he served in the Air Force before studying English at Wayne State University and later attending UCLA. He initially imagined a future as a writer or director and began acting partly to overcome his shyness.
His first film was the 1962 Korean War drama War Hunt. From there, he built a steady career in film and television, appearing in popular series throughout the 1960s and 1970s before becoming a major supporting presence on the big screen.
Outside acting, Skerritt supported emerging filmmakers through TheFilmSchool in Seattle. He also co-founded the Red Badge Project, which helped veterans address PTSD, anxiety and depression through writing and shared experiences.
His concern for the environment inspired his work on Reflections of the River, a documentary series focused on the health and protection of America’s waterways. He supported conservation organizations including American Rivers and the Gallatin River Task Force.
Skerritt is survived by his third wife, Julie Tokashiki, whom he married in 1998; children Andy, Erin, Matt, Collin and Emiko; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Tom Skerritt die?
Tom Skerritt died in Seattle of natural causes, according to his family. He was 93.
What was Tom Skerritt best known for?
He was best known for playing Captain Dallas in Alien, Mike “Viper” Metcalf in Top Gun, Duke Forrest in M*A*S*H and Sheriff Jimmy Brock in Picket Fences.
Did Tom Skerritt win an Emmy?
Yes. Skerritt won the Emmy for outstanding lead actor in a drama series in 1993 for Picket Fences.
What causes did Tom Skerritt support?
Skerritt supported veterans, aspiring filmmakers and environmental conservation, including efforts to protect America’s rivers.
