Actor Tom Skerritt, known for 'Alien' and 'Top Gun', dies at 93
In short
Tom Skerritt, an actor known for "Alien," "Top Gun" and "Picket Fences," has died at 93, his family said in a statement. The family said he died Wednesday of natural causes, and The Seattle Times reported he died at his home in Seattle.
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Actor Tom Skerritt, known for roles in "Alien," "Top Gun" and "Picket Fences," has died at the age of 93. His family said in a statement that he died Wednesday of natural causes. The Seattle Times reported that he died at his home in Seattle. CNN said the statement was distributed by his publicist, Susan Madore, and CBS News said his publicist confirmed the death to it. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 8 ]
"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," the family said. The statement added that he cared deeply about imagination, creativity, storytelling, service, veterans, the natural world and helping others find and share their own voices. The family also asked for privacy as it grieves and said information about a memorial will be shared later. The Seattle Times listed his survivors as his wife, Julie Tokashiki, five children, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 7 ]
ABC News and NBC News gave his birth date as Aug. 25, 1933, in Detroit. He served in the U.S. Air Force before acting, and the Associated Press report carried by The Boston Globe said he spent four years in the Air Force and then studied filmmaking at the University of California, Los Angeles. His first film role was in the 1962 war film "War Hunt," and he later appeared in Robert Altman's 1970 film "M*A*S*H." [ 1 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
In the 1979 film "Alien," directed by Ridley Scott, he played Captain Dallas alongside Sigourney Weaver. ABC News and NBC News said he played Viper opposite Tom Cruise in the 1986 film "Top Gun." ABC News and Fox News also listed "Steel Magnolias" among his best-known roles, and Fox News named "A River Runs Through It" and "Contact." [ 1 , 2 , 7 , 8 ]
On television, he played Sheriff Jimmy Brock in the CBS series "Picket Fences," which aired from 1992 to 1996. The role earned him the Primetime Emmy for outstanding lead actor in a drama series in 1993. The Boston Globe and CBS News said he was twice nominated for an Emmy, both times for "Picket Fences." Fox News said he also appeared in shows including "Cheers," "The West Wing" and "The Good Wife." [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 6 , 7 ]
On stage, he was the narrator in "Our Town" at Seattle's Intiman Theatre in 2004 and made his Broadway debut in 2013 in an adaptation of John Grisham's "A Time to Kill." ABC News and Fox News said he helped found TheFilmSchool in Seattle and co-founded the Red Badge Project, which helps veterans cope with PTSD, anxiety and depression through writing and storytelling. NBC News said he started Heyou Media, a digital entertainment and content-aggregation company based in Seattle, in 2016. [ 1 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
Why it matters
Outlets covered the death as the loss of a long-serving film and television actor who also founded programmes for filmmakers and veterans. The documents give no wider consequences beyond a memorial that the family said would be announced later.
Key facts
- Tom Skerritt died at the age of 93, and his family said the cause was natural causes. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 12 ]
- The Seattle Times reported that he died at his home in Seattle. [ 3 ]
- He won a Primetime Emmy for outstanding lead actor in a drama series in 1993 for "Picket Fences." [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 6 , 7 ]
- He played Captain Dallas in "Alien" and Cmdr. Mike "Viper" Metcalf in "Top Gun." [ 1 , 7 , 8 , 11 ]
- He helped found TheFilmSchool in Seattle and co-founded the Red Badge Project, which helps veterans cope through writing and storytelling. [ 1 , 7 ]
- The family said information about a memorial will be shared later. [ 3 , 7 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Skerritt died at 93 of natural causes, according to a statement from his family. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]
- He won the 1993 Emmy for outstanding lead actor in a drama series for "Picket Fences." [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 6 , 7 ]
- He played Captain Dallas in "Alien" and Viper in "Top Gun." [ 1 , 2 , 7 , 8 , 11 ]
- He was born in Detroit and served in the U.S. Air Force before acting. [ 1 , 4 , 6 , 8 ]
- He had a role in Robert Altman's 1970 film "M*A*S*H." [ 1 , 2 , 7 , 8 ]
Still unclear
- Date, place and format of a memorial. The family statement said information about a memorial will be shared later.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- ABC News published its report on his death, citing a family statement. [ 1 ]
- CNN published its report, saying the statement was distributed by his publicist, Susan Madore. [ 2 ]
- The Seattle Times reported that he died at his home in Seattle. [ 3 ]
- Reuters published a headline reporting his death at 93. [ 5 ]