Tom Skerritt, Actor Known for 'Alien,' 'Top Gun,' and 'Picket Fences,' Dies at 93
The Emmy-winning actor, who embodied authority and warmth, passed away on Wednesday due to natural causes.
Tom Skerritt, the Emmy-winning actor recognized for his compelling performances in films like "Alien" and "Top Gun," as well as his role as a sheriff in the television series "Picket Fences," has died at the age of 93. His family announced his passing on Wednesday, stating it was due to natural causes.
Skerritt's family described him as someone who "cared deeply about imagination, creativity, storytelling, service, veterans, the natural world and helping others find and share their own voices," according to a statement.
Throughout his extensive career, Skerritt was twice nominated for an Emmy, earning the award for outstanding lead actor in a drama series in 1993 for his work on "Picket Fences." His notable film roles included the supportive husband in "Turning Point," the husband of Sally Field in "Steel Magnolias," and a character who hinders Jodie Foster's extraterrestrial communication efforts in "Contact."
He once described himself as "a character actor locked in a leading man’s body," a distinction he embraced for allowing him to work across both television and feature films. Skerritt also had a significant presence on stage, performing in "Our Town" at Seattle's Intiman Theatre and making his Broadway debut in "A Time to Kill."