“Alien” and “Picket Fences” alum Tom Skerritt has died. The actor passed away yesterday in Seattle at the age of 93 from natural causes, according to a statement from his family.
His family has issued a statement: “We are heartbroken by his loss. While the world knew Tom through his remarkable acting career, we knew him for his humour, 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.”
Skerritt’s breakthrough came in the 1970 feature “M*A*S*H” as Southern surgeon Duke Forrest, which led to work in films like “Wild Rovers,” “Big Bad Mama,” “Thieves Like Us,” “Ice Castles” and “Cheech & Chong’s Up in Smoke”.
In 1979 he landed the key role of Captain Dallas in Ridley Scott’s “Alien” and in 1986 was Maverick’s instructor Mike “Viper” Metcalf in “Top Gun”. Other notable film roles include “Contact,” “The Dead Zone,” “SpaceCamp,” “The Turning Point,” “Harold and Maude,” “Tears of the Sun,” “Steel Magnolias,” “The Rookie,” “The Other Sister,” “Redemption Road,” “Desperation,” “A River Runs Through It” and “Ted”.
Feature work led to plenty of TV work too, including playing Kirstie Alley’s ex-boss on “Cheers,” Sally Field’s deceased husband on “Brothers and Sisters” and most notably an Emmy-winning leading role as a small-town sheriff on David E. Kelley’s “Picket Fences” in the 1990s.
He guest-starred on many series including “Gunsmoke,” “The Fugitive,” “Laramie,” “Bonanza,” “Wagon Train,” “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea,” “The Time Tunnel,” “Mannix,” “Kolchak: The Night Stalker,” “Baretta,” “Chicago Hope,” “The West Wing,” “Will & Grace,” “Leverage,” “The Good Wife” and “Madam Secretary”.
He’s survived by his third wife, Julie Tokashiki, five children and multiple grandkids.
Source: THR
