Tom Skerritt, the Emmy-winning actor who starred in Alien and Picket Fences, has died at the age of 93.
Skerritt’s family said in a statement that the actor died Wednesday of natural causes. “We are heartbroken by his loss,” his family said (via The Hollywood Reporter). “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. He cared deeply about imagination, creativity, storytelling, service, veterans, the natural world and helping others find and share their own voices.”
Over a career that spanned seven decades, Skerritt also had supporting roles in films like M*A*S*H, Top Gun (as the commanding officer of Tom Cruise’s Maverick), the erotic thriller Poison Ivy, the sci-fi drama Contact, and the horror film Poltergeist III.
The Detroit-born Skerritt spent the entire 1960s on television, appearing on shows like Gunsmoke, Combat, and The Virginian but landing his breakout role as Captain Duke Forrest in director Robert Altman’s hit 1970 war comedy M*A*S*H.
In 1979, Skerritt was cast in his memorable big-screen role as Dallas, the captain of the ill-fated ship in Ridley Scott’s Alien.
Skerritt would also appear in A River Runs Through It, Singles, SpaceCamp, Tears of the Sun, and Ted, where he played himself.
On the small screen, Skerritt had a six-episode arc as Evan Drake on Cheers before starring as Sheriff Jimmy Brock on four seasons of the offbeat drama Picket Fences, a role that ultimately won Skerritt an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 1993.
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Actress Lauren Holly, who co-starred on Picket Fences, wrote on social media Thursday, “I adored Tom Skerritt. I was lucky enough to work with him on more than one project, but the first was Picket Fences. He was our leader. His example made those years such a joy and we all loved and respected him so much. He cared deeply for his family-both the one at home and the one at work. He cared deeply for his planet, and all of its inhabitants. He had a huge impact on my life, and so many memories I have of him include sharing fits of crippling laughter.”
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The actor would later appear on Madam Secretary, The Good Wife, Brothers & Sisters, and White Collar. Skerritt, who was 37 years old when he broke through with M*A*S*H, continued to act into his 90s; his final film role was in the 2025 Western Broke.
From Rolling Stone US
