Tom Skerritt, Alien and Top Gun Star, Dies at 93

 Tom Skerritt, ‘Alien’ and ‘Top Gun’ Star, Dies at 93

Veteran Hollywood actor Tom Skerritt, best known for his memorable roles in Alien, Top Gun, Steel Magnolias and the television series Picket Fences, has died at the age of 93.

Skerritt died on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, from natural causes, according to a statement released by his family through his publicist, Susan Madore.

“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.

Over a career spanning more than six decades, Skerritt became one of Hollywood’s most respected character actors, earning recognition for his ability to portray authoritative yet approachable characters.

He gained wider attention through Robert Altman’s 1970 film MASH*, in which he played surgeon Duke Forrest. Earlier in his career, he appeared in Western-themed productions before securing roles in popular television series such as Bonanza and Gunsmoke.

One of his most memorable performances came in Ridley Scott’s 1979 science-fiction horror film Alien. Skerritt portrayed Captain Dallas, the commander of the spaceship Nostromo, alongside Sigourney Weaver.

He later appeared in several successful films, including The Dead Zone and the 1986 blockbuster Top Gun, in which he played Commander Mike “Viper” Metcalf, a respected instructor who eventually takes Maverick, played by Tom Cruise, under his guidance.

In 1989, Skerritt starred in Steel Magnolias as the husband of Sally Field’s character and father of Julia Roberts’ character, Shelby.

His television career also reached new heights with the CBS drama Picket Fences, which aired from 1992 to 1996. He played Sheriff Jimmy Brock, a small-town law enforcement officer trying to maintain order in an unusual community.

The performance earned him the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 1993.

Throughout the 1990s, Skerritt continued appearing in major productions, including Robert Redford’s A River Runs Through It, alongside Brad Pitt, and the thriller Poison Ivy, opposite Drew Barrymore.

He remained active in the entertainment industry into the 2000s, appearing in television programmes such as Brothers & Sisters and Will & Grace, as well as films including Ted and A Hologram for the King.

In a 2020 reflection on his acting career, Skerritt recalled how watching Citizen Kane while studying at the University of California, Los Angeles, influenced his decision to pursue acting.

He explained that storytelling had always interested him, but acting also offered an opportunity to overcome his shyness by allowing him to portray people different from himself.

His final acting credit was in the 2025 film Broke.

Beyond acting, Skerritt was involved in charitable and environmental initiatives. His family said he cared deeply about creativity, storytelling, veterans, the natural world and helping others share their experiences.

He also co-founded the Red Badge Project, an initiative designed to help veterans deal with post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression through writing and sharing their personal stories.

Inspired partly by his experience filming A River Runs Through It, he also supported Reflections of the River, a documentary series highlighting America's rivers and the importance of protecting them.

Skerritt is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

His death marks the end of a remarkable career that left a lasting impression on generations of film and television audiences.

Sources: "CNN" (https://kesq.com/entertainment/cnn-entertainment/2026/10/22/tom-skerritt-everyman-actor-of-alien-and-picket-fences-fame-dead-at-93/), "Associated Press (AP)" (https://apnews.com/article/598ccdd4849ea7fe3b72b71319a4ef9b), "The Guardian" (https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/oct/22/tom-skerritt-actor-dead) and "CBS News" (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tom-skerritt-dies-age-93-alien-top-gun-picket-fences/).