Veteran Screen Actor Tom Skerritt Dies at 93
Tom Skerritt, a screen and television actor whose work spanned more than six decades, has died at 93, according to his family. He earned an Emmy for his lead role as Sheriff Jimmy Brock on Picket Fences and was also known for Top Gun, Alien and Robert Altman’s M*A*S*H. After serving in the Air Force, he initially pursued directing before turning to acting.
Skerritt’s family told Deadline he died at 93. His career lasted more than six decades and included Top Gun, Alien, Picket Fences and Robert Altman’s M*A*S*H. He won an Emmy for playing Sheriff Jimmy Brock, a lead role.
Before acting, he spent four years in the Air Force and was initially drawn to directing. Early television work included western series such as Gunsmoke and The Virginian. In Altman’s 1970 film, he played Duke Forrest, a Southern character who shared quarters with Hawkeye, Frank Burns and Trapper John and had a relationship with Hot Lips Houlihan; the role was absent from the TV spinoff.
News of Skerritt’s death may prompt reflection among longtime film and television viewers who followed his work, and could renew interest in his notable roles. For performers and creators, his six-decade career may serve as a reminder of the range possible across leading and supporting parts. The response is likely to remain a cultural remembrance rather than a broad social shift.