Tom Skerritt Dies at 93: Remembering the ‘Top Gun,’ ‘Alien’ and ‘Picket Fences’ Star

Hollywood has lost another familiar face. Tom Skerritt, the Emmy-winning actor whose career spanned more than six decades and included memorable performances in Top Gun, Alien and Picket Fences, has died at 93.

Skerritt passed away on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, of natural causes, according to a statement released by his family on Thursday. The actor leaves behind a Hollywood legacy that stretched across generations, genres and just about every kind of character imaginable.

For some fans, Skerritt will always be Commander Mike “Viper” Metcalf, the no-nonsense instructor who helped keep Tom Cruise's Maverick in check in the original 1986 Top Gun. For others, he was Captain Arthur Dallas, the unfortunate commander aboard the Nostromo in Ridley Scott's 1979 sci-fi horror classic Alien.

And television fans? They knew him as Sheriff Jimmy Brock on CBS's Picket Fences, the quirky David E. Kelley drama that ran from 1992 to 1996. Skerritt's portrayal of the small-town sheriff earned him the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 1993.

A Career That Went Far Beyond One Iconic Role

Born on August 25, 1933, in Detroit, Michigan, Skerritt made his film debut in the 1962 war drama War Hunt. His career eventually included a role in Robert Altman's MASH* (1970), setting the stage for decades of memorable work in Hollywood.

His film credits included The Turning Point, Steel Magnolias, A River Runs Through It and Contact. Whether he was playing a military officer, a devoted husband or a complicated authority figure, Skerritt brought a recognizable presence to the screen without making every character feel like a repeat of the last.

That versatility also made him a natural fit for television. While some actors spend their careers trying to escape the small screen, Skerritt moved comfortably between television and film, building a body of work that gave audiences plenty of reasons to remember him.

His family remembered him not only for his acting career but also for his humor, curiosity, generosity and commitment to helping others. Beyond Hollywood, Skerritt was involved in initiatives supporting veterans, including the Red Badge Project.

Skerritt is survived by his wife, Julie Tokashiki, five children, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

From the skies of Top Gun to the unsettling corridors of Alien and the unusual town of Picket Fences, Tom Skerritt spent more than six decades leaving his mark on entertainment. His performances will continue to introduce new generations of fans to a career that truly had something for everyone.