Family announcement

Tom Skerritt, the American actor known for Top Gun, Alien and the television series Picket Fences, died on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, at the age of 93. His family announced the death and said he had died of natural causes. In a statement, they described a man of humour, curiosity and wisdom, whose generosity brought a great deal of love into their lives. The family added that he cared about imagination, creativity, storytelling, service to veterans and the natural world, and about helping people discover their own voice.

Film career

Skerritt's career spanned six decades and took in both film and television. He played Duke Forrest in the 1970 satirical comedy MAS*H. In 1979 he played Captain Dallas, the captain of the spaceship in Alien, and in 1986 he played Mike 'Viper' Metcalf, a flight instructor in Top Gun. Top Gun was directed by Tony Scott, the brother of Ridley Scott, who directed Alien. Skerritt's other film credits include The Turning Point, Steel Magnolias, A River Runs Through It, Contact, The Dead Zone and Ted.

Picket Fences and the Emmy

Skerritt played Sheriff Jimmy Brock in Picket Fences, a role he held for four seasons. SAPO dates the series to 1992 to 1996. He was nominated for an Emmy twice, both times for that series, and won the 1993 Emmy for best lead actor in a drama series. Born in Detroit, he also worked on television series including The Virginian, Bonanza, The Fugitive, Cheers, The West Wing and Brothers & Sisters.

Stage work and later projects

Skerritt also worked on stage. In 2004 he narrated Our Town at Seattle's Intiman Theatre, and in 2013 he made his Broadway debut in a stage adaptation of a John Grisham novel. Away from acting, he co-founded TheFilmSchool in Seattle to support next-generation filmmakers and storytellers. The family said he would be remembered for believing that tales could help people recover, discover a sense of purpose and bring about change.