Tom Skerritt cause of death: ‘Top Gun’ and ‘Picket Fences’ star dies at 93
His family remembers the man behind the roles
T om Skerritt, the steady presence behind some of Hollywood’s most unforgettable characters, died Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 93. His family said he died of natural causes. No further medical details were disclosed.
“We are heartbroken by his loss,” his family said in a statement. They remembered Skerritt for his humor, curiosity, wisdom and generosity and for the love he brought into their lives.
From ‘Alien’ to ‘Top Gun,’ Skerritt made every role count
For many fans, Skerritt will always be Captain Dallas, the doomed commander of the Nostromo in Ridley Scott’s Alien , or Mike “Viper” Metcalf, the veteran flight instructor who helped shape Tom Cruise’s Maverick in Top Gun . He brought a quieter authority to Sheriff Jimmy Brock in Picket Fences , earning the 1993 Emmy for outstanding lead actor in a drama series.
His breakthrough came in Robert Altman’s *M*A*S*H* (1970), where he played surgeon Duke Forrest. Skerritt later credited Altman with giving him the freedom to take risks as an actor, a lesson that helped launch a career spanning more than six decades.
Tom almost turned down Alien, concerned that its small budget wouldn’t do the story justice. Then he watched Ridley Scott’s The Duellists and was struck by the director’s eye. That changed his mind and led to Skerritt’s turn as Captain Dallas aboard the doomed Nostromo.
Skerritt kept working into his 90s, but his impact reached beyond the screen . An Air Force veteran, he co-founded the Red Badge Project to help veterans share their experiences and work through PTSD, anxiety and depression.
That commitment reflected the values his family said mattered most to him: service, storytelling and helping others find their voices.
