Actor Tom Skerritt dies aged 93
The American actor became known for roles in Alien, Top Gun and Picket Fences.
Listen to this article
There is no audio version yet. Request one and an AI voice will read the article aloud.
Read by an AI voice.
.jpg){kind=link}
Tom Skerritt has died aged 93. The American actor had a career spanning more than six decades and appeared in films such as Alien and Top Gun, as well as the television series Picket Fences.
Skerritt died on Wednesday, his family said. According to the family, he died of natural causes. Several media outlets published that confirmation on Thursday.
His best-known film roles came in the late 1970s and 1980s. In 1979’s Alien, he played Captain Arthur Dallas. In 1986’s Top Gun, he was flight instructor Mike ‘Viper’ Metcalf, a role that made him known to a wide audience.
On television, Skerritt landed a leading role in Picket Fences. He played Sheriff Jimmy Brock, the central character in the drama series about a small American community. He was nominated twice for a Primetime Emmy Award for the role.
Skerritt won the Emmy in 1993 for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. The series ran from 1992 to 1996. He later appeared in Brothers & Sisters and Leverage, among others, and had guest roles in several television series.
Skerritt also remained active outside his best-known titles. He appeared in M*A*S*H, The Turning Point, Steel Magnolias, The Dead Zone and Contact, among others. In 1997, he directed and starred in the television film Divided by Hate.
According to press reports, Skerritt is survived by his third wife, Julie Tokashiki, and five children. In a statement, his family described him as someone who placed great value on imagination, storytelling, service and nature.
Skerritt’s career shows how closely he was connected both to American film culture in the 1970s and 1980s and to the rise of prestigious television dramas in the 1990s. His best-known roles were often supporting ones, but they regularly formed an important anchor within the story.
Also show the region and a close-up
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The key facts were confirmed by Associated Press and El País. Background details about Skerritt’s filmography and Emmy award were checked additionally; no inaccuracies were found.
- confirmed Tom Skerritt died aged 93. — Reported by Associated Press and El País. source
- confirmed He died on Wednesday 21 October 2026. — Associated Press reports that he died on Wednesday; the publication date is 22 October 2026. source
- confirmed His family reported that he died of natural causes. — The cause of death is attributed to the family in the reporting. source
- confirmed Skerritt appeared in Alien, Top Gun and Picket Fences. — These roles are mentioned by Associated Press and in the biographical background. source
- confirmed Skerritt won a Primetime Emmy for Picket Fences in 1993. — Included in the actor’s biographical details. source
- confirmed Picket Fences ran from 1992 to 1996. — Mentioned in the series and actor biographies. source
- confirmed Skerritt is survived by his wife, Julie Tokashiki, and five children. — Reported by Associated Press. source
Editor's note
The death, age, cause of death according to the family, major roles and Emmy nominations have been confirmed by public sources. An independent official statement from the family was not directly available; the reporting refers to that statement.Sources
More on this in Dutch media
- Het Parool — „tom skerritt”
- Trouw — „tom skerritt”
- NRC — „tom skerritt”