Tributes paid to actor Tom Skerritt as star of Alien and Top Gun dies aged 93
Tom Skerritt, Star of Alien and Top Gun, Dies Aged 93
Poinews.com – Tributes paid to actor Tom Skerritt followed news that the veteran screen performer had died of natural causes on Wednesday, aged 93. Known for his memorable work in Alien, Top Gun, Picket Fences and Steel Magnolias, Skerritt built a career that spanned more than six decades.
His family remembered him not only for his acting, but also for the qualities he brought to the people around him.
“While the world knew Tom through his remarkable acting career, we knew him for his humor, curiosity, wisdom, generosity and the love he brought into our lives.”
“He cared deeply about imagination, creativity, storytelling, service, veterans, the natural world and helping others find and share their own voices.”
A distinctive career in film and television
Skerritt became a familiar face to audiences through roles that conveyed experience, intelligence and quiet authority. He was equally convincing as a military mentor, a small-town sheriff, a father or a figure of official power, bringing a grounded quality to both leading and supporting parts.
One of his best-known performances came in Ridley Scott’s 1979 science-fiction horror film Alien. He played Dallas, captain of the commercial towing vessel Nostromo, whose crew encounters a deadly and unknown threat in deep space.
He later portrayed Commander Mike “Viper” Metcalf in Top Gun, serving as a veteran flight instructor and mentor to the young naval aviators. The measured character became one of the film’s most recognisable figures.
On television, Skerritt earned acclaim as Sheriff Jimmy Brock in Picket Fences. His portrayal of the principled sheriff won him two Emmy nominations, and he received the Emmy for outstanding lead actor in a drama series in 1993.
Remembered by colleagues and audiences
Tributes paid to actor Tom Skerritt also reflected the affection of former co-stars. Julia Roberts, who played his daughter in Steel Magnolias, shared a photograph of the pair and described him as “a shining light of a gentle man. RIP”, adding a broken-heart emoji.
His other film roles included appearances in Turning Point, where he played the husband of Shirley MacLaine’s character, and Contact, in which he played a figure whose actions obstruct Jodie Foster’s character as she attempts to communicate with extraterrestrial life.
Skerritt made his feature-film debut in the 1962 Korean War drama War Hunt. The film also marked the screen debuts of Robert Redford, Sydney Pollack and Francis Ford Coppola. It was the beginning of a lifelong friendship between Skerritt and Redford, who died last year.
“There was such a deep connection we made with each other that it matured into a level-headed friendship,” Redford said in a 2007 interview with the Seattle Times. “His values were close to mine, and he kept his integrity.”
In 1997, Skerritt summed up his own place in the industry by recalling a description he had received.
“A writer once described me as a character actor locked in a leading man’s body, and I’ve always loved that. It’s a nice compliment. I’ve been able to walk the line between television and features.”
FAQ: Tom Skerritt’s life and work
How old was Tom Skerritt when he died? Tom Skerritt died aged 93.
What was Tom Skerritt best known for? He was widely known for playing Dallas in Alien, Commander Mike “Viper” Metcalf in Top Gun and Sheriff Jimmy Brock in Picket Fences.
Did Tom Skerritt win an Emmy? Yes. He won an Emmy in 1993 for outstanding lead actor in a drama series for his work in Picket Fences.