Los Angeles: American actor Tom Skerritt, whose film and television career included roles in Alien, Top Gun and MASH*, has died aged 93, his family confirmed in a statement reported by Reuters on 23 October 2026.
Skerritt died on Wednesday, 21 October, of natural causes, according to his family. The statement did not specify where he died.
His family remembered him for his humour, curiosity and commitment to storytelling, as well as his interest in supporting veterans and helping others develop their creative voices.
Born on 25 August 1933 in Detroit, Michigan, Skerritt served in the US Air Force before entering the film industry. He made his screen debut in War Hunt (1962), alongside Robert Redford.
From MAS*H to Alien and Top Gun
Skerritt gained recognition for playing army surgeon Duke Forrest in Robert Altman's MASH* (1970), a Korean War satire released as American opposition to the Vietnam War grew. The film received five Academy Award nominations.
In Ridley Scott's Alien (1979), Skerritt played Dallas, captain of the spaceship Nostromo, alongside Sigourney Weaver and Ian Holm. The film received two Oscar nominations and influenced subsequent science fiction cinema.
He later appeared as Commander Mike 'Viper' Metcalf, a naval aviation instructor, in Tony Scott's Top Gun (1986), starring Tom Cruise.
His other film credits included The Turning Point (1977), Steel Magnolias (1989), A River Runs Through It (1992), Contact (1997) and Tears of the Sun (2003).
Skerritt's career was not confined to cinema. From 1992 to 1996, he starred as Sheriff Jimmy Brock in the CBS television drama Picket Fences. The role earned him the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 1993.
His work reflected a period when actors moved between cinema and network television, often taking supporting film roles while leading television productions. Rather than being tied to a single character, Skerritt remained recognisable across genres, appearing in war films, science fiction, family dramas, and television series.
His views on women in film
One aspect of Skerritt's career was his interest in stories featuring women in central roles. In a 2019 interview with Peter Sobczynski, he recalled being drawn to Alien because Sigourney Weaver's character, Ripley, emerged as the protagonist.
He also discussed Steel Magnolias, in which he played Drum Eatenton opposite Sally Field, as another film whose portrayal of women appealed to him. His comments offer insight into his film choices beyond box office success. Skerritt valued ensemble performances and scripts that let characters outside conventional male leads drive the story.
According to Reuters, Skerritt was married three times and had five children. His career continued into the 2020s, spanning more than six decades.
