Tom Skerritt, Star of Alien and Top Gun, Dies at 93

Tom Skerritt, the actor known for roles in Alien, Top Gun and Picket Fences, has died at the age of 93. His family announced that he passed away on Wednesday of natural causes.

The family described Skerritt as humorous, curious, wise and generous. They said he cared deeply about imagination, creativity, storytelling, service, veterans and the natural world.

“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.”

Skerritt won a Primetime Emmy in 1993 for outstanding lead actor in Picket Fences. He was nominated twice for the award, both for the same CBS series.

His film career included roles in Alien, Top Gun, Steel Magnolias, The Turning Point and Contact. He also appeared in television series such as Bonanza, Gunsmoke and Cheers.

Skerritt grew up in a middle-class family in Detroit and served four years in the Air Force. He studied filmmaking at Wayne State University and the University of California, Los Angeles.

His first film role came in the 1962 Korean War movie War Hunt. The film also marked the debuts of Robert Redford, Sydney Pollack and Francis Ford Coppola.

On stage, Skerritt narrated Our Town at Seattle's Intiman Theatre in 2004. He made his Broadway debut in 2013 in an adaptation of John Grisham's A Time to Kill.