Tom Skerritt, a familiar face across five decades of film and TV, has died of natural causes at 93. His family confirmed the news, calling themselves“deeply saddened”and“heartbroken,”and remembered his humor, curiosity, wisdom and generosity.
Skerritt was best known to a whole generation as Julia Roberts’father in“Steel Magnolias,”and as Commander Mike“Viper”Metcalf in“Top Gun.”His credits also include“Alien,”“The Dead Zone”and“A River Runs Through It.”
One day after his death, Roberts shared a photo from one of“Steel Magnolias”most emotional scenes on Instagram, writing,“A shining light of a gentle man. RIP.”Skerritt is survived by his wife Julia Tokashiki, his five children, and seven grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A memorial will be announced at a later date.
What’s your favorite Tom Skerritt role? Tell us in the comments.
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Local Lawton
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