Tom Skerritt, a familiar face on screen for more than six decades, has died at 93. His family shared that he passed of natural causes on October 21st, 2026. To sci-fi fans he’s Captain Dallas from Ridley Scott’s 1979 classic Alien. To’90s TV viewers he’s Sheriff Jimmy Brock on CBS’s Picket Fences, a role that earned him an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.
His filmography reads like a greatest-hits list of the era. He appeared in Robert Altman’s M*A*S*H, The Dead Zone, Top Gun as Viper, Steel Magnolias, A River Runs Through It, and Contact. His screen debut came back in 1962 with War Hunt and the ABC series Combat!, and he never really stopped working. While filming Alien, he told a castmate that they were making a classic, and history proved him right. His family remembered him for his humor, curiosity, wisdom, and generosity, and for his devotion to storytelling, veterans, and the natural world. He is survived by his wife Julie Tokashiki, five children, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Which Tom Skerritt role means the most to you: Captain Dallas, Viper, or Sheriff Brock? Let us know in the comments.
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Local Lawton
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