Tom Skerritt, legendary star of Top Gun and Alien, dead at 93
Top Gun and Alien actor Tom Skerritt has died aged 93.
The Emmy-award winning Hollywood star passed away of natural causes on Wednesday (21 October) his family said.
In a statement shared with PEOPLE, his family said: “Our family is deeply saddened to share that Tom Skerritt passed away on October 21, 2026, from natural causes.
“He was a loving husband to Julie; father to Andy, Erin, Matt, Colin, and Emiko; grandfather to Sara, Maddison, Sunny, Louisa, and Georgia; and great-grandfather to Marigold and Ravi. We are heartbroken by his loss.
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“While the world knew Tom through his remarkable acting career, we knew him for his humour, curiosity, wisdom, generosity, and the love he brought into our lives.”
The statement went on to say that the actor will be remembered for his ‘imagination, creativity, storytelling, service, veterans, the natural world, and helping others find and share their own voices’.
The statement concluded: “We are incredibly grateful for the love and support being shown by his friends, colleagues, and fans.
“We ask for privacy as our family grieves. Information regarding a memorial will be shared at a later date.”
Skerritt was born in Detroit in August 1935. After leaving high-school he joined the US Air Force where he worked as a classification specialist, with Skerritt admitting he signed up to a four-year term as he and a few pals ‘didn’t know what we were going to do’ and didn’t feel ready for college.
Following his time in the Air Force, Skerritt went to University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) as an English major and it was during this time his interest in acting grew, although at that point he didn’t see it as a major career path.
“I had done a little theatre as an actor, only to overcome being shy and self-conscious, and never intended or thought I could make a living as an actor,” he told Film Comment in 2016.
But he was about to prove himself wrong.
After starring in a UCLA production, he was spotted by a talent scout and went on to make his movie debut in War Hunt in 1962.
He landed his breakthrough role as Duke Forrest in the 1970 flick M*A*S*H, which was quickly followed up with several other blockbusters, including Top Gun, Alien, Steel Magnolias and plenty more.
He also made a big impression on the small screen, playing Sheriff Jimmy Brock on the family drama Picket Fences from 1992 to 1996 - a role that earned him a Primetime Emmy and a couple of Golden Globe nominations - and Evan Drake on Cheers.
Skerritt married Charlotte Shanks in 1957 and the pair went on to have three children - Andy, Erin and Matt - before splitting up in 1972.
He then married Sue Oran in 1977 with the pair welcoming son Colin, before divorcing in 1992.
In 1996, he tied the knot with Julie Tokashiki and the couple adopted a daughter named Emiko.
Skerritt is survived by his wife, his five children, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Claire Reid