Tom Skerritt, the veteran actor whose career spanned more than six decades, has died at the age of 93, according to a statement from his family. He passed away on October 21, 2026, of natural causes.
Although I knew him best as the wise, steadfast father in A River Runs Through It, directed by Robert Redford, audiences around the world will remember Skerritt for a remarkable range of performances, including his roles in Top Gun and Alien.
Born in Detroit, Michigan, on August 25, 1933, Skerritt began his acting career in the early 1960s. He gained recognition in Robert Altman’s acclaimed 1970 film MASH*, establishing himself as a versatile actor capable of moving between drama, comedy and action.
In Ridley Scott’s 1979 science fiction classic Alien, Skerritt played Captain Dallas, the commander of the commercial spaceship Nostromo. Seven years later, he took on another memorable role as Commander Mike “Viper” Metcalf, the experienced flight instructor who guides Tom Cruise’s Maverick in the 1986 blockbuster Top Gun.
His performance as Reverend Maclean in A River Runs Through It (1992) revealed another side of his talent. As the father of two very different sons, Skerritt brought quiet authority and emotional depth to a story about family, faith and the passage of time.
His other notable film credits included The Turning Point (1977), Steel Magnolias (1989), The Rookie (1990) and Contact (1997), demonstrating his ability to portray everything from devoted family men to complex and morally ambiguous characters.
On television, Skerritt earned widespread acclaim as Sheriff Jimmy Brock in the CBS drama Picket Fences. His performance earned him the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 1993.
Beyond his screen career, Skerritt was a United States Air Force veteran and a supporter of military veterans. He helped cofound the Red Badge Project, an organization dedicated to helping veterans affected by post traumatic stress find their voices through storytelling.
In their statement, his family remembered him not only for his acting career but also for his humor, curiosity, wisdom and generosity, as well as his commitment to creativity, service and the natural world.
