Tom Skerritt dies at 93 after career spanning film, television and theater

Tom Skerritt, the Emmy-winning actor whose roles included a flight instructor in Top Gun and a sheriff in Picket Fences, died Wednesday of natural causes, his family said, according to ABC7 Los Angeles. He was 93.

Skerritt's work stretched from film and television to the stage, with Picket Fences bringing him an Emmy in 1993. His family also described a commitment to storytelling beyond acting, including efforts to help veterans share their experiences.

ABC7 Los Angeles reported that Skerritt played the captain in *Alien*, alongside his roles in *Top Gun* and *Picket Fences*. His film credits also included *A River Runs Through It*, *Turning Point*, *Steel Magnolias* and *Contact*.

His television work brought two Emmy nominations, both for *Picket Fences*, according to the report. He won the award for outstanding lead actor in a drama series in 1993.

Onstage, Skerritt served as the narrator in *Our Town* at Seattle's Intiman Theatre in 2004. He made his Broadway debut in *A Time to Kill* in 2013, ABC7 reported.

According to his family's statement cited by ABC7, Skerritt helped establish TheFilmSchool in Seattle. He also co-founded the Red Badge Project, which uses writing and shared personal experiences to help veterans address PTSD, anxiety and depression.

In their statement, Skerritt's family remembered his humor and generosity as well as his interest in creativity, service and helping others tell their stories, ABC7 reported.