US actor Tom Skerritt, star of Top Gun, Steel Magnolias and Alien, dies aged 93 — SkimNews
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- Tom Skerritt died at 93 of natural causes, his family said, concluding a six-decade career spanning iconic films and television.
- Tom Skerritt starred as Commander Mike 'Viper' Metcalf in the 1986 film Top Gun, appearing alongside Tom Cruise in one of his most recognized military roles.
- Tom Skerritt played Captain Dallas in the 1979 sci-fi thriller Alien, where he praised the film’s ensemble chemistry and the groundbreaking role of Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley.
- Tom Skerritt won an Emmy in 1993 for his role as Sheriff Jimmy Brock in the TV drama Picket Fences, which earned multiple SAG Award nominations.
- Tom Skerritt co-founded TheFilmSchool in Seattle and the Red Badge Project, supporting emerging filmmakers and veterans processing trauma through storytelling.
- Tom Skerritt was a passionate advocate for river conservation, inspired by A River Runs Through It, and created the documentary series Reflections of the River.
Why it matters: Skerritt’s death marks the loss of a defining character actor whose influence extended beyond film into veteran mental health and environmental advocacy, with his storytelling initiatives continuing to impact new generations of creators and trauma survivors.
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