Actor Tom Skerritt has died at 93. His family said he died on Wednesday of natural causes. They remembered his humor, kindness and love. He cared about telling stories, nature and helping other people. His wife, Julie Tokashiki, and his five children survive him.
Skerritt grew up in Detroit, Michigan. He spent four years in the US Air Force. Later, he found a love for theater at UCLA. At first, he wanted to direct. His first movie was War Hunt in 1962. Robert Redford also appeared in the movie. He also appeared in Robert Altman's movie M*A*S*H.
In the 1979 movie Alien, Skerritt played Dallas, the leader of a spaceship. His character dies partway through the story. This surprised early audiences. Sigourney Weaver's character, Ellen Ripley, becomes the hero. In Top Gun, Skerritt played a teacher who trains pilots. He also played a sheriff, a local police leader, in the TV show Picket Fences. That role brought him an Emmy award in 1993. He often played people who led or guided others. His movies also included A River Runs Through It and Steel Magnolias. Julia Roberts played his daughter in Steel Magnolias. After his death, she shared a photo of them and remembered him as a gentle man.
