Overview
- Skerritt died on Wednesday, Oct. 21, at age 93, a fact confirmed by his family in a statement carried by the Associated Press.
- He won the 1993 Emmy for his lead role as Sheriff Jimmy Brock on Picket Fences and remained a familiar face on TV and in film for more than six decades.
- His best-known screen roles included Commander Mike "Viper" Metcalf in Top Gun and Captain Dallas in Alien, and his breakthrough came in Robert Altman’s M*A*S*H.
- The family described him as humorous, curious, wise and generous and said he cared deeply about veterans, the natural world and storytelling; he is survived by his wife Julie Tokashiki, five children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
- News coverage so far focuses on obituaries and career retrospectives and the family tribute, and no additional official details about memorial services have been published.