Updated 1w+ ago · Entertainment
Tom Skerritt, Star of Alien and Top Gun, Dies at 93
Tom Skerritt, the actor known for Alien, Top Gun and Picket Fences, has died at 93. His family said he died Wednesday of natural causes.
- 1993: Skerritt won the Emmy for lead actor in a drama series.
- 1970: His breakout came as surgeon Duke Forrest in Robert Altman's M*A*S*H.
- 1979: He played Captain Dallas in Ridley Scott's Alien.
- 2025: His last screen credit was the film Broke.
Why it matters: Skerritt worked across film, TV and stage for six decades. He was often cast as a sheriff, officer, minister or father.
- He played Viper, Tom Cruise's flight instructor, in Top Gun.
- He played the husband of Sally Field's character in Steel Magnolias.
How 45 sources split on this story
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45 sources · 52 articles · 40% Center coverage
Center18 sources
Associated Press1w+Tom Skerritt, Emmy-winning actor with roles in 'Picket Fences,' 'Alien' and 'Top Gun,' dies at 93BBC News1w+US actor Tom Skerritt, who starred in Picket Fences, Mash and Alien, dies aged 93Chicago Tribune1w+Tom Skerritt, Emmy-winning actor with roles in ‘Picket Fences,’ ‘Alien’ and ‘Top Gun,’ dies at 93CTV News1w+Tom Skerritt, Emmy-winning actor with roles in ‘Picket Fences,’ ‘Alien’ and ‘Top Gun,’ dead at 93Deadline1w+Tom Skerritt Dies: ‘Top Gun,’ ‘Picket Fences,’ ‘Alien’ Actor Was 93Forbes1w+Tom Skerritt, ‘Top Gun,’ ‘Alien’ And ‘Cheers’ Star, Dies At 93France 241w+Emmy-winning US actor Tom Skerritt, known for ‘Top Gun’ and ‘Picket Fences’, dies at 93NPR1w+Actor Tom Skerritt, who played dads, cops and commanding officers, has diedPBS NewsHour1w+Tom Skerritt, Emmy-winning actor with roles in 'Alien', 'Top Gun' and 'Picket Fences,' dies at 93PennLive1w+Popular Top Gun actor, Emmy-winning star, dead at 93Reuters1w+Actor Tom Skerritt, star of 'Alien' and 'Top Gun,' dies at 93Sky News1w+Actor Tom Skerritt, known for roles in Top Gun and Alien, has diedThe National Desk1w+Tom Skerritt, star of 'Top Gun' and 'Picket Fences,' dead at 93TMZ1w+Tom Skerritt, 'Top Gun' and 'Alien' Star, Dead at 93USA Today1w+Tom Skerritt, 'Alien' and 'Top Gun' star, dies at 93WFLA News Channel 81w+Tom Skerritt, Emmy-winning actor with roles in 'Picket Fences,' 'Alien' and 'Top Gun,' dies at 93WGAL 81w+Actor Tom Skerritt, known for roles in 'Alien,' 'Top Gun,' and 'M*A*S*H,' dies at 93WKBN Youngstown1w+Tom Skerritt, Emmy-winning actor with roles in 'Top Gun' and 'Alien,' dies
Left coverage, 14 sources: The left frames the story as a career retrospective, centering the Emmy and roles in Alien and Picket Fences.
Hollywood Reporter1w+Tom Skerritt, Star of ‘Picket Fences’ and ‘Alien,’ Dies at 93CNN1w+Tom Skerritt, everyman actor of ‘Alien’ and ‘Picket Fences’ fame, dead at 93The Independent1w+Tom Skerritt: Top Gun and Picket Fences actor dies aged 93Cleveland.com1w+Actor known for ‘Top Gun’ and ‘M*A*S*H’ dies at 93: ‘A shining light’Boston.com1w+Tom Skerritt, Emmy-winning actor with roles in 'Top Gun,' 'Picket Fences,' 'Alien,' dies at 93CBS News1w+Tom Skerritt, known for roles in "Alien," "Top Gun" and TV's "Picket Fences," dies at age 93Gizmodo1w+Tom Skerritt, Star of 'Alien' and 'Contact,' Dies at 93Los Angeles Times1w+Tom Skerritt dead: 'Alien,' 'Top Gun' actor and Emmy winner was 93NBC News1w+Tom Skerritt, star of ‘Alien’ and ‘Top Gun,’ dies at 93Rolling Stone1w+Tom Skerritt, ‘Alien’ and ‘Picket Fences’ Actor, Dead at 93The Boston Globe1w+Tom Skerritt, Emmy-winning actor who starred in ‘Alien’ and ‘Top Gun,’ has diedThe Guardian1w+Tom Skerritt, Alien and Top Gun actor, dies aged 93The New York Times1w+Tom Skerritt, Who Had Key Roles in ‘M*A*S*H,’ ‘Alien’ and ‘Steel Magnolias,’ Has DiedVariety1w+Tom Skerritt Dead: Picket Fences and Alien Star Was 93
Right coverage, 13 sources: The right frames the story around his Top Gun fame and the family's grief.
The Sun1w+Hollywood legend and Top Gun star Tom Skerritt dead at 93 as family is ‘heartbroken’ over lossJust the News1w+Emmy award-winning actor Tom Skerritt of 'Alien' and 'Picket Fences' fame dies at 93Daily Mail1w+Julia Roberts leads celebrity tributes to 'gentle man' Tom Skerritt after Top Gun star's death at 93Breitbart News1w+Tom Skerritt, Star of ‘Alien,’ ‘Top Gun,’ ‘Picket Fences,’ Dies at 93New York Post1w+Tom Skerritt, 'Top Gun' and 'Steel Magnolias' actor, dead at 93Newsmax1w+Actor Tom Skerritt, 'Alien,' 'Top Gun' Star, Dies at 93NTD1w+Tom Skerritt, Emmy-Winning ‘Picket Fences’ Actor, Dies at 93One America News1w+Tom Skerritt, Emmy-winning actor with roles in ‘Picket Fences,’ ‘Alien’ and ‘Top Gun,’ dies at 93OutKick1w+'Top Gun' star Tom Skerritt dead at 93RedState1w+Actor Tom Skerritt Dies at 93, and His Long and Storied Career Matches a Life Well-LivedThe Daily Caller1w+‘Top Gun’ Star Dead At 93The Epoch Times1w+Emmy-Winning Actor Tom Skerritt of ‘Alien’ and ‘Top Gun’ Dies at Age 93The Gateway Pundit1w+JUST IN: Top Gun Star Tom Skerritt Has Passed Away * The Gateway Pundit * by Cristina Laila
What’s next: His family said they are heartbroken. They described his love of storytelling, service, veterans and the natural world.
- Whether the family will hold a public memorial.
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