Julia Roberts Leads Tributes After Actor Tom Skerritt Dies at 93

Julia Roberts was among the first stars to pay tribute to Tom Skerritt, remembering the acclaimed actor after his death at 93.

Skerritt, whose celebrated credits included Alien and Top Gun, died of natural causes on Wednesday, October 21, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Roberts, 58, shared the screen with Skerritt in the 1989 classic Steel Magnolias, in which he portrayed her father.

She revisited a photo of the two actors and offered a heartfelt farewell, writing: “A shining light of a gentle man. RIP,” alongside a broken-heart emoji.

Kathy Baker, Skerritt’s co-star on the 1990s drama Picket Fences, also spoke of her grief, saying the news had left her heartbroken.

Baker played Dr. Jill Brock on the series, while Skerritt starred as her husband, Sheriff Jimmy Brock, throughout the show’s run from 1992 to 1996.

“My heart is broken to hear of the passing of dear, lovely, loving, Tom, my TV husband, my partner, my darling friend,” Baker said in a statement to People.

Reflecting on their time together, she added: “He taught me so much during our four years on Picket Fences.”

Baker said she could not have hoped for “a more gracious and kind actor” to work with, describing their acclaimed run on the series as something very special.

Lauren Holly, another Picket Fences cast member, joined the tributes by posting a photograph of herself alongside Skerritt from the show.

Holly wrote that she had “adored” Skerritt and felt fortunate to have worked with him on multiple projects, beginning with Picket Fences.

“He was our leader,” she wrote. “His example made those years such a joy, and we all loved and respected him so much.”

She also praised the care he showed for his family, both at home and on set, as well as for the planet and everyone living on it.

Holly said Skerritt had made “a huge impact” on her life, adding that many of her memories involved laughing uncontrollably with him. “Rest easy my friend. I will think of you often,” she concluded.

Justin Shenkarow also appeared in Picket Fences as Matthew Brock and paid tribute to his late co-star. 

Alongside a clip from the show, he wrote, ‘Rest easy Tom. You’ll be incredibly missed, thank you for gracing us with your presence and it was such a privilege working with you on Picket Fences.’

And over the video, he added the additional message: ‘You were loved by so many and I will miss you tremendously. 

‘I’m incredibly grateful that I had the privilege of working with you on Picket Fences. You’re a legend.’ 

Following his death, Skerritt’s family told The Hollywood Reporter, ‘We are heartbroken by his loss.

‘While the world knew Tom through his remarkable acting career, we knew him for his humor, curiosity, wisdom, generosity and the love he brought into our lives,’ they continued.

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‘He cared deeply about imagination, creativity, storytelling, service, veterans, the natural world and helping others find and share their own voices.’

Skerritt, who has five children, married his third wife, Julie Tokashiki, in 1998. 

He appeared in many classic films throughout his six-decade career, but his most iconic role is arguably playing Dallas, captain of the Nostromo, in Ridley Scott’s masterpiece Alien.

The film became a landmark of science-fiction cinema and launched a franchise that continued with Aliens, Alien 3, Alien: Resurrection and, more recently, the 2024 film Alien: Romulus.

While Skerritt never appeared in any of the sequels, he did reprise his role as Dallas in the 2014 video game Alien: Isolation, which has been lauded as one of the greatest video games ever made.

Skerritt also starred alongside Tom Cruise in the original Top Gun movie, taking on the role of Mike ‘Viper’ Metcalf.

Some of his other memorable projects include Steel Magnolias, Robert Redford’s A River Runs Through It, and 1977’s The Turning Point, which was nominated for 11 Academy Awards.

Another one of his most iconic early roles was playing Captain Augustus ‘Duke’ Forrest in Robert Altman’s 1970 film M*A*S*H.

Skerritt was also a prolific television actor, nabbing an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for the family drama Picket Fences.

In 1987, he joined the sixth season of the hit sitcom Cheers, playing Evan Drake, one of the bosses at the Lillian Corporation.

He also appeared in Brothers & Sisters, The West Wing, Will & Grace, Roseanne, Cannon, and The Twilight Zone.

Skerritt even had a theatre career, appearing as the narrator in a 2004 production of Our Town at Seattle’s Intiman Theatre.

He made his Broadway debut in 2013 in a stage adaptation of John Grisham’s A Time to Kill.

His later screen work included the 2025 Western drama Broke, starring Wyatt Russell and Dennis Quaid.

In addition to his Emmy, Skerritt is a three-time SAG Award nominee and is both a Saturn Award and Western Heritage Award winner.

In 2022, he received the International Press Academy’s honorary Mary Pickford Award for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to the Entertainment Industry.

He shared three children with his first wife Charlotte Shanks, whom he split from in 1972.

Skerritt went on to marry Sue Oran from 1977 to 1992, and they had one son together.

He also has a daughter with his third and final wife Julie Tokashiki.

Away from acting, Skerritt supported military veterans and helped establish the Red Badge Project, an organization that uses storytelling and creative writing to assist veterans.

Skerritt is survived by his wife, his five children, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.