Julia Roberts has shared a goodbye to Tom Skerritt , the actor who played her father in Steel Magnolias . Following his death at 93, she posted a photograph of them together and a message on Instagram.

“A shining light of a gentle man. RIP 💔,” Roberts wrote. Meanwhile, Skerritt’s family confirmed that he died of natural causes on Wednesday, October 21.

Who did Tom Skerritt play opposite Julia Roberts?

In the 1989 film, Skerritt played Drum Eatenton, father to Roberts’ Shelby and husband to Sally Field’s M’Lynn. Alongside them, Dolly Parton, Shirley MacLaine, Daryl Hannah and Olympia Dukakis played local women.

Although the story centers on its women, Drum brings humor through his arguments with neighbor Ouiser, played by MacLaine. Meanwhile, Shelby’s illness pushes the family toward the grief that gives the film its emotional weight.

For Roberts, the role also brought her first Oscar nomination for supporting actress.…