Tom Skerritt , an award-winning actor whose iconic roles included the doomed captain of Ridley Scott’s Alien and Sheriff Jimmy Brock on the ’90s CBS drama Picket Fences , has passed away at the age of 93. He died of natural causes on October 21st, 2026.

In a statement shared by The Hollywood Reporter , his family writes that “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. He cared deeply about imagination, creativity, storytelling, service, veterans, the natural world and helping others find and share their own voices.”

Moving between TV and film for the entirety of his career, Skerritt made his screen debut in 1962 in two similarly themed projects: the movie War Hunt (also starring Robert Redford and Sydney Pollack) and the ABC drama Combat! , on which he played multiple characters.…