Tom Skerritt, the actor known for "Top Gun," "Alien" and "Picket Fences," died Oct. 21 in Seattle of natural causes. He was 93.

His career

  • Born Aug. 25, 1933, in Detroit, Skerritt served in the Air Force before he started acting.
  • His film roles included "M*A*S*H," "Alien," "Top Gun" (as the instructor "Viper"), "Steel Magnolias" and "A River Runs Through It."
  • He won a 1993 Emmy for the CBS drama "Picket Fences."

Beyond acting

  • He founded TheFilmSchool in Seattle and co-founded the Red Badge Project, which helps veterans through storytelling.
  • He is survived by his wife, Julie, and five children.