Tom Skerritt
Tom Skerritt 2014 (cropped).jpg
Skerritt in 2014
Born
Thomas Roy Skerritt

(1933-08-25) August 25, 1933 (age 89)
Alma mater
OccupationActor
Years active1962–present
Spouses
Charlotte Shanks
(m. 1957; div. 1972)
Sue Oran
(m. 1977; div. 1992)
Julie Tokashiki
(m. 1998)
Children5
Military career
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Air Force
Years of service1951–1955

Thomas Roy Skerritt (born August 25, 1933) is an American actor who has appeared in over 40 films and more than 200 television episodes since 1962. He is known for his film roles in M*A*S*H, Alien, The Dead Zone, Top Gun, A River Runs Through It, Poltergeist III, and Up in Smoke, and the television series Picket Fences and Cheers. Skerritt has earned several nominations and awards, including winning the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 1993 for Picket Fences.

Early life

Skerritt was born in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Helen, a homemaker, and Roy Skerritt, a businessman. He is the youngest of three children.[1][2][3][4] A 1951 graduate of Detroit's Mackenzie High School,[4] Skerritt attended Wayne State University and the University of California, Los Angeles.[5]

Skerritt enlisted just after graduating from high school, and served a four-year tour of duty in the United States Air Force as a classifications specialist. Most of his enlistment was spent at Bergstrom Field, Austin, Texas.[6]

Career

Skerritt made his film debut in War Hunt, produced by Terry Sanders and released in 1962. Skerritt's notable film appearances include M*A*S*H (1970), Harold and Maude (credited as "M. Borman", 1971), Fuzz, Big Bad Mama, Cheech & Chong's Up in Smoke (1978), Ice Castles (1978), as Captain Dallas in Alien (1979),[7] as a would-be astronaut in Contact (1997) and SpaceCamp (1986), and in Top Gun (1986) as Commander Mike "Viper" Metcalf. In 1988, he starred with Nancy Allen and Lara Flynn Boyle in Poltergeist III. In 1989, he played the role of Thomas Drummond "Drum" Eatenton in Steel Magnolias. In 1992, he appeared in the critically acclaimed Robert Redford-directed film A River Runs Through It, playing a fly-fishing loving minister and father of the two protagonist brothers in the film.

Skerritt played a guest part in Ray Walston's show My Favorite Martian in the 1963 episode "Mrs. Jekyll and Hyde" (Walston was a regular cast member 30 years later in Skerritt's show Picket Fences). He also guest-starred in the television series The Real McCoys (1963), as a letter carrier in the episode "Aunt Win Steps In". He was cast in Bonanza in 1964 and on Death Valley Days in 1965, as a young gambler, Patrick Hogan, who meets a tragic fate after winning a small fortune in a saloon. In another Death Valley Days episode, "A Sense of Justice" (1966), he played a young Roy Bean with his older brother, Joshua Bean, played by Tris Coffin. In a later Death Valley Days role, Skerritt played Mark Twain in the 1968 episode "Ten Day Millionaires", with Dabney Coleman as Twain's mining partner, Calvin H. Higby. The two lose a fortune in gold, but Twain learns his future is in writing. In 1972, Skerritt guest-starred in an episode of Cannon, entitled "Nobody Beats the House," playing the role of a young gambler.[8] In 1975, he guest-starred in another episode of Cannon entitled "The Conspirators," playing the role of a corrupt sheriff.[9]

Skerritt appeared in the ABC series Twelve O'Clock High (1964–1967), five episodes; Gunsmoke (1965–1972, also five episodes), and as Evan Drake on Cheers. He then appeared in CBS's Picket Fences (1992–1996), in the role of Sheriff Jimmy Brock, for which he won an Emmy Award. More recently, he has starred in Homeland Security and The Grid.

He portrayed the deceased William Walker on Brothers & Sisters, having appeared in the pilot and several flashbacks scenes. This was his second time playing the husband of Sally Field; the first was in Steel Magnolias.

He played the role of Ezekiel on ABC Family's miniseries Fallen alongside Paul Wesley. He also appeared as the guide on the showcase website for Microsoft's Windows Vista operating system. He lent his voice in the video game Gun (2005), where he voices Clay Allison. He then guest-starred in seasons three and four of Leverage as Nate Ford's father.[10]

In February 2012, Skerritt played the title role in Pacific Northwest Ballet's production of Don Quixote.[11] In 2014, Skerritt was reunited with his ex-Picket Fences co-star, Lauren Holly, to star with her in Field of Lost Shoes.[12] He was reunited with his Alien co-star Harry Dean Stanton in Lucky, the latter's last film (2017).

Skerritt is founder and chairman of Heyou Media, a Seattle-based digital media company.[13]

Personal life

Since 1988, he has divided his time between his Lake Washington home in suburban Seattle, Washington, and a second home on Lopez Island in the San Juan Islands.

From 1957 to 1972, Skerritt was married to Charlotte Shanks, with whom he has three children: Andy, Erin, and Matt. He was married to Sue Oran from 1977 to 1992, with whom he has a son, Colin. Since 1996, he has been married to Julie Tokashiki. They have one daughter, Emi.[14][15][16]

Filmography

Films

Year Title Role Notes
1962 War Hunt Sergeant Stan Showalter
1964 One Man's Way Leonard Peal (Grown)
1965 Those Calloways Whit Turner
1970 M*A*S*H Captain Augustus Bedford "Duke" Forrest
1971 Wild Rovers John Buckman
Harold and Maude Motorcycle Officer Credited as M. Borman
1972 Fuzz Detective Bert Kling
1974 Thieves Like Us Dee Mobley
Run, Run, Joe! Margherito
Big Bad Mama Fred Diller
1975 The Devil's Rain Tom Preston
1976 Plot of Fear Chief Inspector
Madama, La Rick Dylan
1977 The Turning Point Wayne Rodgers
1978 Up in Smoke Strawberry
Ice Castles Marcus Winston
1979 Alien Captain Arthur Dallas
1981 A Dangerous Summer Howard Anderson
Savage Harvest Casey
Silence of the North Walter Reamer
1982 Fighting Back John D'Angelo
1983 The Dead Zone Sheriff George Bannerman
1986 Top Gun CDR Mike "Viper" Metcalf
SpaceCamp Zach Bergstrom
Opposing Force Logan
Wisdom Lloyd Wisdom
1987 Maid to Order Charles Montgomery
The Big Town Phil Carpenter
1988 Honor Bound Sam Cahill
Poltergeist III Bruce Gardner
1989 Big Man on Campus Dr. Webster
Steel Magnolias Drum Eatenton
1990 The Rookie Eugene Ackerman
1992 Poison Ivy Darryl Cooper
Knight Moves Captain Frank Sedman
Wild Orchid 2: Two Shades of Blue Ham McDonald Direct-to-video release
A River Runs Through It Reverend John Maclean
Singles Mayor Weber
1997 Contact David Drumlin
1998 Smoke Signals Police Chief
1999 The Other Sister Dr. Radley Tate
2001 Texas Rangers Richard Dukes
2002 Tuscaloosa
Changing Hearts Johnny Pinkley
Greenmail Tom Bradshaw Direct-to-video release
2003 Tears of the Sun Captain Bill Rhodes
Swing George Verdi
2006 Bonneville Emmett
2006 Stephen King's Desperation Johnny Marinville
2007 The Velveteen Rabbit Horse
2008 Beer for My Horses Sheriff Wilson Landry
2009 Whiteout Dr. John Fury
For Sale by Owner Clive Farrier
Rivers of a Lost Coast Narrator
2010 Redemption Road Santa
2011 Your Love Never Fails Jack
2012 Ted Himself
Soda Springs Walt Jackson
Wings Colonel
2013 Redwood Highway Pete
2014 Field of Lost Shoes Ulysses S. Grant
Wings: Sky Force Heroes Colonel
2016 A Hologram for the King Ron Clay
2017 Lucky Fred
Day of Days Mr. Walter
2021 East of the Mountains Ben Givens
Catch The Bullet Dex

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1962–1967 Combat! Soldier (uncredited)

Glinski (uncredited) Hicks Burke Sergeant Decker

Episode: Combat Front
Episode: A Day in June
Episode: The Prisoner
Episode: Losers Cry Deal
Episode: Nothing to Lose
Episode: The Gantlet
1962–1971 The Virginian Eric Kroeger

Reverend Paul Martin Billy Landers Moran Rafe Bobby Allen

Episode: Impasse (aired 1962)
Episode: The Secret of Brynmar Hall
Episode: The Showdown
Episode: The Crooked Path
Episode: The Saddle Warmer
Episode: Nan Allen
1963 Laramie Price Episode: No Place to Run
The Real McCoys Mailman Episode: Aunt Win Steps In
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Dr. Frank Farmer Episode: Run for Doom
My Three Sons Young Steve Episode: The Proposals
1963–1968 Death Valley Days Emmett DaltonDennis Driscoll

Patrick Hogan Roy BeanSam Clemens

Episode: Three Minutes to Eternity
Episode: Honor the Name Dennis Driscoll
Episode: The Book
Episode: Sense of Justice
Episode: Ten Day Millionaires
1964 Wagon Train Hamish Browne Episode: The Last Circle Up
My Favorite Martian Dr. Edgar Edgarton Episode: Miss Jekyll and Hyde
1964–1967 12 O'Clock High Lieutenant Ryan

Lieutenant Parmalee Sergeant Ben Rodale Lieutenant Paddy Gialella Technical Sergeant Neely

Episode: Soldiers Sometimes Kill
Episode: Those Who Are About to Die
Episode: The Came the Mighty Hunter
Episode: Twenty Fifth Mission
Episode: Long Time Dead
1964-1973 Bonanza Jerry

Corporal Bill Tanner

Episode: Thanks for Everything, Friend
Episode: The Hunter
1965 Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea Frank Richardson Episode: The Enemies
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color Corky Mardis Episode: ...The Daily Press vs. City Hall
1965-1966 The Fugitive Neely Hollister

Pete Edwards

Episode: Nicest Fella You'd Ever Want to Meet
Episode: Joshua's Kingdom
1965–1972 Gunsmoke Edmund Dano

Ben Stone Orv Timpson Fred Garth Tuck Frye

Episode: The Pretender
Episode: The Jailer
Episode: The Moonstone
Episode: The Noose
Episode: Jubilee
1966 The Time Tunnel Matthew Gebhardt Episode: The Death Trap
1966–1972 The F.B.I. Robert Hastings

John Clarence Rim Thorn Hazard Bill Leonard

Episode: The Assassin
Episode: The Legend of John Rim
Episode: Unknown Victim
Episode: The Deadly Species
1967 Mannix Morgan Carpenter Episode: Warning - Live Blueberries
Hallmark Hall of Fame Trapani Episode: A Bell for Adano
1968 Cimarron Strip Enoch Shelton Episode: Knife in the Darkness
Run for Your Life Lou Patterson Episode: The Killing Scene
Felony Squad Gerald Gardner Episode: Matched for Murder
1969 The Outsider Arnie Cambor Episode: A Bowl of Cherries
Lancer Bill Blake Episode: The Knot
1970 Hawaii Five-O Lew Morgan Episode: Most Likely to Murder
Medical Center Artie Atwood Episode: Between Dark and Daylight
The Name of the Game Pete Episode: Cynthia is Alive and Living in Avalon
Bracken's World Gil Dobie Episode: A Team of One-Legged Acrobats
1971 Storefront Lawyers Paul Marek Episode: This Money Kills Dreams
The Birdmen Orville "Fitz" Fitzgerald ABC Television film
Nichols Charley Doyle Episode: The Marrying Fool
1971–1975 Cannon Dude

Toby Hauser Sheriff Andrews

Episode: The Salinas Jackpot
Episode: Nobody Beats the House
Episode: The Conspirators
1974 Get Christie Love! Unknown Episode: Deadly Betrayal
Kolchak: The Night Stalker Senator Robert W. Palmer Episode: The Devil's Platform
The Manhunter Barry Richards Episode: Flight to Nowhere
1975 The Last Day Bill Powers NBC Television film
Barnaby Jones Darrin Addison Episode: Image of Evil
1976 SWAT Maynard Hill Episode: Dragons and Owls
Sara Newt Johnson Episode: "The Child Bride"
Alle origini della mafia Bernardino Campo ITC Miniseries; Episode: La Speranza
1978 Baretta Al Brimmer Episode: The Appointment
Maneaters are Loose! John Gosford CBS Television film
1983 Ryan's Four Dr. Thomas Ryan 5 episodes
1984 Calendar Girl Murders Lieutenant Dan Stoner ABC Television film
A Touch of Scandal Father Dwelle CBS Television film
1986 Miles to Go... Stuart Browning CBS Television film
The Hitchhiker Detective Frank Sheen Episode: True Believer
The Parent Trap II Bill Grand ABC Television film
The Twilight Zone Alex Mattingly Episode: What Are Friends For?
Danger Bay Don Bared Episode: The Fish Who Walks
1987 Poker Alice Jeremy Collins CBS Television film
Based on the frontier gambler Poker Alice, with Elizabeth Taylor in the lead role
1987–1988 Cheers Evan Drake Episode: A Kiss is Still a Kiss
Episode: Tale of Two Cuties
Episode: Yacht of Fools
Episode: Let Sleeping Drakes Lie
Episode: The Sam in the Grey Flannel Suit
Episode: Backseat Becky, Up Front
1988 Moving Target Joseph Kellogg NBC Television film
Nightmare at Bittercreek Ding CBS Television film
1989 The Heist Ebbet Berens HBO Television film
Red King, White Knight Stoner HBO Television film
1990 The China Lake Murders Sheriff Sam Brodie Television film
Child in the Night Bass CBS Television film
ABC Afterschool Special Jim Episode: A Question About Sex
She'll Take Romance Judge Warren Danvers ABC Television film
1992 Getting Up and Going Home Jack Montgomery Television film
In Sickness and in Health Jarrett Mattison CBS Television film
1992–1996 Picket Fences Sheriff Jimmy Brock 87 episodes
1997 Divided by Hate Steve Riordan USA Television film
Chicago Hope Jim Kellner Episode: Guns N' Roses
What the Deaf Man Heard Norm Jenkins CBS Television film
1998 Two for Texas Sam Houston TNT Television film
1999 Into the Wild Blue Host History Documentary
The Hunt for the Unicorn Killer Fred Maddux NBC Miniseries
Aftershock: Earthquake in New York Thomas Ahearn CBS Television film
2000 An American Daughter Walter Lifetime Television film
High Noon Will Kane TBS Television film
Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis Joseph P. "Joe" Kennedy CBS Television film
2001 Chestnut Hill Daniel Eastman Unsold TV-Pilot
The Voyage to Atlantis: The Lost Empire Host Short Documentary
2002 Path to War General William Westmoreland HBO Television film
Will & Grace Dr. Jay Markus Episode: The Needle and the Omelet's Done
2003 Biography Passages Read By Episode: Jack London - Forces of Nature
The West Wing Senator Chris Carrick Episode: Constituency of One
2004 Homeland Security Admiral McKee NBC Television film
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Judge Oliver Taft Episode: Poison
The Grid CIA Deputy Director Acton Sandman TNT Miniseries
2005 Vinegar Hill Fritz Grier CBS Television film
Category 7: The End of the World Colonel Mike Davis CBS Miniseries
2006 Mammoth Simon Abernathy Sci-Fi Television film
Huff Ben Huffstodt Episode: Red Meat
Episode: So...What Brings You to Armageddon?
Episode: Radio Silence
Desperation John Edward Marinville ABC Television film
Fallen Zeke ABC Miniseries
2006–2008 Brothers & Sisters William Walker Episode: Patriarchy (pilot)
Episode: Mistakes Were Made (Part 1 & 2)
Episode: Love Is Difficult
Episode: Prior Commitments
Episode: Let's Call the Whole Thing Off
2007 Killer Wave Victor Bannister Miniseries
The Dead Zone Herb Smith Episode: Denouement
2008 Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! Himself Episode: "Pepperoni"
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Gabe Utterson Television film
The Trojan Horse President Stanfield CBC Miniseries
2010 Leverage Jimmy Ford Episode: "The Three Card Monte Job"
The Closer Joey O. Episode: "Elysian Fields"
2012 Leverage Jimmy Ford Episode: "The Radio Job"
White Collar Alan Mitchell Episode: "Pulling Strings"
2014 The Good Wife James Paisley Episode: "We, the Juries"
Episode: "The One Percent"
2015 Madam Secretary Patrick McCord Episode: "Chains of Command"
2016 Journey Back to Christmas Tobias Cook Television film

Video game

Year Title Role Notes
2014 Alien: Isolation Arthur Dallas Voice; Nostromo Edition

Awards and nominations

Association Nominated Work Year Category Results Ref
American Television Awards Picket Fences 1993 Best Actor in a Dramatic Series Nominated
Blockbuster Entertainment Awards Contact 1998 Favorite Supporting Actor — Drama Nominated
DVD Exclusive Awards Alien 2003 Best Audio Commentary (New for DVD) (for reissue – Alien Quadrilogy) Won
Emmy Awards (Primetime) Picket Fences 1993 Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Won [17]
1994 Nominated
Genie Awards Silence of the North 1982 Best Performance by a Foreign Actor Nominated
Golden Globes Picket Fences 1994 Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series — Drama Nominated [18]
1995 Nominated
Key West Film Festival Alien/The Phantom 52 2019 Career Achievement Award Won
National Board of Review Awards The Turning Point 1977 Best Supporting Actor Won
Satellite Awards East of the Mountains 2022 Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama Nominated
2022 Mary Pickford Award Won
Saturn Awards Leverage 2012 Best Guest Performance in a Television Series Won
Screen Actors Guild Awards Picket Fences 1995 Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series Nominated [19]
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Nominated
1996 Nominated [20]
Viewers for Quality Television Awards Picket Fences 1993 Best Actor in a Quality Drama Series Nominated
Picket Fences 1994 Best Actor in a Quality Drama Series Nominated
Western Heritage Awards Two for Texas 1999 Television Feature Film Won

Notes

References

  1. ^ Dietrich, William (May 7, 2007). "A Familiar Face". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on April 25, 2007.
  2. ^ "Tom Skerritt Biography (1933-)". www.filmreference.com.
  3. ^ "Tom Skerritt Biography - Yahoo! Movies". Archived from the original on January 13, 2009.
  4. ^ a b Schneider, Karen S. (April 17, 1995). "Fencing Master". People.
  5. ^ "NOTABLE ALUMNI ACTORS". UCLA School of Theater, Film and television. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved September 29, 2014.
  6. ^ Sragow, Michael (April 29, 2016). "Interview: Tom Skerritt". Film Comment.
  7. ^ "Ridley Scott Dishes the Dirt on the Upcoming Alien Prequel". Dread Central. April 23, 2010. Archived from the original on April 25, 2010.
  8. ^ "Cannon" Nobody Beats the House (TV Episode 1972) - IMDb, retrieved September 21, 2021
  9. ^ "Cannon" The Conspirators (TV Episode 1975) - IMDb, retrieved September 21, 2021
  10. ^ Bryant, Adam (May 28, 2010). "Exclusive: Look Who's Playing Nate's Dad on Leverage". TV Guide.
  11. ^ La Rocco, Claudia (February 6, 2012). "Ratmansky's 'Don Quixote' Has Premiere in Seattle". The New York Times. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  12. ^ "David Arquette, Lauren Holly Join Civil War Drama 'Field of Lost Shoes'". Hollywood Reporter. June 4, 2013. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  13. ^ "Tom Skerritt can't stop creating, and launches Heyou Media to showcase classic films and local talent". The Seattle Times. January 31, 2018. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
  14. ^ "Overview for Tom Skerritt". Tcm.com. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  15. ^ Brodeur, Nicole (December 9, 2012). "Tom Skerritt: 'You see how it feels to just unravel'". The Seattle Times. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  16. ^ Dietrich, William (April 15, 2007). "A Familiar Face". The Seattle Times. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  17. ^ "TOM SKERRITT". Television Academy. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  18. ^ "Tom Skerritt". www.goldenglobes.com. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  19. ^ "The Inaugural Screen Actors Guild Awards | Screen Actors Guild Awards". www.sagawards.org. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  20. ^ "The 2nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards | Screen Actors Guild Awards". www.sagawards.org. Retrieved April 5, 2022.