Latest / GNN Daily Breaking News / Actor Tom Skerritt, star of 'Alien' and 'Top Gun,' dies at 93

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Actor Tom Skerritt, star of 'Alien' and 'Top Gun,' dies at 93 · GNN Daily Breaking News

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  Speaker 1: Veteran Hollywood actor Tom Skerritt, whose distinguished career spanned more
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  Speaker 1: than six decades and included some of the most memorable
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  Speaker 1: roles in cinematic history, has died at the age of 93.
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  Speaker 1: According to a statement released by his family, Skerritt passed
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  Speaker 1: away peacefully from natural causes at his home in Seattle, Washington.
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  Speaker 1: Celebrated for his understated charm, naturalistic screen presence, and remarkable versatility,
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  Speaker 1: Skerritt left an indelible mark on both feature films and television,
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  Speaker 1: transitioning effortlessly from gritty dramas to major blockbuster hits. Born
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  Speaker 1: in Detroit, Michigan, in 1933, Skerritt served a tour of
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  Speaker 1: duty in the United States Air Force before launching his
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  Speaker 1: acting career on stage and screen during the early 1960s.
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  Speaker 1: He earned his breakthrough major film credit in Robert Altman's
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  Speaker 1: 1970 satirical masterpiece MASH Asterisk playing Captain Augustus Duke Forrest.
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  Speaker 1: That foundational role paved the way for a stellar filmography
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  Speaker 1: that defined generations of American cinema. Among his most enduring
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  Speaker 1: contributions was his portrayal of Captain Dallas, the ill-fated commander
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  Speaker 1: of the commercial towing spacecraft Nostromo, in Ridley Scott's sci-fi
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  Speaker 1: horror landmark Alien, 1979. Skerritt later cemented his status as
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  Speaker 1: a pop culture icon by starring as Commander Mike, Viper, Metcalf,
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  Speaker 1: The Wise, and Steady Flight Instructor in Tony Scott's box
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  Speaker 1: office smash Top Gun, 1986. His prolific big-screen resume also
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  Speaker 1: featured unforgettable turns in critically acclaimed projects such as The
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  Speaker 1: Turning Point, 1977, The Dead Zone, 1983, Steel Magnolias, 1989.
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  Speaker 1: and Robert Redford's A River Runs Through It, 1992. Beyond film,
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  Speaker 1: Skerritt achieved widespread television acclaim for starring as Sheriff Jimmy
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  Speaker 1: Brock in the CBS drama series Picket Fences, a career-defining
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  Speaker 1: performance that earned him a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding
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  Speaker 1: Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 1993. In addition
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  Speaker 1: to his prolific artistic output, Skerritt was widely respected for
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  Speaker 1: his dedication to veteran causes, digital media education, and regional
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  Speaker 1: storytelling as the founder and chairman of the Seattle-based company
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  Speaker 1: Hayo Media. Colleagues and fans alike have flooded social media
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  Speaker 1: with tributes, remembering him not only as a titan of
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  Speaker 1: American cinema, but also as a man of profound intellectual curiosity, warmth,
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  Speaker 1: and generosity. He is survived by his loving family, who
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  Speaker 1: have requested privacy while final memorial arrangements are organized.