Tom Skerritt's Real Name: Thomas Roy Skerritt

Quick answer: Tom Skerritt's real name was Thomas Roy Skerritt. He was born on August 25, 1933, in Detroit, Michigan, and died on October 21, 2026, of natural causes at age 93.

Real name and early life

The Library of Congress authority file is Skerritt, Tom. Film biographies record birth name Thomas Roy Skerritt, born August 25, 1933, in Detroit. He served in the U.S. Air Force before pursuing acting. Tom is the short form of Thomas; Roy is the documented middle name. He built a six-decade career across film and television and later lived in the Seattle area, co-founding TheFilmSchool to train storytellers.

Quick facts

• Real name: Thomas Roy Skerritt
• Known as: Tom Skerritt
• Born: August 25, 1933, in Detroit, Michigan
• Died: October 21, 2026 (natural causes), age 93
• Known for: Actor
• Notable work: MASH*, Alien, Top Gun, Picket Fences
• Sources checked: Library of Congress Name Authority; AP; BBC

Career highlights

Skerritt's film breakthrough included Duke Forrest in Robert Altman's MASH* (1970), Captain Dallas in Ridley Scott's Alien (1979), and Commander Mike "Viper" Metcalf in Top Gun (1986). Other films include Steel Magnolias and A River Runs Through It. On television he won a Primetime Emmy Award for outstanding lead actor in a drama series for Picket Fences (1993). He also appeared on Cheers, Brothers & Sisters, and other series. His family announced his death on October 21, 2026, from natural causes; AP and BBC reported the same date and cause.

Name notes

Thomas Roy Skerritt is the full birth form; professional credits used Tom Skerritt. He is primarily known as an actor (not chiefly as a director). Death date follows AP and BBC reporting (October 21, 2026, natural causes)—include only with that class of confirmation.

Seattle film-education and veterans' storytelling projects were part of his later public life; AP and BBC obituaries of October 2026 confirm the October 21, 2026 death date used here.