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Quick Facts
Biography
Thomas Roy Skerritt (born August 25, 1933) is an American actor who has appeared in more than forty films and more than two hundred 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, Up in Smoke, and the television series Picket Fences. Skerritt has earned several nominations and awards, including a 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. A 1951 graduate of Detroit's Mackenzie High School, Skerritt attended Wayne State University and the University of California, Los Angeles.
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.
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), Big Bad Mama, Cheech & Chong's Up in Smoke (1978), Ice Castles (1978), as Captain Dallas in Alien (1979), 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-fish 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 (1963) in the 1963 episode "Mrs. Jekyll and Hyde" (Walston was a regular cast member 30 years later in Skerritt's show, Picket Fences (1992)).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.
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 and Sisters, having appeared in the pilot as well as in several flashbacks scenes. This was his second time playing the husband of Sally Field, the first having been 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.
In February 2012, Skerritt played the title role in Pacific Northwest Ballet's production of Don Quixote. In 2014, Skerritt was reunited with ex-Picket Fences co-star, Lauren Holly, to star with her in Field of Lost Shoes. He starred in his Alien co-star Harry Dean Stanton's final film Lucky (2017).
Skerritt is founder and chairman of Heyou Media, a Seattle-based digital media company.
Personal life
Since 1988, he has divided his domestic life between his Lake Washington home in suburban Seattle, Washington, and a second home on Lopez Island in the San Juan Islands.
Skerritt's first wife, Charlotte, is the mother of Skerritt's three older children. His second wife, Sue, operates a Seattle bed and breakfast. She and Skerritt had one child, Colin. Skerritt has one daughter, Emi, with his current wife, Julie Tokashiki.
Filmography
Films
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1962 | War Hunt | Sgt. Stan Showalter | |
1964 | One Man's Way | Leonard Peal (Grown) | |
1965 | Those Calloways | Whit Turner | |
1970 | MASH | Capt. 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 | ||
The Night Stalker | Senator Robert (Bob) Palmer | ||
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 | Arthur Dallas | DVDX Award for Best Audio Commentary (New for DVD) |
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 | Cmdr. 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 | |
Nightmare at Bittercreek | Ding | ||
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 | |
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 | |
2013 | Redwood Highway | Pete | |
2014 | Field of Lost Shoes | Ulysses S. Grant | |
2016 | A Hologram for the King | Ron | |
2017 | Lucky | Fred | |
Day of Days | Mr. Walter |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1962–1967 | Combat! | Soldier (uncredited) Glinski (uncredited) Hicks Burke Sgt. 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 Rev. 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 | 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 Dalton (capture in Coffeyville, Kansas) Patrick Hogan Sam 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 | Lt. Ryan Lt. Parmalee Sgt. Ben Rodale Lt. Paddy Gialella Tech. Sgt. 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 |
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 | Episode: The Marrying Fool | ||
1971, 1972, 1975 | Cannon | Dude Toby Hauser Sheriff Andrews | Episode: The Salinas Jackpot Episode: Nobody Beats the House Episode: The Conspirators |
1974 | Get Christie Love! | Episode: Deadly Betrayal | |
Kolchak: The Night Stalker | Senator Robert W. Palmer | Episode: The Devil's Platform | |
The Manhunter | 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 | |
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 | |
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 | Gen. 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 Dep. 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 | |
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
Blockbuster Entertainment Awards
- 1998: Nominated, "Favorite Supporting Actor in a Drama" - Contact
DVD Exclusive Awards
- 2003: Won, "Best Audio Commentary" - Alien
Emmy Awards
- 1993: Won, "Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series" - Picket Fences
- 1994: Nominated, "Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series" - Picket Fences
Genie Awards
- 1982: Nominated, "Best Performance by a Foreign Actor" - Silence of the North
Golden Globe Awards
- 1994: Nominated, "Best Performance By an Actor in a Dramatic TV series" - Picket Fences
- 1995: Nominated, "Best Performance By an Actor in a Dramatic TV series" - Picket Fences
National Board of Review of Motion Pictures
- 1977: Won, "Best Supporting Actor" - The Turning Point
Saturn Awards
- 2011: Won, "Best Guest Performer on Television" - Leverage
Screen Actors Guild Awards
- 1995: Nominated, "Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series" - Picket Fences
- 1995: Nominated, "Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series" - Picket Fences
- 1996: Nominated, "Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series" - Picket Fences
Western Heritage Awards
- 1999: Won, "Best Television Feature Film" - Two for Texas