Tom Skerritt

Tom Skerritt

Skerritt at the 2014 Phoenix Comicon Fan Fest, December 2014
Born Thomas Roy Skerritt
August 25, 1933
Detroit, Michigan, United States
Alma mater

Mackenzie High School (Michigan)
Wayne State University

University of California, Los Angeles
Occupation Actor
Years active 1962–present
Spouse(s) Julie Tokashiki (1998–present)
Sue Oran (1977–1992)
Charlotte Shanks (1957–1972)

Thomas Roy "Tom" Skerritt[1] (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 roles in MASH, Alien, Top Gun, A River Runs Through It, Up in Smoke, and the television series Picket Fences.

Early life

Skerritt was born in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Helen, a homemaker, and Roy Skerritt, a businessman.[2][3] A 1951 graduate of Detroit's Mackenzie High School, Skerritt attended Wayne State University and the University of California, Los Angeles.[4] Skerritt served in the United States Air Force.

Career

Skerritt made his film debut in War Hunt, produced by Terry Sanders and released in 1962. Skerritt's notable film appearances include MASH (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),[5] 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.

Skerritt guest-starred in the television series The Real McCoys (as a letter carrier), Bonanza (1964), "Twelve O'Clock High" (1966), Gunsmoke, 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 the film Steel Magnolias, set in Natchitoches, Louisiana.

He played the role of Ezekiel on ABC Family's Fallen miniseries. He also appeared as the guide on the showcase website for Microsoft's Windows Vista operating system. He lent his voice in the 2005 video game Gun, where he voices as Clay Allison.

He guest-starred in seasons three and four of Leverage as Nate Ford's father.[6]

In February 2012, Skerritt played the title role in Pacific Northwest Ballet's production of Don Quixote.[7]

In 2014, Skerritt was reunited with ex-Picket Fences co-star, Lauren Holly, to star with her in Field of Lost Shoes.[8]

Skerritt is a co-founder of TheFilmSchool, in which he is also an instructor.

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 has three sons and one daughter and an adopted daughter with his current wife.

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 Det. 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
1978 Up in Smoke Strawberry
Ice Castles Marcus Winston
1979 Alien Dallas DVDX Award for Best Audio Commentary (New for DVD) (2003 re-issue in Alien Quadrilogy, shared with Ridley Scott, Ronald Shusett, Terry Rawlings, Sigourney Weaver, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton and John Hurt)
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
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 Capt. Frank Sedman
Wild Orchid 2: Two Shades of Blue Ham McDonald Direct-to-video release
A River Runs Through It Reverend 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 (Grandpa)
2012 Ted Himself
2013 Redwood Highway Pete
2014 Field of Lost Shoes Ulysses S. Grant
2015 A Hologram for the King Filming

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
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

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 Twelve 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
Disney's Wonderful World Corky Mardis Episode: ...The Daily Press vs. City Hall
1965, 1966 The Fugitive Neely Hollister
Pete		 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 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 Sen. 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 S.W.A.T. 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 Det. Frank Sheen Episode: True Believer
The Parent Trap II Bill Grand ABC Television film
The New Twilight Zone Alex Mattingly Episode: What Are Friends For?
Danger Bay Don Bared Episode: The Fish Who Walks
1987 Poker Alice, based on the frontier gambler Poker Alice, with Elizabeth Taylor in the lead role Jeremy Collins CBS Television film
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 Sen. 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 Col. 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)[9]

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 (TV series) Episode "The Three Card Monte Job"
The Closer Joey O
2012 Leverage Jimmy Ford Episode: "The Radio Job"
White Collar Alan Mitchell Episode: "Pulling Strings"
2015 Madam Secretary Patrick McCord Episode: "Chains of Command"

Awards and nominations

Blockbuster Entertainment Awards

DVD Exclusive Awards

Emmy Awards

Genie Awards

Golden Globe Awards

National Board of Review of Motion Pictures

Saturn Awards

Screen Actors Guild Awards

Western Heritage Awards

References

  1. ↑ Dietrich, William (May 7, 2007). "A Familiar Face". The Seattle Times.
  2. ↑ Tom Skerritt Biography (1933-)
  3. ↑ Tom Skerritt Biography - Yahoo! Movies
  4. ↑ "NOTABLE ALUMNI ACTORS". UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. Retrieved September 29, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Ridley Scott Dishes the Dirt on the Upcoming Alien Prequel".
  6. ↑ "Exclusive: Look Who's Playing Nate's Dad on Leverage =TVGuide.com".
  7. ↑ La Rocco, Claudia (February 6, 2012). "Ratmansky's 'Don Quixote' Has Premiere in Seattle". The New York Times. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  8. ↑ http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/david-arquette-lauren-holly-join-562229
  9. ↑ Patriarchy at the Internet Movie Database

External links