Tom Skerritt dies at 93: the Top Gun, Alien and Picket Fences actor won an Emmy in 1993

Tom Skerritt, the American actor known for Top Gun, Alien and the TV series Picket Fences, has died at the age of 93. His publicist confirmed the death to CBS News on Thursday, saying he died on Wednesday 21 October of natural causes. "We are heartbroken by his loss," his family said in a statement.

The roles people remember

Skerritt had one of those faces audiences knew even when they could not place the name. His best-known parts:

Role years are from his filmography on Wikipedia.

Viper, Dallas and an Emmy

In Top Gun Skerritt was Viper, the commander of the Navy's fighter school and the instructor of Tom Cruise's Maverick. In Alien he was Captain Dallas, who led the crew of the spaceship Nostromo.

On television he led Picket Fences, a small-town drama, playing Sheriff Jimmy Brock for four seasons and 87 episodes. The part won him the 1993 Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.

A life before Hollywood

Skerritt was born in Detroit, Michigan, in August 1933 and served in the US Air Force before turning to acting, CBS News noted. He was a father of five.

His death comes a day after another Hollywood loss we reported, Dame Judi Dench saying she can no longer act or read because of macular degeneration.