--- name: "Tom Skerritt" canonical: "https://film.one/person/tom-skerritt" fi1m_id: "tom-skerritt" imdb_id: "nm0000643" tmdb_id: 4139 wikidata_id: "Q320093" roles: ["Actor"] born: "25 August 1933" reviewed_on_fi1m: 11 average_fi1m_score: 73 average_as: "actor" average_over: 11 updated: "2026-10-09T04:02:55.059581+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Tom Skerritt ## Identity Tom Skerritt - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/tom-skerritt - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** tom-skerritt - **IMDb ID:** nm0000643 - **TMDB ID:** 4139 - **Wikidata ID:** Q320093 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Skerritt, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q320093, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000643/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/4139 Actor. Born 25 August 1933 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 25 August 1933, Detroit, Michigan, USA - **Active:** 1970–2017 - **Also known as:** Tom Skerrit, Thomas Roy Skerritt, Τομ Σκέριτ, 汤姆·斯凯里特, 톰 스커릿, 湯姆·史基瑞, M. Borman, تام اسکریت, Thomas Skerritt - **Frequently works with:** [Harry Dean Stanton](https://film.one/person/harry-dean-stanton.md), [Herbert Ross](https://film.one/person/herbert-ross.md), [John Hurt](https://film.one/person/john-hurt.md), [Shirley MacLaine](https://film.one/person/shirley-maclaine.md) - **Primetime Emmy Awards:** 1 Emmy (1 won) - **Average Fi1m score:** 73, as actor, over 11 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 74 (5), 1980s 73 (3), 1990s 75 (2), 2010s 64 (1) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 75 to 69 across 9 titles - **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 7 at 60–79, 1 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 1 of 9 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 7, Comedy 6, Romance 4, Science Fiction 3, Horror 2, Action 1 - **Screen time:** 20 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $1,441m across 9 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Skerritt, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q320093, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000643/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/4139 ## Streaming the US now - **Netflix:** [*Alien*](https://film.one/film/alien.md) (92), [*Steel Magnolias*](https://film.one/film/steel-magnolias.md) (67) - **Pluto TV:** [*The Dead Zone*](https://film.one/film/the-dead-zone.md) (82) - **The Roku Channel:** [*Singles*](https://film.one/film/singles.md) (74) - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*M*A*S*H*](https://film.one/film/m-a-s-h.md) (72) - **Hulu:** [*Top Gun*](https://film.one/film/top-gun.md) (71) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Tom Skerritt > Tom Skerritt makes authority look like an ordinary job. We rate his understated acting especially highly in *Alien*, where his ease among the crew makes the danger harder to dismiss. In *Alien* (1979), Tom Skerritt’s Dallas seems used to the people around him, and they seem used to him. Alongside Harry Dean Stanton and Yaphet Kotto, he helps make the crew feel as though they have already spent too long in one another’s company. There is no need to announce the shared history; the actors’ ease does the work. We were frightened because the danger was interrupting people whose working lives we believed in. Ridley Scott makes good use of that ordinariness, letting Skerritt establish Dallas’s authority without setting him apart from the crew. Beside him, Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley responds to danger with a concentration that makes each decision feel practical and urgent. The crew could have been more fully written, and Skerritt cannot supply everything the screenplay leaves out. We would not ask for a showier performance to compensate; the lack of fuss is part of what makes the film frightening. His breakthrough came as Duke Forrest in Robert Altman’s *M*A*S*H* (1970), before the captains and sheriffs became such a familiar part of his work. Tony Scott used him as the mentor Viper in *Top Gun* (1986); Robert Redford cast him as Reverend Maclean in *A River Runs Through It* (1992). The appeal of that casting is easy to understand. Skerritt can suggest experience without making every line sound like advice. *Picket Fences* (1992–1996) gave him a television lead as Sheriff Jimmy Brock, and *East of the Mountains* (2021) allowed that restrained, dignified acting to carry a film later in his career. Those leading parts are a useful reminder not to mistake an actor who does little fussing for one who has little to offer. We would still begin with *Alien*, watching how much Skerritt contributes before the shocks arrive. Do not wait for a grand speech to decide whether he is doing anything. ## Biography Tom Skerritt is an American actor. Born on 25 August 1933 in Detroit, Michigan, he has worked in film and television since 1962. His film roles include Duke Forrest in *M*A*S*H* (1970), Dallas in *Alien* (1979), Viper in *Top Gun* (1986) and David Drumlin in *Contact* (1997). On television he played the lead in the series *Picket Fences* (1992–1996), winning a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 1993. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (11) - *Ted* (2012), Fi1m 64, as Tom Skerritt — [page](https://film.one/film/ted.md) - *Contact* (1997), Fi1m 76, as David Drumlin — [page](https://film.one/film/contact.md) - *Singles* (1992), Fi1m 74, as Mayor Weber — [page](https://film.one/film/singles.md) - *Steel Magnolias* (1989), Fi1m 67, as Drum Eatenton — [page](https://film.one/film/steel-magnolias.md) - *Top Gun* (1986), Fi1m 71, as Viper — [page](https://film.one/film/top-gun.md) - *The Dead Zone* (1983), Fi1m 82, as Sheriff Bannerman — [page](https://film.one/film/the-dead-zone.md) - *Alien* (1979), Fi1m 92, as Dallas — [page](https://film.one/film/alien.md) - *Up in Smoke* (1978), Fi1m 56, as Strawberry — [page](https://film.one/film/up-in-smoke.md) - *The Turning Point* (1977), Fi1m 70, as Wayne — [page](https://film.one/film/the-turning-point.md) - *Harold and Maude* (1971), Fi1m 81, as Motorcycle Officer — [page](https://film.one/film/harold-and-maude.md) - *M*A*S*H* (1970), Fi1m 72, as Duke Forrest — [page](https://film.one/film/m-a-s-h.md) ## Complete filmography (168) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Broke* (2025), as Cliff - *Going Home* (2022), series, as Vance Baker - *East of the Mountains* (2021), as Ben Givens · Executive Producer - *Catch the Bullet* (2021), as Dex - *The Phantom 52* (2019), as The Phantom - *Lucky* (2017), as Fred - *Day of Days* (2017), as Walter - *Journey Back to Christmas* (2016), as Tobias Cook - *A Hologram for the King* (2016), as Ron Clay - *Field of Lost Shoes* (2015), as Ulysses S. Grant - *Madam Secretary* (2014), series, as Patrick McCord - *The Rocky Mountain Fly Highway* (2014), as Narrator (voice) - *Wings: Sky Force Heroes* (2014), as Colonel (voice) - *At Middleton* (2013), as Roland Emerson - *Redwood Highway* (2013), as Pete Peterson - *Ted* (2012), as Tom Skerritt — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/ted.md) - *Soda Springs* (2012), as Walt Jackson - *Redemption Road* (2011), as Santa - *Your Love Never Fails* (2011), as Jack Connors - *Over Hawaii* (2011), as Narrator (voice) - *Soaring Over America* (2010), Actor - *The Legend of Pancho Barnes and the Happy Bottom Riding Club* (2009), as Narrator - *For Sale by Owner* (2009), as Clive Farrier - *White Collar* (2009), series, as Alan Mitchell - *Seattle’s Forgotten World’s Fair: The Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition* (2009), as Narrator (voice) - *The Good Wife* (2009), series, as James Paisley — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-good-wife.md) - *Whiteout* (2009), as Dr. John Fury - *The Velveteen Rabbit* (2009), as Horse (voice) - *Leverage* (2008), series, as Jimmy Ford - *Beer for My Horses* (2008), as Sheriff Wilson Landry - *Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde* (2008), as Gabe Utterson - *The Trojan Horse* (2008), series, as President Stanfield - *Fallen* (2007), series, as Zeke - *Killer Wave* (2007), series, as Victor Bannister - *Brothers and Sisters* (2006), series, as William Walker - *Bonneville* (2006), as Emmett L. Johnson - *Fallen* (2006), as Zeke - *Desperation* (2006), as John Edward Marinville - *Mammoth* (2006), as Simon Abernathy - *Category 7: The End of the World* (2005), series, as Colonel Mike Davis - *The Closer* (2005), series, as Det. Joey 'O' Olin - *Vinegar Hill* (2005), as Fritz Grier - *Huff* (2004), series, Actor - *The Grid* (2004), series, Actor - *Homeland Security* (2004), as Admiral McKee - *Homeland Security* (2004), series, as Admiral Theodore McKee - *Path to War* (2003), as William Westmoreland - *Swing* (2003), as George Verdi - *Tears of the Sun* (2003), as Captain Bill Rhodes - *Greenmail* (2002), as Tom Bradshaw - *The Dead Zone* (2002), series, as Herb Smith - *Changing Hearts* (2002), as Johnny Pinkley - *Texas Rangers* (2001), as Richard Dukes - *Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis* (2000), series, as Joseph P. "Joe" Kennedy - *Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis* (2000), as Joseph P. "Joe" Kennedy - *High Noon* (2000), as Will Kane - *An American Daughter* (2000), as Walter - *Aftershock: Earthquake in New York* (1999), series, as Thomas Ahearn - *The West Wing* (1999), series, as Chris Carrick — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-west-wing.md) - *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Oliver Taft - *The Hunt for the Unicorn Killer* (1999), as Fred Maddux - *The Hunt For The Unicorn Killer* (1999), series, as Fred Maddux - *Into the Wild Blue* (1999), as Host - *The Other Sister* (1999), as Radley Tate - *Will & Grace* (1998), series, as Dr. Jay Markus - *Smoke Signals* (1998), as Police Chief - *Two for Texas* (1998), as Sam Houston - *What the Deaf Man Heard* (1997), as Norm Jenkins - *Contact* (1997), as David Drumlin — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/contact.md) - *Divided by Hate* (1997), as Steve Riordan · Director - *E! True Hollywood Story* (1996), series, Actor - *Over America* (1995), Actor - *Chicago Hope* (1994), series, as Jim Kellner - *Over California* (1994), as Narrator (voice) - *A River Runs Through It* (1992), as Reverend Maclean - *Singles* (1992), as Mayor Weber — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/singles.md) - *Picket Fences* (1992), series, as Jimmy Brock - *Getting Up and Going Home* (1992), as Jack Montgomery - *Poison Ivy* (1992), as Darryl Cooper - *In Sickness and in Health* (1992), as Jerritt Mattison - *Knight Moves* (1992), as Frank Sedman - *Wild Orchid II: Two Shades of Blue* (1991), as Ham McDonald - *The Rookie* (1990), as Eugene Ackerman - *She'll Take Romance* (1990), as Judge Warren Danvers - *A Question About Sex* (1990), as Jim · Director - *Child in the Night* (1990), as Detective Bass - *The China Lake Murders* (1990), as Sheriff Sam Brodie - *Big Man on Campus* (1989), as Dr. Webster - *Red King, White Knight* (1989), as Stoner - *Steel Magnolias* (1989), as Drum Eatenton — Fi1m 67, [page](https://film.one/film/steel-magnolias.md) - *The Heist* (1989), as Ebbet Berens - *Poltergeist III* (1988), as Bruce Gardner - *Nightmare at Bittercreek* (1988), as Ding - *Moving Target* (1988), as Joseph Kellogg - *Honor Bound* (1988), as Sam Cahill - *The Big Town* (1987), as Phil Carpenter - *Maid to Order* (1987), as Charles Montgomery - *Poker Alice* (1987), as Jeremy Collins - *Wisdom* (1986), as Lloyd Wisdom - *Miles to Go…* (1986), as Stuart Browning - *Opposing Force* (1986), as Logan - *The Parent Trap II* (1986), as Bill Grand - *SpaceCamp* (1986), as Zack - *Top Gun* (1986), as Viper — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/film/top-gun.md) - *Danger Bay* (1985), series, as Don Bared - *The Twilight Zone* (1985), series, as (segment "What Are Friends For?") - *A Touch of Scandal* (1984), as Father Dwelle - *Calendar Girl Murders* (1984), as Lieutenant Dan Stoner - *The Hitchhiker* (1983), series, as Detective Frank Sheen - *The Dead Zone* (1983), as Sheriff Bannerman — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/the-dead-zone.md) - *Ryan's Four* (1983), series, as Dr. Thomas Ryan - *A Dangerous Summer* (1982), as Howard Anderson - *Cheers* (1982), series, as Evan Drake — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/cheers.md) - *Fighting Back* (1982), as John D'Angelo - *Silence of the North* (1981), as Walter Reamer - *Savage Harvest* (1981), as Casey - *Alien* (1979), as Dallas — Fi1m 92, [page](https://film.one/film/alien.md) - *Ice Castles* (1978), as Marcus Winston - *Up in Smoke* (1978), as Strawberry — Fi1m 56, [page](https://film.one/film/up-in-smoke.md) - *Maneaters Are Loose!* (1978), as John Gosford - *The Turning Point* (1977), as Wayne — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/the-turning-point.md) - *Origins of the Mafia* (1976), series, as Bernardino Campo - *Plot of Fear* (1976), as Chief Inspector - *La madama* (1976), as Jack - *The Devil’s Rain* (1975), as Tom Preston - *S.W.A.T.* (1975), series, Actor - *The Last Day* (1975), as Bill Powers - *Baretta* (1975), series, Actor - *Big Bad Mama* (1974), as Fred - *Kolchak: The Night Stalker* (1974), series, as Robert W. Palmer - *The Manhunter* (1974), series, Actor - *Run, Run, Joe!* (1974), as Margherito - *Thieves Like Us* (1974), as Dee Mobley - *Get Christie Love!* (1974), series, Actor - *The Birdmen* (1973), as Orville Fitzgerald - *ABC Afterschool Special* (1972), series, Director - *Fuzz* (1972), as Det. Bert Kling - *Harold and Maude* (1971), as Motorcycle Officer — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/harold-and-maude.md) - *Nichols* (1971), series, as Charley Doyle - *Cannon* (1971), series, as Bud - *Wild Rovers* (1971), as John Buckman - *The Moonshine War* (1970), as Neighbor (uncredited) - *M*A*S*H* (1970), as Duke Forrest — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/m-a-s-h.md) - *Hawaii Five-O* (1969), series, as Lew Morgan - *Lancer* (1968), series, Actor - *The Outsider* (1968), series, as Arnie Cambor - *A Bell for Adano* (1967), as Sgt. Trapani - *Mannix* (1967), series, as Morgan Carpenter - *Cimarron Strip* (1967), series, as Enoch Shelton - *Felony Squad* (1966), series, Actor - *The Time Tunnel* (1966), series, as Matthew Gebhardt - *The Further Adventures of Gallegher* (1965), as Corky Mardis - *The F.B.I.* (1965), series, as Robert Hastings, John Clarence Rim, Thorn Hazard, Bill Leonard - *Run for Your Life* (1965), series, as Lou Patterson - *Those Calloways* (1964), as Whit Turner - *12 O'Clock High* (1964), series, as Lt. Paddy Gialella, Lt. Steve Parmalee - *One Man's Way* (1964), as Leonard Peale, Grown - *The Fugitive* (1963), series, as Neely Hollister, Pete Edwards — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-fugitive-1963.md) - *Combat!* (1962), series, as Hicks, Burke, Sgt. Decker - *The Alfred Hitchcock Hour* (1962), series, as Frank Farmer - *The Virginian* (1962), series, as Eric Kroeger, Rev. Paul Martinson, Billy Landers, Moran - *War Hunt* (1962), as Sgt. Stan Showalter - *Bonanza* (1959), series, as Jerry, Corporal Bill Tanner - *The Real McCoys* (1957), series, as Mailman - *Wagon Train* (1957), series, as Hamish Browne - *Gunsmoke* (1955), series, as Edmund Dano, Ben Stone, Orv Timpson, Fred Garth, Tuck Frye - *The Wonderful World of Disney* (1954), series, as Corky Mardis - *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Norm Jenkins ## Gallery - ![Tom Skerritt](https://film.one/media/person/59538/gallery-ff13f6ed8964.jpg) Tom Skerritt — Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Tom_Skerritt_2014_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Tom_Skerritt_2014_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Tom Skerritt](https://film.one/media/person/59538/gallery-a192c5f61ee3.jpg) Tom Skerritt — Image via TMDB - ![Tom Skerritt](https://film.one/media/person/59538/gallery-178cc0b9da22.jpg) Tom Skerritt — Image via TMDB - ![Tom Skerritt](https://film.one/media/person/59538/gallery-ad0c81be50af.jpg) Tom Skerritt — Image via TMDB - ![Tom Skerritt](https://film.one/media/person/59538/gallery-365405fdefd1.jpg) Tom Skerritt — Image via TMDB - ![Tom Skerritt](https://film.one/media/person/59538/gallery-68675b3e4816.jpg) Tom Skerritt — Image via TMDB - ![Tom Skerritt](https://film.one/media/person/59538/gallery-8b40cb7f213f.jpg) Tom Skerritt — Image via TMDB ## Awards ### Primetime Emmy Awards — 1 won - 1993: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (won), for *Picket Fences* *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/tom-skerritt