Tom Skerritt

Biography for Tom Skerritt

Lean, ruggedly handsome leading man and supporting actor whose "outdoor" looks have improved with age, Tom Skerritt attended Wayne State University and UCLA, and was first noticed in a UCLA production of "The Rainmaker" before making his movie debut in War Hunt (1962). However, he spent most of the next decade in television, regularly appearing in "Combat!" (1962), "The Virginian" (1962), "Gunsmoke" (1955) and "Twelve O'Clock High" (1964). Skerritt's next big break was appearing alongside Donald Sutherland and Elliott Gould in Robert Altman's biting satire MASH (1970). Several other film roles quickly followed, before he landed the plum role of Capt. Dallas of the ill-fated commercial towing vehicle Nostromo in the creepy sci-fi epic Alien (1979).

Skerritt turned up again in another thriller playing a cop hunting a serial killer in the eerie The Dead Zone (1983), as a Navy Officer Flight instructor in Top Gun (1986) , in the six-chick flick Steel Magnolias (1989), and then as the poster boy for a "Guess" Jeans ad campaign utilizing his mature, weather-beaten features. Skerritt didn't neglect his TV background and reappeared on the small screen in "Cheers" (1982), The China Lake Murders (1990) (TV) and picked up an Emmy in 1994 for his performance as Sheriff Brock in the superb series "Picket Fences" (1992).

Skerritt has remained continually busy for the past decade, contributing natural, entertaining and reliable performances in TV series, made-for-TV movies and major theatrical releases. He recreated the role of Will Kane in the TV production of High Noon (2000) (TV), and appeared alongside Bruce Willis in the mercenary war drama Tears of the Sun (2003).

After studying art history, Tom Skerrit does a little theater and television then inaugurated his cinematographic career with the film La Guerre is also a hunt, where he rubs shoulders with beginners Robert Redford. He therefore became one of the most famous second roles in American cinema, especially, at first, in fantastic or police films.

In the early 1970s, M.A.S.H. And we are all thieves give him the opportunity to work for Robert Altman. He also worked for Blake Edwards (two men in the West) but did not accept recognition until 1979, with his role by Commander Dallas in Alien, the eighth passenger of Ridley Scott. Then follow remarkable services in Dead Zone (David Cronenberg - 1983), Top Gun (again Ridley Scott - 1986) and the next generation (Clint Eastwood - 1990).

In addition to an intense television activity, Tom Skerrit continues his adventure on the big screen. The age helping, his buried face allows him to camp more dramatic roles, as in women's gossip (Herbert Ross - 1989), and in the middle flows a river where he finds Robert Redford thirty years later, this time as that director, Singles (Cameron Crowe - 1992) or Contact (Robert Zemeckis - 1997).

In 2001, Tom Skerrit appeared in the Western Texas Rangers. Two years later, he accompanied Bruce Willis and Monica Bellucci in the tears of the sun, thriller directed by Antoine Fuqua.

Tom Skerritt is an American actor born August 25, 1933 in Detroit, Michigan. He has played in many films and television series during his career over 60 years.

Skerritt began his acting career in the early 1960s with roles in television series such as Gunsmoke and The Virginian. He also played in films such as Mash (1970) and The Devil's Brigade (1968).

In the 1970s, Skerritt began to make a name for itself in the world of cinema by playing in films such as Ice Castle (1970), The Turning Point (1977) and Alien (1979), in which he played the role of Captain Dallas.

Skerritt continued to play in films in the 1980s and 1990s, notably Top Gun (1986), A River Runs Through It (1992) and Contact (1997). He also continued to work in television series, especially in Picket Fells, for which he won an Emmy in 1993.

During his career, Skerritt was nominated for several prizes, including an Oscar in 1978 for his role in the film ECUUS. He also won numerous prizes for his performances, including a Golden Globe for his role in the film A River Runs Through It.

In addition to his acting career, Skerritt is also a retirement line pilot and an active environment defender. He is a member of the Association of Professional Line Pilots and was president of the Association of Cinema and television actors.

Photos

Filmography

Trivia

• Attended Wayne State University in Detroit Michigan.
• Plays the motorcycle cop in "Harold & Maude" but is billed in the credits as "M. Borman."
• Seldom seen on stage, Tom appeared with the late Lee Remick in a performance of "Love Letters" in 1990, her last appearance before her death from cancer. He also performed in the same play with Kathy Baker for several benefits in the Los Angeles area. In 2004 he returned once more as the Stage Manager in a Seattle production of "Our Town".

Quotes

"It's concentration and luck. There are many prominent people in this business who choose certain types of pictures and play a derivation of a certain character they always play so they are immediately identifiable -- and they are commercially successful because of it. I have never pursued that. I just do films that I would pay five bucks to see."

"I have never really capitalized effectively on the successful films I have appeared in. And I have been in some pretty damn good films. What it comes down to is what someone told me years ago -- if you have one hit and the next two are not successful, then you have to start from scratch again. That's what happened to me. It's like a game, I suppose, and I've been doing OK."

Family

• Spouse : Julie Tokashiki (1998 - present), Sue Oran (1977 - 1992) (divorced) 1 child, Skerritt, Charlotte (1960 - 1972) (divorced) 3 children
• Children: Andy (b. 1962), Erin (b. 1964) and Matt (b. 1969) with Charlotte Skerritt and Colin (b. 1978) with Sue Skerritt.

Author of the card

• Creation date: 10/12/2007 by abdest