As Commander Mike “Viper” Metcalf in the 1986 classic Top Gun, the versatile actor appeared alongside a young Tom Cruise in the blockbuster.
On television, he won an Emmy Award in 1993 for his role as Sheriff Jimmy Brock in David E Kelley’s drama Picket Fences.
The quirky procedural’s ensemble cast was nominated for SAG Awards in 1995 and 1996, and he received a nod for male actor in a drama series in 1995.
Picket Fences star Lauren Holly, who played Skerritt’s deputy on Picket Fences, described him in a tribute as “our leader”.
“His example made those years such a joy and we all loved and respected him so much,” Holly wrote, adding: “He cared deeply for his family-both the one at home and the one at work. He cared deeply for his planet, and all of its inhabitants. He had a huge impact on my life, and so many memories I have of him include sharing fits of crippling laughter.”
Skerritt also had guest roles on the small screen in The West Wing, Madam Secretary, Law & Order: SVU and Huff. He reteamed with Field as the family patriarch, William Walker, in the drama Brothers & Sisters from 2007-09.
He had a six-episode stint on Cheers playing Rebecca Howe’s crush-worthy boss Evan Drake.
In a statement, Skerritt’s family said that he leaves behind a “legacy that reaches far beyond the screen”.
A deep believer in the power of storytelling, Skerritt helped found the TheFilmSchool in Seattle and co-founded the Red Badge Project, which helps veterans work through PTSD, anxiety and depression by writing and sharing their experiences.
Inspired in part by his experience filming A River Runs Through It, he also believed in protecting the natural world.
He created the documentary series Reflections of the River about America’s rivers and supported river conservation.
Skerrit is survived by his third wife Julie, five children and several grandchildren.
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