Tom Skerritt is an actor you have probably seen many times, even if you never learned his name. This Tom Skerritt biography tells you who he is, how old he is now, who his family is, and what he has done in a career that has lasted more than sixty years.
Who Is Tom Skerritt and Why Does He Matter?
Picture a great football team. The star who scores gets the cheers, but the player who holds the line and makes the right pass is the reason the team wins. Tom Skerritt has spent his life playing that kind of person on screen. He is calm, solid and easy to trust.
His full name is Thomas Roy Skerritt. He is an American actor who has appeared in more than forty films and more than two hundred television episodes since 1962. People know him from M*A*S*H, Alien, Top Gun, A River Runs Through It and the TV series Picket Fences, which won him an Emmy Award.
| Quick Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Thomas Roy Skerritt |
| Date of birth | August 25, 1933 |
| Birthplace | Detroit, Michigan, United States |
| Age | 93 years old |
| Job | Actor, producer, teacher |
| Spouse | Julie Tokashiki |
| Best known for | M*A*S*H, Alien, Top Gun, Picket Fences |
Current Status as of October 23, 2026
Important date: Tom Skerritt turned 93 on August 25, 2026.
Here is an honest update. Based on the sources checked for this article, Tom Skerritt is alive and still in the public eye. A report from March 2026 said he was seen at a fan meet and greet at age 92. In May 2026, Top Gun returned to cinemas for its 40th anniversary, which put his role as Viper back on the big screen. He also keeps supporting veterans through his charity work. We did not find a confirmed new film role at the time of writing.
Early Life and Family Background
Tom grew up in Detroit as the youngest of three children. His home was a normal working family home. There were no film stars in the house. Acting came to him later, after he finished school and spent time in the military. That is part of why his roles feel so real. He plays men who look like people you might actually know.
Parents
His parents were Roy and Helen Skerritt. Reports describe his father as a businessman and his mother as a homemaker. Tom was their last child.
Education
After high school, Tom joined the US Air Force and served at Bergstrom Air Force Base in Texas. When he left the service, he used the GI Bill, a program that helps former soldiers pay for school. He studied at Henry Ford College, Wayne State University and the University of California, Los Angeles. He began acting on screen in 1962.
State of Origin
Tom is from Michigan. He was born in Detroit. Since the late 1980s he has lived in the state of Washington, in the Seattle area, and he and his second wife once ran a bed and breakfast on Lopez Island.
Age
Tom was born on August 25, 1933. That makes him 93 years old as of October 23, 2026. He is one of the oldest working names from the golden years of American film.
Height
His height is not listed the same way everywhere. Several profiles say he is about 5 feet 11 inches, which is around 1.80 meters. A few older pages say 6 feet. So the safe answer is about six feet tall.
Religion
Tom has not spoken much in public about his faith, and we found no trusted source that states his religion. We will not guess. If he shares it someday, this page can be updated.
Career
Tom made his film debut in the 1962 war movie War Hunt. For years he took small parts on television, including shows such as Combat! and Gunsmoke. Then Robert Altman cast him as Duke Forrest in M*A*S*H in 1970, and his name began to grow.
In 1979 he played Captain Dallas in Alien. Fans still talk about how his character is removed from the story so that Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley could take the lead. In 1986 he played Commander Mike “Viper” Metcalf in Top Gun, the wise teacher of the young pilots. In the 1990s he played Sheriff Jimmy Brock in Picket Fences and won an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.
| Title | His Role or Note |
|---|---|
| War Hunt (1962) | Film debut |
| M*A*S*H (1970) | Captain Augustus Bedford “Duke” Forrest |
| Alien (1979) | Captain Dallas |
| Top Gun (1986) | Commander Mike “Viper” Metcalf |
| A River Runs Through It (1992) | Supporting role |
| Picket Fences (1992 to 1996) | Sheriff Jimmy Brock, Emmy winner |
| East of the Mountains (2021) | Lead role at age 88 |
Even after he turned eighty, Tom kept working. In 2021 he took the lead role in East of the Mountains, a quiet drama about a retired doctor facing the end of his life. It was his first starring film role at age 88. Many fans see this as proof that real talent has no age limit, and it shows why people still hire him today.
Good to know: Tom also helped start TheFilmSchool in Seattle with writer Stewart Stern, and in 2012 he co-founded the Red Badge Project with Army veteran Evan Bailey. The project uses storytelling to help veterans with post traumatic stress.
Wife and Children
Tom has been married three times. His first wife was Charlotte Shanks. They married in 1957 and divorced in 1972. They have three children: Erin, Andy and Matt. His second wife was Susan “Sue” Oran. They married in 1977 and divorced in 1992. They have a son named Colin.
His third and current wife is Julie Tokashiki. Reports say they met while he was working on Picket Fences, where she worked as a studio executive. Sources do not agree on the exact wedding year, so we leave it out. They have a daughter named Emi, who was adopted.
| Spouse | Married | Children |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte Shanks | 1957 (divorced 1972) | Erin, Andy, Matt |
| Susan Oran | 1977 (divorced 1992) | Colin |
| Julie Tokashiki | Current wife | Emi |
Net Worth
Tom Skerritt’s net worth is usually given as between 8 million and 12 million US dollars. Popular celebrity money sites give the most common figures. One page claims 50 million, but that number looks too high and has no clear source.
Please note: Net worth numbers are estimates made from public information. Nobody outside his family knows the true amount.
Social Media and Official Profile Link
You can see his full work list on his IMDb page. We could not confirm an official personal account on any social network, and fake fan accounts do exist. So we only link to a page we could check.
FAQ
How old is Tom Skerritt?
Tom Skerritt is 93 years old. He was born on August 25, 1933, and he turned 93 in August 2026.
Is Tom Skerritt still alive?
Yes. Based on the latest reports we found, he is alive. In March 2026 he was seen meeting fans, and in May 2026 Top Gun returned to cinemas for its 40th anniversary.
Who is Tom Skerritt’s wife?
His wife is Julie Tokashiki. She is his third wife. His first two marriages were to Charlotte Shanks and Susan Oran.
What is Tom Skerritt’s net worth?
Most sources place it between 8 million and 12 million US dollars. These are estimates, not proven numbers.
What is Tom Skerritt best known for?
He is best known for M*A*S*H, Alien, Top Gun, A River Runs Through It and the TV show Picket Fences, which earned him an Emmy Award.
Where was Tom Skerritt born?
He was born in Detroit, Michigan, in the United States. He now lives in the Seattle area of Washington state.
Final Word
The Tom Skerritt biography is the story of a man who built a long career without chasing noise. He grew up in Detroit, served in the Air Force, studied acting, and slowly became a face that audiences trust. At 93, he is still part of the conversation.
He has also used his name to help others, especially veterans who need a safe place to tell their stories. That work may last as long as his films do.
If you enjoyed this page, watch Alien or Top Gun again and look for the steady man in the middle of the action. Now you know who he is.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. Details such as net worth, height and marriage dates come from public sources that sometimes disagree, and they may change. Please check official sources before relying on any fact here.
