Tom Skerritt, Emmy-Winning 'Picket Fences' and 'Top Gun' Actor, Dies at 93

Q: What hidden legacy did Top Gun star Tom Skerritt leave behind for struggling veterans that rivals his Hollywood fame?

Tom Skerritt’s most significant lesser-known legacy was his work for veterans through the Red Badge Project, which he co-founded to help former service members cope with PTSD, anxiety and depression. The project used storytelling and writing as therapy, giving veterans a structured way to process trauma, rebuild self-worth and reconnect with community. Its mission was to help wounded warriors “discover and give voice to their unique stories,” with goals that included improved self-acceptance, stronger communication skills and a renewed sense of purpose. That work reflected a cause Skerritt cared about deeply beyond Hollywood. His family said he was committed to service, veterans and helping others share their voices. In later life, that commitment extended from mentoring young filmmakers through TheFilmSchool in Seattle to supporting veterans directly through the Red Badge Project. So while audiences remember Skerritt as Viper in *Top Gun* and for roles in *Alien*, *M*A*S*H* and *Picket Fences*, his hidden legacy was using the power of storytelling to help struggling veterans heal.

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Oct 22

Tom Skerritt died Wednesday at 93, his family said, ending a screen career that stretched nearly six decades.
Best known to many TV viewers as Sheriff Jimmy Brock in CBS's 1992-96 drama "Picket Fences," he won the 1993 Emmy for lead actor in a drama series.
Film audiences knew him from "MAS*H" in 1970, "Alien" in 1979 and "Top Gun" in 1986, where he played the flight instructor Viper opposite Tom Cruise.
Those roles established Skerritt as a durable presence in authority-figure parts — military officers, lawmen and fathers — across film and television.