US actor Tom Skerritt dies aged 93

[Barbara On A Broomstick]

He was a good character actor
RIP Tom Skellett

BBC News - US actor Tom Skerritt, who starred in Picket Fences, Mash and Alien, dies aged 93

US actor Tom Skerritt, who starred in Picket Fences, Mash and Alien, dies aged 93

The actor died on Wednesday of natural causes, his family said.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[CryptCreeper72]

Man, I just saw the news about his passing. He was such a great actor. As good as the ladies were in Steel Magnolias, he really helped make that movie so much better.

RIP

 

[Spooky Owl!]

Just saw him yesterday on one of his many GUNSMOKE appearances. Angie Dickinson, when asked by Joan Rivers in the '80s which actor she'd worked with had had the best physique, Angie reluctantly responded, "Ohhhh, I don't care about that." When Joan pressed, Angie answered, "Tom Skerritt had a good body."

She can't be that far behind...

 

[Spooky Owl!]

Long and varied career.

He didn't really need the mustache, but it worked.

 

[Spooky Owl!]

 

[Frankenstein Underworld]

Long and varied career.

He didn't really need the mustache, but it worked.

It's funny how some guys look completely different with and without a mustache, but he's still completely recognizable without it.

 

[Scorp Noire]

I was so sad to hear of his passing. One of those who brought his best in every single role he played. RIP

 

[Crimson]

I'm surprised to find out he was 93 -- and pushing 50 when he appeared in ALIEN.

RIP

 

[Werewillie Oleson]

I associate the name with sheriff characters, but not a specific film.

Also, I wonder if the RIP/sad feeling comes from the fact that he died or from the sudden awareness that we forgot to celebrate his work when he was still alive (this might be the first time he's mentioned on this forum).
I'm not saying this to critcise, I'm just curious about the psyche behind the reactions.

 

[Spooky Owl!]

I associate the name with sheriff characters, but not a specific film.

Also, I wonder if the RIP/sad feeling comes from the fact that he died or from the sudden awareness that we forgot to celebrate his work when he was still alive (this might be the first time he's mentioned on this forum).
I'm not saying this to critcise, I'm just curious about the psyche behind the reactions.

I don't think so. He was one of those actors who while never quite became "a star" was nonetheless prolific and had a cuddly appeal. I was watching him in something only hours before he died.

 

[Werewillie Oleson]

I was watching him in something only hours before he died.

*cough*jinx*cough*

 

[Spooky Owl!]

*cough*jinx*cough*

I don't know what that means. But I mentioned it above -- I saw him in one of his numerous GUNSMOKE appearances that day. (This is not highly unlikely statistically, as a station here runs 21 episodes of GUNSMOKE a week).

Skerritt is one of those actors people don't tend to really talk about, and he never pimped his personal life in the press. But he was someone everyone was kind of aware of when he appeared on screen.

 

[Werewillie Oleson]

Skerritt is one of those actors people don't tend to really talk about

I think that applies to most actors.

but he was someone everyone was kind of aware of when he appeared on screen.

Apparently, I wasn't. Or at least not in the sense that I remember thinking "oh yeah, that's Tom Skerritt".
Might be a cultural thing.

 

[Spooky Owl!]

I think that applies to most actors.

But they don't all have the same appeal while they're not being talked about.

Might be a cultural thing.

But wouldn't that require him being talked about?

 

[Werewillie Oleson]

But they don't all have the same appeal while they're not being talked about.

No, not all, but many of them have.
How often do we discuss Isabelle Adjani in her role of the tragic stalker Adèle Hugo (daughter of Victor)? Not to mention what she did in Possession (1981).
Does she not have appeal enough?
Many European and British actors are not "movie stars", they're just very good at doing what they do. Maybe you'll find an obscure interview on youtube and that's it.

 

[Spooky Owl!]

No, not all, but many of them have.
How often do we discuss Isabelle Adjani in her role of the tragic stalker Adèle Hugo (daughter of Victor)? Not to mention what she did in Possession (1981).
Does she not have appeal enough?

She may have plenty of appeal. But that appeal doesn't always create discussion. Just as you point out we've never really talk about Skerritt.

 

[Werewillie Oleson]

Just as you point out we've never really talk about Skerritt.

And his death changed that. So why is that appeal more important when it's no longer there to enjoy? (though he was no longer super-active, for obvious reasons).

More importantly, who'd want to sit through 600 + episodes of Gunsmoke ? It sounds like torture.

 

[Spooky Owl!]

And his death changed that. So why is that appeal more important when it's no longer there to enjoy? (though he was no longer super-active, for obvious reasons).

I dunno. A sense of loss? People do that.

More importantly, who'd want to sit through 600 + episodes of Gunsmoke ? It sounds like torture.

I haven't. It's, at times, taxing. Like any long-running show, there are better ones and worse ones, better seasons and lesser seasons.

It's what we discuss here on TellyTalk, where we talk about the telly.