Veteran Hollywood actor Tom Skerritt, best known for his memorable roles in “Picket Fences,” “Top Gun,” and “Alien,” has died at the age of 93.

Skerritt died Wednesday, October 21, of natural causes, his publicist told Variety. His death marks the loss of a familiar Hollywood face whose career spanned more than six decades.

With his rugged appearance, distinctive mustache and commanding presence, Skerritt was a versatile actor known for roles ranging from military officers and sheriffs to fathers and religious leaders.

He was perhaps best known to television audiences for playing Sheriff Jimmy Brock on the CBS drama “Picket Fences,” which aired from 1992 to 1996. The role earned him a Primetime Emmy Award in 1993, along with another nomination the following year.

Moviegoers will remember Skerritt as Commander Mike “Viper” Metcalf, the seasoned flight instructor who mentored Tom Cruise’s character in the 1986 blockbuster “Top Gun.”

He also starred as Captain Dallas in Ridley Scott’s groundbreaking 1979 science-fiction horror film “Alien,” appearing alongside Sigourney Weaver.

One of Skerritt’s most meaningful dramatic roles came in the 1992 film “A River Runs Through It,” directed by Robert Redford.

In the acclaimed drama, Skerritt portrayed the Rev. John Maclean, a Presbyterian minister raising two sons, played by Brad Pitt and Craig Sheffer, in early 20th-century Montana.

The film explores faith, family, forgiveness and the bonds between parents and children. Skerritt’s character is a devoted minister whose Christian beliefs shape his household as he struggles to understand his sons’ different paths.

Variety praised his performance, writing that Skerritt “discreetly reveals the loving core inside the reedy exterior of the boys’ preacher father.”

Skerritt portrayed a man of deep Christian faith in the film, but the character’s beliefs should not be confused with the actor’s views.

Born Thomas Roy Skerritt in Detroit, Michigan, in 1933, he served in the U.S. Air Force and attended Wayne State University and UCLA before pursuing a career in acting.

He made his feature film debut in the 1962 Korean War drama “War Hunt” and gained wider recognition in Robert Altman’s 1970 film “MASH,” playing surgeon Duke Forrest.

His extensive film credits also included “The Turning Point,” “The Dead Zone,” “Steel Magnolias,” “Contact,” and “Tears of the Sun.”

Skerritt remained active in television well beyond his “Picket Fences” years, appearing in popular series including “Cheers,” “The West Wing,” “Brothers & Sisters,” “The Good Wife,” and “Madam Secretary.”

Away from the spotlight, Skerritt was married three times. His first two marriages, to Charlotte Shanks and Sue Oran, ended in divorce. He married Julie Tokashiki in 1998.

He is survived by Tokashiki and his four children, Andy, Matt, Erin and Colin.

Skerritt leaves behind a Hollywood legacy, remembered for his understated performances, memorable characters and lasting impact on television viewers and moviegoers.