Tom Skerritt was an Emmy Award-winning actor who worked in television and film. He played the lead role of Sheriff Jimmy Brock on Picket Fences and won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. Skerritt appeared on multiple episodes of the sixth season of Cheers and had a recurring role on Brothers & Sisters. He also made memorable appearances in various western series including Gunsmoke and The Virginian.

Skerritt had a long and productive career in film. He played prominent supporting roles in Alien, Contact, Top Gun, and Steel Magnolias. Skerritt also played a police chief in Smoke Signals and himself in the Seth MacFarlane comedy Ted.