Skerritt was born inDetroit,Michigan, the son of Helen, a homemaker, and Roy Skerritt, a businessman. He is the youngest of three children.[1][2][3][4] A 1951 graduate of Detroit'sMackenzie High School,[4] Skerritt enlisted just after graduating from high school, serving a four-year tour of duty in theUnited States Air Force as a classifications specialist. Most of his enlistment was spent atBergstrom Field, Austin, Texas.[5]
After his service, Skerritt attendedWayne State University and theUniversity of California, Los Angeles. He had initial interests in majoring in English but veered towards directing. It was his appearance in a production ofThe Rainmaker that got Skerritt noticed to act in his first feature film.[6]
Skerritt played a guest part inRay Walston's showMy Favorite Martian in the 1963 episode "Mrs. Jekyll and Hyde" (Walston was a regular cast member thirty years later in Skerritt's showPicket Fences). He also guest-starred in the television seriesThe Real McCoys (1963), as a letter carrier in the episode "Aunt Win Steps In". He was cast inBonanza in 1964 and inDeath Valley Days in 1965, as a young gambler, Patrick Hogan, who meets a tragic fate after winning a small fortune in a saloon. In anotherDeath Valley Days episode, "A Sense of Justice" (1966), he played a youngRoy Bean with his elder brother,Joshua Bean, played byTris Coffin. In a laterDeath Valley Days role, Skerritt playedMark Twain in the 1968 episode "Ten Day Millionaires", withDabney Coleman as Twain's mining partner, Calvin H. Higby. The two lose a fortune in gold, but Twain learns his future is in writing. In 1972, Skerritt guest-starred in an episode ofCannon, titled "Nobody Beats the House", playing the role of a young gambler.[8] In 1975, he guest-starred in another episode ofCannon titled "The Conspirators", playing the role of a corrupt sheriff.[9]
His agent,Meyer Mishkin, recounted in a 1978Los Angeles Times profile that Skerritt was relegated to a series of obscure Europeanwesterns after his early 1970s film success. Mishkin took credit for obtaining for Skerritt his co-starring role inThe Turning Point (1977), effectively salvaging his career, and earning him a Best Supporting ActorNational Board of Review Award in the process.[10]
Skerritt appeared in the ABC seriesTwelve O'Clock High (1964–1967, five episodes);Gunsmoke (1965–1972, also five episodes), and asEvan Drake onCheers. He then appeared inCBS'sPicket Fences (1992–1996), in the role of Sheriff Jimmy Brock, for which he won anEmmy Award.
Skerritt in 2014
He portrayed the deceased William Walker inBrothers & Sisters, having appeared in the pilot and several flashbacks scenes. This was his second time playing the husband of a character played bySally Field; the first was inSteel Magnolias.
He played the role of Ezekiel inABC Family's miniseriesFallen alongsidePaul Wesley. He also appeared as the guide on the showcase website forMicrosoft'sWindows Vista operating system. He lent his voice in the video gameGun (2005), in which he voices Clay Allison. He then guest-starred in seasons three and four ofLeverage as Nate Ford's father.[11]
Skerritt is founder and chairman of Heyou Media, a Seattle-based digital media company.[14]
From 1957 to 1972, Skerritt was married to Charlotte Shanks, with whom he has three children. He was married to Sue Oran, with whom he has a son, from 1977 to 1992. Since 1996, he has been married to Julie Tokashiki. They have one daughter.[15][16][17]
Episode: "Forgotten Front" Episode: "A Day in June" Episode: "The Prisoner" Episode: "Losers Cry Deal" Episode: "Nothing to Lose" Episode: "The Gauntlet"
Eric Kroeger Reverend Paul Martin Billy Landers Moran Rafe Bobby Allen
Episode: "Impasse (aired 1962)" Episode: "The Secret of Brynmar Hall" Episode: "The Showdown" Episode: "The Crooked Path" Episode: "The Saddle Warmer" Episode: "Nan Allen"
Episode: "Three Minutes to Eternity" Episode: "Honor the Name Dennis Driscoll" Episode: "The Book" Episode: "Sense of Justice" Episode: "Ten Day Millionaires"
Lieutenant Ryan Lieutenant Parmalee Sergeant Ben Rodale Lieutenant Paddy Gialella Technical Sergeant Neely
Episode: "Soldiers Sometimes Kill" Episode: "Those Who Are About to Die" Episode: "The Came the Mighty Hunter" Episode: "Twenty Fifth Mission" Episode: "Long Time Dead"