Tom Skerritt, the celebrated American actor known for Top Gun, Alien, and Picket Fences, was the father of five children: Andy, Erin, Matt, Colin, and Emiko Skerritt. His children came from three marriages, with some pursuing creative careers while others chose lives away from Hollywood.
Skerritt reportedly died on October 21, 2026, at the age of 93, leaving behind a family that includes grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Although audiences knew him for his commanding performances on screen, fatherhood remained an important part of his personal life.
Here is a closer look at Tom Skerritt’s five children, their mothers, careers, and family connections.
How Many Children Did Tom Skerritt Have?
Tom Skerritt had five children from his three marriages.
His first three children, Andy, Erin, and Matt, were born during his marriage to Charlotte Shanks.
He later welcomed a son, Colin, with his second wife, Susan Ellen Oran.
His youngest child, Emiko, joined the family through adoption during his marriage to Julie Tokashiki.
The children grew up during different stages of Skerritt’s acting career, which spanned more than six decades.
While some inherited an interest in entertainment, others pursued professional paths outside the film industry.
Andy Skerritt
Andy Skerritt is Tom Skerritt’s eldest child and one of three children from his first marriage to Charlotte Shanks.
Unlike his father, Andy did not build a career as a Hollywood actor.
Instead, he pursued work involving computers and technology.
Published family profiles have described him as a computer expert.
His professional direction illustrates how Skerritt’s children developed interests beyond the entertainment business.
Andy has generally maintained a private life, and detailed information about his personal circumstances is not widely available.
Despite being the eldest son of a recognizable actor, he has largely remained outside the celebrity spotlight.
Erin Skerritt
Erin Skerritt is Tom Skerritt’s daughter from his marriage to Charlotte Shanks and is known for her work as a published poet.
Her creative interests developed in a different direction from her father’s acting career.
Rather than performing in films or television productions, Erin has expressed herself through writing.
Poetry offers a personal form of storytelling, allowing writers to explore experiences and ideas through language.
Although her father became famous for portraying fictional characters, Erin pursued her own artistic identity.
Public information about her writing career remains relatively limited.
She has also generally avoided the level of publicity associated with her father’s Hollywood career.
Matt Skerritt
Matt Skerritt followed his father into the entertainment industry, working as a cinematographer and film director.
He is the youngest of the three children Tom shared with Charlotte Shanks.
Unlike his father’s career in front of the camera, Matt’s professional interests have centered on filmmaking and visual storytelling.
Cinematographers play an important role in shaping how films look, working with lighting, camera movement, and composition.
Directors oversee the creative development of productions and help bring stories to the screen.
Matt’s career therefore reflects a connection to his father’s profession while establishing a different creative path.
Among Tom Skerritt’s children, Matt is one of those most directly associated with filmmaking.
Colin Skerritt
Colin Skerritt is Tom Skerritt’s son from his second marriage to Susan Ellen Oran.
He also explored acting, making him another family member with experience in the entertainment industry.
Colin appeared alongside his father in the 2002 independent film Tuscaloosa.
Their shared screen appearance provided an opportunity for father and son to work together professionally.
Although Colin has acting experience, he did not achieve the same level of mainstream recognition as his father.
His career has remained comparatively low-profile.
Information about his current professional activities and personal life is limited.
Emiko Skerritt
Emiko Skerritt is Tom Skerritt’s youngest child, whom he and his third wife, Julie Tokashiki, adopted in 2007.
Her arrival expanded the family during a later stage of the actor’s life.
Skerritt was already in his seventies when Emiko joined the household.
Unlike her older siblings, who grew up during earlier decades of his career, Emiko experienced family life after he had established himself as a Hollywood veteran.
She has largely remained outside public entertainment coverage.
There is no widely documented evidence that she has pursued a professional acting career.
Her privacy is especially important because much of the public interest surrounding her comes from her father’s celebrity status.
His First Marriage
Tom Skerritt married Charlotte Shanks in 1957, several years before his acting career reached national prominence.
Their marriage lasted until 1972.
During that period, they welcomed Andy, Erin, and Matt.
The family experienced Skerritt’s early years in entertainment, when he was establishing himself through film and television appearances.
His career later expanded considerably, but his first marriage formed an important part of his early adult life.
Following their divorce, Skerritt continued pursuing acting opportunities that eventually made him an internationally recognized performer.
His Second Marriage
Skerritt married Susan Ellen Oran in 1977.
The couple welcomed their son, Colin.
Their marriage coincided with an especially successful period in the actor’s career.
Skerritt appeared in Alien in 1979 and later played Commander Mike “Viper” Metcalf in the 1986 blockbuster Top Gun.
These performances introduced him to audiences around the world.
His marriage to Susan ended in 1992.
Colin remained his only child from that relationship.
His Third Marriage
Tom Skerritt married Julie Tokashiki in 1998, beginning the final chapter of his married life.
Julie, who has worked in the entertainment industry, became his longtime partner.
The couple adopted Emiko in 2007.
Their marriage continued through Skerritt’s later career, including appearances in television, independent films, and other creative projects.
Julie was identified as his surviving wife following reports of his death in October 2026.
Their family life remained relatively private compared with his professional achievements.
Grandchildren and Family
Beyond his five children, Tom Skerritt’s family reportedly includes five granddaughters and two great-grandchildren.
These younger generations extended his family well beyond his immediate household.
Although Skerritt was a familiar face to film and television audiences, his descendants have not all pursued public careers.
His family includes people working in technology, literature, filmmaking, and other fields.
That variety reflects the different paths taken by his children.
The actor’s influence therefore extended beyond Hollywood, even though his professional achievements remained an important part of the family’s public identity.
His Hollywood Legacy
Tom Skerritt was born on August 25, 1933, in Detroit, Michigan.
He began acting professionally during the early 1960s and developed a career spanning film, television, and theatre.
His best-known roles included Captain Dallas in Alien, Viper in Top Gun, and Sheriff Jimmy Brock in the television drama Picket Fences.
His performance in Picket Fences earned him a Primetime Emmy Award in 1993.
He also appeared in MASH*, Steel Magnolias, and A River Runs Through It.
Across decades of work, Skerritt became known for portraying authority figures, military officers, and complex supporting characters.
His extensive filmography made him a familiar presence across several generations of American entertainment.
Final Thoughts
Tom Skerritt was the father of five children: Andy, Erin, Matt, Colin, and Emiko.
Andy, Erin, and Matt came from his first marriage to Charlotte Shanks. Colin was born during his marriage to Susan Ellen Oran, while Emiko was adopted with his third wife, Julie Tokashiki.
His children pursued different interests, including technology, poetry, cinematography, and acting.
Alongside his celebrated Hollywood career, Skerritt leaves a family legacy spanning children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. His contributions to entertainment will continue to be remembered through the films and television performances that made him famous.
