Lauren Holly shares emotional tribute to late “Picket Fences” costar Tom Skerritt: ‘He was our leader’

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Shelby StivaleThu, October 22, 2026 at 11:39 PM UTC

The cast of ‘Picket Fences ‘Credit: EverettKey Points -

Picket Fences actress Lauren Holly is mourning the death of her castmate Tom Skerritt.

Skerritt died of natural causes Wednesday. He was 93.

The actor played Sheriff Jimmy Brock on the CBS show from 1992 to 1996.

Lauren Holly is mourning the loss of her Picket Fences castmate Tom Skerritt in the wake of his death at 93.

In a heartfelt Instagram post published Thursday, the actress wrote, “I adored Tom Skerritt. I was lucky enough to work with him on more than one project, but the first was Picket Fences. He was our leader. His example made those years such a joy and we all loved and respected him so much.”

She added that Skerritt “cared deeply for his family — both the one at home and the one at work. He cared deeply for his planet, and all of its inhabitants. He had a huge impact on my life, and so many memories I have of him include sharing fits of crippling laughter. Rest easy my friend. I will think of you often.”

Holly’s tribute came hours after Skerritt’s family announced that he died Wednesday, of natural causes. The family said they were “heartbroken” over the loss, and remembered Skerritt as a loving husband and father.

“While the world knew Tom through his remarkable acting career, we knew him for his humor, curiosity, wisdom, generosity, and the love he brought into our lives,” his family added. “He cared deeply about imagination, creativity, storytelling, service, veterans, the natural world, and helping others find and share their own voices. We are incredibly grateful for the love and support being shown by his friends, colleagues, and fans.”

Skerritt won an Emmy for his role as Sheriff Jimmy Brock on Picket Fences, which ran on CBS from 1992 to 1996. The show followed the unusual happenings in a small Wisconsin town. Holly played Maxine “Max” Stewart, a deputy.

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Tom Skerritt as Sheriff Jimmy Brock on ‘Picket Fences’Credit: Everett

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“For a while there [Picket Fences] was called the best show on television,” Skerritt told The Sydney Morning Herald in 2014. “Its secret was the possibility of the improbable… the humor, the incongruity, in the unlikelihood.”

One example he recalled was “having the Pope in small town America, having him be the primary witness to a murder and so he can’t leave town because he was the only witness to the crime. And then having a Jewish attorney questioning him about the absoluteness of his faith.”

Reflecting on the show, the Top Gun alum said he couldn’t “help but chuckle” when thinking about it. Skerritt and the rest of the cast — including Holly, Kathy Baker, Costas Mandylor, and Holly Marie Combs, among others — “never knew” what series creator David E. Kelley was going to write.

“We all looked forward to it, the crew included,” Skerritt said. “When you have that attachment, when there’s that anticipation with everyone involved, you know you’ve got something pretty special.”

Skerritt’s favorite part of Picket Fences? The lesson he took from the show. He explained: “In the end there is no right or wrong, or bad or good, you just do the best you possibly can to deal whatever it is you have to deal with.”

on Entertainment Weekly

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