Tom Skerritt, the Emmy-winning actor who embodied a solid, wry authority figure, whether as a flight instructor in "Top Gun," a tough-but-fair sheriff on TV's "Picket Fences" or the doomed captain of "Alien," has died.

Skerritt died Wednesday of natural causes, his family said in a statement.

"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. He cared deeply about imagination, creativity, storytelling, service, veterans, the natural world and helping others find and share their own voices," the statement said.