It’s one of Indigenous cinema's most publicly quoted parts ever: “Hey, Victor!” 

The film? “Smoke Signals,” shot on location on the Coeur d’Alene Indian Reservation. 

Written by Sherman Alexie of the Spokane Tribe of Indians, North Idaho’s Silver Screen moment included none other than actor Tom Skerritt. Skerritt, playing the wry but practical police chief, died in his Seattle home on Wednesday. He was 93.

“He brought more attention to it,” Tyrel Stevenson, Coeur d’Alene Tribe Legislative Director, said of Skerritt’s performance in the film. “That’s definitely meaningful.”

The Coeur d’Alene Tribe extends its condolences to the Skerritt family.

“It’s unfortunate when that happens but even though his role was relatively small, it was meaningful because he was already a prominent, accomplished actor, it helped elevate (the film),” Stevenson said. “The Tribe definitely appreciates that.” 

The film is recognized as one of the most significant pieces of Native American artwork in recent history and highlights the journey of characters Victor Joseph and Thomas Builds-the-Fire, played by Adam Beach and Evan Adams, as they set out to retrieve the ashes of Joseph's estranged, alcoholic father.

Stevenson said the film was well-received by the Coeur d’Alene Tribe for how “accurate some of the humor was.” He added that Alexie, with Spokane and Coeur d'Alene essentially being “brother tribes,” has connections to friends and family in the North Idaho area.

Russell Meeuf, a University of Idaho film professor, said it is also one of the most significant films ever shot in Idaho.

“Skerritt’s death is a loss to all of Hollywood and to the history of movies in Idaho,” Meeuf told the Coeur d’Alene Press on Thursday.   

Skerritt’s other roles are unforgettable to Idaho film buffs, military members and fly-fishermen alike. With one of Hollywood’s most compelling mustaches, he electrified audiences with roles such as Dallas in “Alien” and Commander Mike “Viper” Metcalf in “Top Gun.”

Brian Newberry, currently the chief executive officer of the Girl Scouts of Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho, formerly served as commander of the Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane County between 2012 to 2014.

According to Newberry, Skerritt’s performance in “Top Gun” influenced his decision to join the military in the 1980s. He also said he was “saddened by Skerrit’s loss.”

“He was the epitome of integrity,” Newberry said of Skerritt’s “Top Gun” performance. “If I had a commanding officer, I wanted him to be Tom Skerritt. That Viper, he’s the man.”

But Skerritt’s most memorable performance, arguably, took place right next door in Montana. In the 1992 novel-based classic “A River Runs Through It,” Skerritt played the indelible Presbyterian Reverend John Maclean, who used Montana’s Blackfoot River to faithfully teach his sons the art of fly-fishing.

One iconic scene in the film came when the reverend out-fished his sons Paul and Norman Maclean, played by Brad Pitt and Craig Sheffer.

"The Lord has blessed us all today,” The reverend, Skerritt’s character, famously said in the scene. “It’s just that he has been particularly good to me.” 

Joe Roope, a master fly tier and Coeur d'Alene-based fishing guide, praised Skerritt’s work.

“We would always quote 'A River Runs Through It' because we were raised Presbyterian,” he said. “That was a special book, and it changed fly-fishing.”

In addition to his roles on the big screen, Skerritt’s ties to Idaho are marked through a documentary. He narrated what’s called “The Rocky Mountain Fly Highway,” which highlights trout fisheries in Idaho waterways like Henry’s Fork of the Snake River, Silver Creek and the Big Lost River.

“He was a great actor,” Roope said.