Tom Selleck, however, defied all these norms. The iconic “Magnum P.I.” superstar has recently shared more of his life and marriage with Jillie Joan Mack, an actress and dancer, and we’ve got all the information here!
Tom Was Trending
If you grew up in the ’80s, it’s almost inevitable to hear of the American crime drama series, "Magnum P.I.." Thousands of fans either wished to be with Tom Selleck or simply wished to be HIM.
The show truly became the culmination of his career, even making Selleck one of the 50 most beautiful men in People Magazine. However, there was only one woman for Selleck, and he met her in the most unusual of places.
Tom and the Kitties
After Selleck divorced Jacqueline Ray, he was, understandably, pretty down in the dumps. His crew knew just how upset and lonely he was feeling, and they took him to see a production of "Cats" while they were filming in London.
Apparently, the production was so good that Tom went back over a dozen times to re-watch it! It must have been absolutely on-point to the actor. There was, however, maybe a second reason.
The Cat of His Dreams
Perhaps Tom kept going back to see the production because of his developing infatuation with the vibrant Rumpleteazer, played by Jillie Joan Mack.
He was so absolutely smitten with her that he decided to introduce himself and schedule a date. The pair, obviously, hit it off.
Let Love Bloom
Since Mack finally ended her contract with "Cats," she didn’t have anything tying her down in London anymore.
Thus, she could finally commit time to be romantically involved with an A-list hottie. It wasn’t long until we saw the beautiful pair appearing just about everywhere together! The two even enjoyed a nice night at the Emmys.
The Magnum Cameo
Tom Selleck actually relayed so much of his star power to the success of "Magnum P.I." that he even had a say in many of the creative decisions in the show. He was so integral to the overall production that he even shared in the responsibility of who to cast on several occasions.
Of course, who would Tom cast none other than Jillie Mack? The starlet eventually was seen in the episode “Rembrandt’s Girl”, playing the English girl in a party scene.
On the Downlow
After spending a good five years together, Tom and Jillie shocked many when they disclosed that the two had already secretly tied the knot.
Apparently, the event was so concealed that the two even got married under the nicknames “Tom Jenkins” and “Suzie Mark.” It was held in a 24-hour wedding chapel in Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
A Private Wedding
To avoid legal issues, the couple eventually had to reveal their true identities before the recital of the vows. Tom even made sure that only Polaroids would be taken so the negatives would not be leaked.
The wedding officiant, David Immel, even shared, “They were both nervous, like any other couple about to get married.” “He was very concerned that the service be heartfelt, very concerned for her that the service be meaningful. He is a very warm, caring man,” he added.
Becoming Parents
Just a year after their marriage, the pair had a beautiful child together, Hannah Margaret. This lovely baby girl brought so much magic to their lives, but a whole new layer of responsibility as well.
As such, the couple had to make some drastic changes and big sacrifices to support the family. Tom even shared that he quit Magnum to have a family. He added, “It took a long time to get off the train, but I try very hard to have balance.”
Hannah's Home
After some evaluating, the Selleck family decided to move to Ventura, California, and make a 65-acre ranch their new home.
Tom and Jillie believed that it would be the perfect place for their lovely family to grow together. “We both thought it was the best environment for [Hannah] to grow up,” Jillie added. It definitely paid off as we see Hannah growing to be an equestrian star!
Keeping It Private
We live and we learn. Tom definitely learned his lessons in dealing with fame and relationships in the past and he fully intends to never let that destroy his family. He even admitted that he's found it very difficult to expose his private life and live with it.
He added, “It’s important to nurture your marriage. I think wanting time away from work has been good for that.” Good on you, Tom!
Sophia Loren’s Neighbor
Because of his stardom, it became particularly difficult for Tom to socialize with any other women. Jillie even felt pretty apprehensive to find out that Sophia Loren, a well-known Italian actress, moved in as their neighbor at one point.
Tom humorously shared, “If I was on my way to Home Depot and she was out on the driveway in her bathrobe and she said exactly these words: ‘Thomaso, would you like a cappuccino?’ I could go in.” We totally don’t blame her, though! Jealousy is absolutely natural.
The Personal Code
Despite the way he portrays himself with his roles, Tom Selleck actually had a solidified personal code of ethics. In fact, he’s quite the religious person himself! He's said that he tries very hard to conduct himself in an ethical way because that’s important to his stability now.
“We’re a culture that’s so centered on the individual. The culture says that basically nothing is more important than the way you feel.” Truly an honorable man.
Baby Tom
Tom has always had a soft spot in supporting and helping today’s youth. This inspiration probably came from his own childhood, growing up with a balanced upbringing in Detroit, Michigan.
At a young age, he was already given much responsibility and independence to take care of himself and find his place in the world. The Sellecks eventually moved to the state of California to start afresh with the kids.
He Can Do It All
Young Tom Selleck virtually excelled in everything he ever dedicated his time and energy to. While taking up Business Administration at the University of Southern California, Tom received a basketball scholarship in the USC Trojans men’s basketball team.
Simultaneously, he was working as a model! It was only until his drama coach encouraged him that he decided to try out acting, too. He eventually was trained in acting at the Beverly Hills Playhouse.
A Rising Star
Everything seemed to be going as planned. Tom was ready to graduate with his degree, he was thriving in his college basketball team, and his modeling career was going as smoothly as it could. But it was the good impressions he earned in theatre school that truly got him to start on a new career option.
Selleck started to receive a few roles in local and national commercials, jump-starting him in the industry. After some experience, he was finally given a shot with Twentieth Century Fox. Although, things changed rather drastically...
Serving His Country
Tom Selleck’s money-making movie opportunity shattered into pieces when he was drafted into the U.S. Army for the Vietnam War. Although it hindered his road in chasing his dreams, Tom served proudly in the 160th Infantry Regiment until 1973.
“I am a veteran, I’m proud of it. I was a sergeant in the U.S. Army infantry, National Guard, Vietnam era. We’re all brothers and sisters in that sense,” Tom shared.
Assuming the Position. Again
When Tom’s service finally ended, he knew he was headed straight home to return to his dreams. He thought that he could start right where he left off, imagining a renewed offer with Twentieth Century Fox.
Unfortunately, Tom found out that he was fired after being drafted into the Army, meaning he needed to return to the drawing board. What a welcome, indeed.
Making It Big
Still, despite such a major setback, it seemed that Tom was destined for fame and fortune. The talented man eventually bagged a plethora of opportunities that filled up his schedule. From starring in over half a dozen television pilots to getting a big break with "Magnum P.I.," Selleck was indeed perfectly made for this lifestyle.
His role on the show even had a relatively accurate depiction of himself as a veteran who becomes a private investigator in Hawaii.
It Wasn’t an Instant Hit
Despite "Magnum P.I." being a total jackpot for Tom, things didn’t run as smoothly as he thought they would. From funding issues to the show’s writers going on strike, the journey to success wasn’t easy for this sitcom.
However, Tom seemed to be the saving grace for the show as he helped Magnum P.I. hit outstanding ratings and receive rave reviews. He even won an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, one of many awards and nominations that were to come.
Great Job, Here Is Your Award
With Tom’s incredible performance, as well as the invaluable work done by the writers and supporting cast, "Magnum P.I." saw the light of day as a commercial and critical success.
It went on to receive Emmy award nominations, including Selleck’s Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Series and John Hillerman’s Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor for playing the role of Higgins.
Branching Out
"Magnum P.I." definitely basked in all of its success but alas, all good things must come to an end. Luckily for Tom, it was just the beginning.
He went on to pursue roles on hit shows including "Friends," "The Closer," "Las Vegas," and most recently, "Blue Bloods!"
Political Views
Tom has always voiced his political opinions. The retired actor even described himself as “a registered independent with a lot of libertarian leanings.” Though, Tom hasn’t always been as open about being an active member of the National Rifle Association.
Rosie O’Donnell unhesitantly questioned him on his views on firearm ownership on her show, to which he replied, “It’s your show, and you can talk about it after I leave.”
The Glorious Mustache
As you might already know, Tom Selleck became an icon as one of the most renowned custodians of a mustache in film and television. Although, he wasn’t the only one who could effortlessly sport the look.
Amongst others, Nick Offerman of "Parks and Recreations" owned the mustache look, as well as Will Ferrell in the hilarious film, "The Legend of Ron Burgundy."
Using Life Experiences
Tom Selleck’s roles have always been fascinating as they’ve actually been extremely similar to certain aspects of his own personality or aspects he aspires to be like.
He recently played a role in Blue Bloods as a proud and practicing Catholic, something he idealizes himself to be.
Working With Mannetti
Larry Manetti, a talented actor and producer, became one of the actors who was there with Tom in every step of the way during his time on "Magnum P.I.". Manetti, who played Orville Wilbur Richard “Rick” Wright, even wrote of his deep admiration for Selleck’s great work ethic in his 1996 memoir, "Aloha, Magnum."
He also praised Selleck for all the effort he put into helping a number of charities in Hawaii. Tom Selleck was truly a man admired by many.
A Passion for Hockey
Outside of his love for acting, Tom Selleck was actually deeply passionate about hockey! He’s been seen several times watching his favorite team, the Los Angeles Kings, at the Staples Center.
He’s even shared in an interview that some of his favorite players were Alexander Frolov and Anze Kopitar.
Work Hard Play Hard
Tom was based in Honolulu, Hawaii during "Magnum P.I.’s" filming and he decided to go ahead and take up several passions during his stay. One of these passions was surprisingly beach volleyball! The man truly had an incredible set of skills.
Dennis Berg, one of his teammates at Outrigger Canoe Club, also had several great things to say about the actor. He shared, “Tom was a great teammate, appreciative of being included with such a talented and experienced group, practicing and playing hard when his Magnum schedule permitted… He was very patient with all of us.”
Some Things Don't Last Forever
Tom Selleck had his fair share of ups and downs in the love department. In fact, after getting married to model Jacqueline Ray and adopting a son together back in the day, the spark just didn’t last.
They eventually filed for divorce after 11 years of marriage. Tom was able to pour out his heart into a role that resonated with his situation in a film called "Divorce Wars: A Love Story."
The Price of Fame
A huge reason for his marital problems was definitely Tom’s steady rise to fame and fortune with "Magnum P.I.." Jumping from set to his promotional tours, interviews, and parties surely set some limitations on his relationship with Ray.
The show producers even forced Tom to reject role offers such as Indiana Jones in "Raiders of Lost Ark!"
Magnum, the Next Generation
Tom Selleck would probably be thrilled to find out that "Magnum P.I." will be getting a reboot real soon.
Although, instead of him reprising the classic role of Thomas Magnum, it would be Jay Hernandez, a talented actor and fashion model known for his role as El Diablo / Chato Santana in the hit DC movie, "Suicide Squad."
Decades of Love
Fortunately, his marriage with Jillie Joan Mack has been going strong to this day! The couple has now been together for over 30 successful years.
Tom even shared in an interview with NY Daily News, “Jillie and I have a pretty good partnership. We don’t do anything or make any decisions without consulting each other. And if one of us makes a decision involving Hannah, the other parent completely supports that position, even if you disagree.”
Non-Celebrity Celebrities
One distinct aspect that sets the Selleck family apart from many other Hollywood families is that they have never let their celebrity lifestyle overpower them. Instead of getting all flashy with a ton of houses and cars, the Sellecks just enjoy their life residing in their cozy California ranch.
Quality has truly been greater for them than quantity.
A True Farmer
Since Tom has been spending the majority of his time with his ranch-turned-avocado farm, he hasn’t been given leading roles since the 2015 television movie, "Jessie Stone: Lost in Paradise."
Instead, Tom has been focusing on his new passion of farming his avocados for three decades now!
His Priorities Are in Place
Tom Selleck always kept it a priority to continue growing with Jillie, the woman he considers his one true love. He’s fully willing to sacrifice all the time, work, patience, and effort that a successful marriage requires of him. He knows that this won’t be a problem now that he’s retired from the busy Hollywood life.
He emphasizes how important it is to spend as much quality time together as the two of you can take. We can't disagree, Tom!
Focused on Family
We’re pretty sure Tom is fully aware that he could return to Hollywood anytime he wanted to. With such an established career, every huge studio wouldn’t flinch in contacting his agent.
However, Tom has his full focus on only two particular loves in his life: his wife and his daughter. He now knows that nothing is greater than his family, not even the fame and fortune.
Things You Never Knew About Magnum P.I.
It’s been a long while since the last episode of "Magnum P.I." - 28 years to be exact! We’re all hoping for that huge announcement of the show’s return someday.
Until then, we’ve listed some things that you probably didn’t know about the show! Read on and enjoy a walk down memory lane.
Selleck, Sinatra, And The Buddy Comedy
Frank Sinatra, the truly iconic and legendary blue-eyed singer, loved being guesting on "Magnum P.I.," especially working alongside Tom Selleck.
Sinatra even mentioned his plans to co-star with Selleck in a big-screen comedy. It was probably too difficult to merge their busy schedules together as the movie never pushed through.
Could It Be Forbidden Love?
As mentioned earlier, Tom Selleck used to be neighbors with Italian film actress Sophia Loren. His wife allowed him to have a completely platonic friendship with her, but with some limitations.
We’re pretty sure his wife trusted him wholly, she’s just like any other woman who feels a little jealousy every once in a while! Fortunately, nothing went out of hand.
Fear Of Water
Apparently, Larry Manetti, playing Rick Wright in the show, hated anything that had to do with getting in the water. In fact, his main goal during his time on the show was to avoid the water and stay dry.
This probably wasn’t the greatest fear to have when you’re filming in a tropical island like Hawaii! Manetti even said in an interview with "The Good Men Project" that he hates the water and that he's a big fan of land. Yeah, we can't blame him.
No More James Bond
Initially, the character of Thomas Magnum was supposed to have a personality similar to that of James Bond. The show’s producers, however, respected Tom Selleck’s opinion that it would not be as interesting to play such a personality.
They instead allowed him to play the character of Thomas Magnum as more of a regular, laid-back character.
Hawaii
Can you believe that "Magnum P.I." was originally set to be in Southern California? But as the planning of the show went on, the producers realized that the island of Oahu, Hawaii would be the best choice for a show with a focal point on the fictional beach of Robin’s Nest.
It was actually a practical decision for the network as well, as they tried to avoid closing the "Hawaii Five-O" production offices after the show’s cancellation.
Limbo
The season’s last episode was supposed to be its finale, ‘Limbo’, but Selleck surprisingly chose to stay for 13 more episodes. It was a fitting title for the situation that Thomas Magnum was in.
If you haven’t already seen it, Thomas Magnum was actually shot in the episode, so it wasn’t that clear yet if his character died off or not. Thus, the title ‘Limbo.’
NRA
Though Tom Selleck has continuously said that he does not consider himself to be a spokesperson for the National Rifle Association, he still is an active board member and even appeared in several of their advertisements. Instead, he considers himself a “registered Independent with a lot of Libertarian leanings.”
To him, gun violence is the consequence that America has to face for the freedom they’ve earned. Would you agree with him?
Jessica To The Rescue
When "Magnum P.I.’s" airing schedule got moved to Wednesday nights, the ratings actually started dropping. Apparently, the show was able to grab its mojo back when they aired their crossover episode with Jessica Fletcher from "Murder, She Wrote."
The two iconic characters joined forces on "Magnum P.I." before continuing the features on "Murder, She Wrote." The special guest shows, fortunately, were wise decisions for the shows’ ratings.
Magnum vs. the World
On the show, Magnum had a particularly complicated relationship with Higgins, T.C., and Rick. Their characters truly had contrasting personalities on the show, making it difficult to settle any issues.
Magnum probably had more support due to his carefree style which differed so much from the strict and intimidating characters some of them portrayed. Thus, it wasn’t surprising that Magnum’s contemporaries lashed out on the other men when they took punches at him.
A Touch Of Class From Orson Welles
Orson Welles, one of the greatest actors of all time, actually was the voice of Robin Masters, Magnum’s homeowner and infamous playboy! Though his character was sporadically featured, his presence always filled the episodes he appeared in nonetheless.
However, his voice had to be replaced by Reid Crandell after Welles’ unfortunate death.
Too Tall To Drive
Since Tom Selleck had an incredibly tall height of 6’4”, the Ferrari he drove on the show had to be permanently modified. Initially, the creators wanted Magnum to drive a Porsche, but the company refused to make any modifications.
They had to choose the Ferrari in the end. Apparently, the padding needed to be removed and the seats had to be placed differently to give more space for the actor. What a boss!
Being A Veteran
Thomas Magnum’s character was a pretty revolutionary portrayal of veterans on television.
He portrayed his character in a more positive sense rather than focusing on the harshness that comes with being a veteran. Before him, veterans were mostly portrayed to be damaged and emotionally unstable.
Doggies
Zeus and Apollo were the two Doberman Pincher dogs in Robin’s Nest that were known as “the lads.” Though they looked pretty friendly on camera, it actually took a while for them to get used to Tom Selleck.
The dogs were Higgins’ loyal companions who had the responsibility of roaming the grounds, ensuring that no intruders were around to waste the time of Magnum and his men.
Magnum Navy Seal Of Approval
Apparently, Thomas Magnum was a man of great honor. Aside from the variety of military decorations and awards he had, he also wore a uniform that had the Navy Cross and the Naval Special Warfare insignia, exhibiting that he was most probably a SEAL and was given the second highest honor for a naval officer.
He would also be seen in episodes wearing service ribbons for the Purple Heart, a Vietnam Service Medal, a National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Gallantry Cross, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. Impressive!
Go Tigers!
If you ever caught them, there were actually numerous references to the Detroit Tigers in the show. Apparently, Tom Selleck was a huge fan of the team! In fact, his character was seen a number of times sporting a Tigers baseball cap.
This started after one of the show’s episodes entitled “Tigers Fan.” In this episode, Magnum is given a Tigers cap by a policeman’s nephew after he solves the murder of his uncle.
T.C’s Real Name
Thomas Magnum had several sidekicks, one of them being T.C. who runs a helicopter service named “Island Hoppers.” Apparently, he was a former Marine during the Vietnam War.
He would also be the guy that Magnum would constantly persuade to fly him around on his missions, as well as get bribed to do some dirty work.
Tee Total T.C.
There was some apparent misdirection in terms of character progression since the producers suddenly made T.C. a drinker. He technically drank a beer in every episode of season 1, and suddenly just didn’t drink anymore with the following seasons.
This sudden habit change was pretty overlooked in the show but it didn’t get in the way of its success, obviously.
Higgins’ Full Name
Higgins, Thomas Magnum’s foil, was actually named Jonathan Quayle Higgins III. He was pretty well known to constantly ramble and have arguments between the other three main characters. Ultimately though, they were still a very close unit.
John Hillerman, the actor behind Higgins, commented on his character stating that, “Higgins in any situation thinks he’s the only sane person around while everyone else is raving mad.”
Gillian’s 15 Minutes Of Fame
Though there were a number of recurring characters throughout the series, the one who appeared the most was Agatha Chumley, Higgins’ friend played by Gillian Dobb. Her character was a perfect complement to Higgins as she was English and seemed to have some admiration for him.
Apparently, Gillian actually had no professional experience prior to her role on the show. She was given the opportunity of portraying Agatha for a total of five seasons.
Magnum’s Gun
The gun that Magnum used throughout the show was actually a Government model Colt 1911 A1 .45 cal. Pistol, contrary to popular belief. During the Vietnam War, this gun was apparently the standard issue sidearm.
Thus, it made sense that Magnum would carry such a gun from his days spent in the Navy. This gun also appeared in some of Magnum’s flashbacks of his time in Vietnam.
A Fantastic Reference
Renowned director Wes Anderson has always voiced his admiration for "Magnum P.I.." He was such a fan that he even modeled the helicopter seen in his film Fantastic Mr. Fox after the Island Hoppers chopper in the show!
Anderson even shared that that helicopter was based on the character T.C. in "Magnum P.I.," that’s his helicopter. They needed a good helicopter [to model off of] and he thought that’s a memorable one. And well, nobody told them they couldn’t use it.
Out With A Bang
The show truly ended with a bang as their last episode became the sixth most watched finale in television history with over 50 million watching! There were many events that happened in the course of the episode, from Magnum’s reunion with his long-lost daughter to quitting his private eye job to joining the navy.
However, many other things weren’t exactly left with the closure, such as Rick’s possible marriage and if Higgins was actually Robin Masters all along. These ambiguous moments were ultimately left to the audience’s interpretation.
Starring Tom Selleck’s Mustache
As you already know, Magnum’s mustache made Tom Selleck one of the most prolific custodians of a mustache in television history. It was so legendary that fans even made a Facebook page and a Twitter account for it!
This iconic facial hair was definitely set to build its own fanbase, even contributing to the creation of the Mustache Hall Of Fame.
Harrison Ford Owes Selleck Big Time
Though we all know Harrison Ford to be the actor behind the iconic Indiana Jones, Tom Selleck was actually originally set to play the role! Selleck was given the huge opportunity at the film but CBS forced him to turn down the role as he had other commitments with his show as Thomas Magnum.
It makes you think about what could have been, huh?
One Hell Of A Coincidence
Tom Selleck knew that he had made prior commitments already with his role as Thomas Magnum, thus he knew the honorable thing to do was to turn down the offer of playing Indiana Jones.
It was probably unfortunate for him to hear then that he could have finished filming his scenes in "Indiana Jones" during "Magnum P.I.’s" six-month filming delay. What an incredibly wasted opportunity!
Magnum The Movie?
Though Tom Selleck has always supported the idea of turning "Magnum P.I." into an actual film, he recently made a comment that he’d “rather people go, ‘Oh, please! Please!’ than ‘I can’t believe you did that.
There have been talks of creating a sequel/reboot of the show, but no recent reports have confirmed its comeback as a movie.
Quiet Before The Storm
Tom Selleck had his fair share of television fame before his big break on "Magnum P.I.." In fact, his first television appearance was a leading role on "The Dating Game." This was followed by a number of Pepsi commercials as Selleck was working as a model, too.
Before receiving his role as Thomas Magnum though, he starred in 6 rejected television pilots. Eventually, 1980 came along, and the rest was history.
Broadway Debut
Selleck has truly come a long way since his humble beginnings. He eventually went on to the stage, grabbing the opportunity to perform on Broadway. His Broadway debut came in 2001 at New York’s Longacre Theatre, starring in a romantic comedy called "A Thousand Clowns."
Critics praised Selleck for his performance as Murray despite their negative reviews on the production itself.
A Fitting Reference
Archer, the renowned television series created by Adam Reed, actually referenced "Magnum P.I." in a number of their episodes. In fact, in their season 2 episode named “Placebo Effect”, the character Cyril concluded that Archer’s film of personal revenge, or "Terms of Enrampagement," should be called "Magnum P.U." instead.
It was both a comedic moment and a notable homage to the classic eighties show.
Magnum’s Failed Naval Adventures
It isn’t a surprise that discussions and ideas for a Magnum motion picture have been tossed around here and there. In fact, one idea was Magnum in a feature film as a character returning to the navy.
It was so close to coming alive that Universal Studios even hired Tom Clancy, a renowned writer, to pen a script. Unfortunately, the studio had to let go of that idea when they concluded that it wouldn't draw enough sales in the box office.
Thank You, James Garner
Tom Selleck actually enjoyed his recurring role on a popular drama series, The Rockford Files before making it big on "Magnum P.I.." The show was even ranked as one of the greatest shows of all time by TV Guide!
Though Selleck is known for his roles elsewhere, his time on The Rockford Files definitely contributed to his desire to perfect his role on "Magnum P.I."
Memoir
If you wanted to know some further facts and anecdotes about "Magnum P.I.," you might want to take a look at Larry Manetti’s memoir called "Aloha, Magnum." The memoir shows what really went on behind the scenes during the show’s successful eight-year run.
Manetti shares, “I cover the hit series, my wild childhood, my crazy days in Hollywood on series like Battlestar Galactica and Baa Baa Black Sheep, my moonlighting as a prominent restaurateur, my escapades with the rich, famous and especially the outrageous.” He even includes more information on his friendship with the then-sex symbol, Tom Selleck!
Keep It Between Friends
It’s always great to run into an old friend along the way of both of your successes. Tom Selleck was able to cross paths with Grammy Award-winning composer Mike Post, the actual mastermind behind the absolutely catchy "Magnum P.I." theme song.
Apparently, Post was one of Selleck’s high school classmates! It must have been an epic moment when they found out that they were about to work on the same show together.
Reagan Supporter
As we’ve mentioned earlier, Tom Selleck has always been outspoken about his political views, including his support for Ronald Reagan during his term in office.
He was even present at the former President’s funeral, as he was actually a good friend of both Reagan and his wife. It was even reported that Selleck was quick in comforting Nancy after her husband’s death.
Tom Wasn’t Always Around
Back in the day, Tom Selleck was truly in demand in the industry. As such, his scheduling conflicts called for episodes that focused more on the secondary characters every once in a while.
While he was busy filming his hit films like "Runaway" and "High Road To China," the producers focused more on the characters of Higgins and T.C.
Luther Didn’t Work
There were a few episodes featuring a detective from St. Louis called Luther Gillis. These were actually an unsuccessful attempt to launch a new series based around him. The actor who portrayed the ill-fated character was Eugene Roche, who had a pretty successful career in his own right.
Roche will probably best remembered as the “Ajax Man” from the 1970 commercials. But he also featured in hit shows such as "Murder, She Wrote," "All In The Family," and "Kojak."
A Fortunate Hoax
In 2017, rumors were spread that John Hillerman had passed away when a Facebook page attracted a crazy one million likes. The page post read, “At about 11 a.m., ET on Saturday (June 03, 2017), our beloved actor John Hillerman passed away.”
The rumor proved to be a fallacy as the deceased was actually a different John Hillerman. The "Magnum P.I." star, known to play Higgins, is fortunately still alive and kicking today!
Emmys All-Around
As an absolute commercial and critical success, "Magnum P.I." and its lead actors received numerous nominations and awards including Tom Selleck’s Emmy for Best Actor.
Selleck’s Emmy for Best Performance, John Hillerman’s Emmy for Best Supporting Actor, and Hillerman’s Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor! Absolute stars!
Pipe Dreams
It may come as a surprise but Tom Selleck was actually dreaming to be an architect back in the day. The actor eventually was able to reach those dreams somehow as he played the role of Peter Mitchell on "Three Men And A Baby."
Peter was, obviously, an architect, and we’re pretty sure Tom enjoyed every bit of it!
Real Tigers In Magnum P.I.
When the Detroit Lions won the World Series in 1984, the "Magnum P.I." producers had the brilliant plan of setting one of their episodes in Detroit. However, they instead chose to feature cameos of Tigers players Lou Whitaker and Alan Trammell in the episode “A Sense of Debt.”
The players were seen hanging out in a bar in Detroit in a particular scene.
Top Rankings
"Magnum P.I." truly enjoyed its spot at the top, getting dubbed as the number one detective television series of all time by The Sleuth TV Network and even becoming a constant fixture in the top twenty U.S. television programs.
Though the show was a huge hit in both ratings and end-of-year rankings, its popularity eventually waned by its sixth season.
Commissioner Selleck
Though Tom Selleck has not been able to commit as much time to his career, he was still able to star in the CBS hit show "Blue Bloods." He played the role of Frank Reagan, a Police Commissioner, and received widespread acclaim for his performance.
His role was so well-received that even real NYPD officers would salute Selleck!
Family Matters
If you’ve ever come across the show’s episode “Going Home.,” Tom Selleck’s father Robert Selleck was actually briefly featured! As soon as the opening credits stopped rolling, Robert Selleck is seen playing Magnum’s grandfather during a home movie scene.
It is also in this episode that Magnum attends his grandfather’s funeral held at his hometown in Virginia.
Gift Giving
As if his awards weren’t enough, Tom Selleck received a staggering bonus of $350,000 during his last episode in the eighth and final season of "Magnum P.I.."
Universal Studios thought the actor deserved such a bonus for his commitment to being the face of the show. Selleck, being the honorable man he is, decided to spend the bonus entirely on gifts and cash gifts for his co-workers.
Hawaii Five-O
If you’re a "Hawaii Five-O" fan, you’ll probably notice that Steve McGarrett, the starring character, was actually in the same world as Thomas Magnum.
Apparently, the fictional elite state police unit that appeared on the "Hawaii Five-O" series actually existed in the "Magnum P.I." universe, too! What a subtle merge of two iconic worlds.
Spin-Off With Erin Gray
Honolulu-born Erin Gray was featured in the highly praised Season 1 Episode “J. Digger Doyle” as an attempt in becoming the pilot for a spin-off series starring Gray as Joy Digger Doyle, the main character.
The plans never pushed through and the studios ended up receiving strings of complaints from viewers who were dying to see more of Gray’s character.
Mr. Right
Tom Selleck was probably used to the fact that crazy amounts of people wished to be and/or be with him. Thus, it probably wasn’t a surprise either that the legend was given recognition for his undeniably dashing looks as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world in People Magazine.
The other beautiful male celebrities on this list were Mel Gibson, Brad Pitt, Sean Connery, and Denzel Washington.
Faking It
Though the character of Higgins had an iconic British accent, John Hillerman was actually originally from Texas! It took a good amount of research and studies of Lawrence Olivier’s performances to perfect a convincing British accent.
His character was actually also featured on Simon & Simon and Murder, She Wrote, two other hit television shows.
Mustache Please
"Magnum P.I." was filled with characters that sported the iconic and fashionable mustache look, yet Larry Manetti was the only member of the regular cast who was left off the trend.
Orville Wright, the role played by Manetti, also probably felt considerably left out as he was hilariously seen with a pencil mustache in an episode titled ‘Dream a Little Dream.’
Victor Victoria
Aside from his offer on Indiana Jones, Tom Selleck also had to turn down an offer to star in Victor/Victoria in 1982. It was a film that starred Julie Andrews, a woman pretending to be a man in order to make it in the cabaret industry.
Though Selleck would have effortlessly fit into the film, he was still under a strict contract under the show. The film went on to receive critical acclaim as well as seven Academy Award nominations! Another blockbuster down the drain for Selleck.
1988 Ultimate Star
In the 1988 comedy "Three Men and A Baby," Tom Selleck was further recognized in taking part in a film dubbed as the number-one movie worldwide that year! It was also the first movie to ever rank number one at the box office on all three occasions of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years.
Selleck was definitely at the peak of his career during this time, along with Steve Guttenberg and Ted Danson. The dynamic trio all were enjoying their major successes in their careers.
Avid Philanthropist
Tom Selleck has always been an avid philanthropist, contributing to a number of virtuous causes throughout his career. In more recent years, he has even notably worked with and continues to work with, several charities that include The Joseph & Edna Josephson Institute of Ethics, Skin Cancer Foundation, and the Character Counts Coalition.
Aside from this, he also works as the spokesman for the National Fatherhood Initiative, a nonprofit organization that aims to improve the well-being of children through the promotion of responsible fatherhood.
Iconic Look
Known for his Hawaiian shirt and baseball cap, Tom Selleck decided to donate this iconic costume to the Smithsonian’s collection in 2011.
His character’s use of Hawaiian clothing most probably contributed to the style’s popularity in the 1980s. Today, you can view Thomas Magnum’s Jungle Bird shirt at the Smithsonian.