This actor’s big chance came when he was chosen for the lead role as Thomas Magnum in Magnum, P.I., which got him five Emmy Award nominations and one win in 1985.
Before his rise to fame, he had small parts in movies and TV shows & did several commercials while also being on The Dating Game two times! He called the game show humiliating & embarrassing saying “I lost twice! I wasn’t really funny or smooth.” Selleck then got a spot on Fox’s talent program where he worked for about two years before taking six months off for military service. When he came back they let him go but this didn’t break his spirit.
“The luckiest thing that happened was that I didn’t get a real job until I was thirty-five,” Selleck told AARP “When I was twenty-five I looked thirty-five but sounded fifteen! There are lots of great actors who make it as younger leading men but don’t grow up—because audiences won’t accept them as adults.”
Magnum P.I. appeared just when he was almost ready to give up acting altogether “I think if Magnum hadn’t worked out I’d never have acted again,” he said during an interview with Closer Weekly.
Since 2010 Selleck has been co-starring in Blue Bloods where he plays Frank Reagan—the commissioner of New York City Police Department! The show has been renewed for its thirteenth season.
Throughout his long career Selleck has done most stunts himself; however this choice has taken its toll & now his body isn’t what it used to be.
“My back’s kind of messed up,” said Selleck.
“When you do stunts—which I do often—you take risks but also spend lots of time sitting down after so you might finish a fight scene then sit down without anyone telling you ‘Okay we’re ready to go—but Tom needs ten minutes stretching.’”
“And I think the price,” he added “I see it with my friends; we talk sometimes You just notice how much all those stunts cost them They weren’t super hard—but maybe it’s all that stop-and-go stuff.”
The actor stays fit by working on his ranch located in Ventura California He also loves horses—a passion he’s passed onto his daughter.
Selleck has been married to Jillie Mack for thirty-five years What makes their marriage one of Hollywood’s strongest is that family always comes first!
Speaking with People magazine in twenty-twelve Selleck stated “I quit Magnum so that I could have a family.”
“It took me quite some time to step away from work But I’m trying hard to find balance—and this ranch helps me do just that.”
“We both thought it would be best environment for Hannah growing up” added Jillie.
