At times, all that comes to mind when listening to Tom Selleck is that mustache. Do you recognize the names Thomas Magnum, Jesse Stone, or Richard Burke? Naturally, they do! They were all portrayed by one of Hollywood’s greatest actors to date: the venerable Tom Selleck! It’s past time we paid tribute to this incredible and multi-talented actor, as well as shared some images of him sporting his iconic mustache. However, we’d like to delve into some lesser-known facts about Tom Selleck and his personal life. What many fans are unaware of is that this artist is more than his acting ability and proclivity for growing an admirable mustache. True, Tom has appeared in over 50 films and commercials, and also a Broadway performance. Nonetheless, the man is more than his role. Continue reading to learn more about this talented actor’s life away from the screen!
The Skinny on Tom Selleck, A Hollywood Legend
Dreamer
The Selleck family originated in Detroit, the same city that produced contemporary actors David Spade and Kristen Bell. Tom’s family relocated to California when he was a child, where his father worked in real estate and his mother stayed at home as a housewife. The family was well-known in the neighborhood for their disciplined nature, strong family values, and work ethic. It’s unsurprising that Tom continues to espouse these virtues to this day. He applied these same values to his own parenting style, and when describing his mother as a parent, he stated, “She’s always been there and always been very fair — even when she said, ‘Wait until your father gets home,’ which was usually for a good reason.” Regrettably, his mother died last year.
Dreamer
Not The NBA
Tom went on to graduate from a California high school and attended the University of Southern California. Tom’s 6’4″ height combined with an exceptional work ethic managed to earn him a basketball scholarship to the University, but it wasn’t enough for him. He also worked as a part-time model to supplement his income. While Tom initially enrolled in college to study Business Administration, his drama coach noticed a side of him that would forever alter his life. Tom shifted gears and began studying acting with Milton Katselas, an American director and Hollywood acting instructor who was working at the Beverly Hills Playhouse at the time.
Not The NBA
My Country
We weren’t kidding when we said Tom Selleck possessed a plethora of talents! He enlisted in the army in 1967 and served for six years with the 160th Infantry Regiment of the California Army National Guard. He achieved the rank of Sergeant and speaks affectionately of his time in the military. In fact, he said, “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.”
My Country
Influence
Despite these accomplishments, it took Selleck 70 years to grasp the significance of leadership and independence. When his father died on his 70th birthday, he reported that it was the first time he started to feel like a man. He said, “I had had a lot of leadership positions, I had been in the military… but you know, in my case, when my father died, I go, ‘There’s nobody to go to for fatherly advice. You’re on your own, pal.'” What a disheartening birthday that must have been.
Influence
Only The Start
All it took was a little coaxing from a drama coach as well as his fraternity brothers to completely transform his life. They recommended he audition for The Dating Game. That was a significant turning point in Selleck’s life, and it also earned him a large following following the show’s premiere. Pepsi even approached him about doing a commercial, and his career began to take off.
Only The Start
Opportunity
With chances aplenty for Selleck, Twentieth Century Fox approached him about joining the company. Selleck, on the other hand, was hesitant to sign the contract and stipulated a specific condition that Twentieth Century Fox was happy to accommodate: he desired to enroll in a training class to hone his abilities.
Opportunity
Soap Opera Kid
Selleck’s first role was on the popular daytime drama The Young and the Restless. Though he played the minor character Jed Andrews, Selleck’s superb acting in the numerous love triangles in which his character became embroiled wowed audiences and earned him a sizable following on the daytime drama. As if Jed foresaw the future, Selleck would go on to have numerous romantic relationships that mirrored those of his character.
Tom Selleck
Beginnings
When Selleck turned 35, his efforts paid off, and he landed his breakout role as Thomas Magnum in Magnum, P.I. This was an opportunity for him to establish a name for himself. The show was set in the idyllic setting of Hawaii, but production did not go as planned. Indeed, filming was delayed by six months due to a writer’s strike! Without a salary from this dormant role, Selleck supported himself by working as a handyman. There are few people today who are that adaptable.
Beginnings
Magnum P.I.
Magnum, P.I. was a smashing crime drama that aired for an astounding eight seasons! That’s right, Tom Selleck wore Hawaiian shirts and a Detroit Tigers baseball cap in 163 episodes. It’s self-evident that the show’s biggest fans have the same clothing in their own closets. Additionally, that mustache! We cannot forget about that ’80s classic.
Magnum P.I.
They See Me Rollin’
Here’s an interesting fact you may find interesting: the red Ferrari that Selleck famously drives around in the show was not originally envisioned in the script! According to the writers, it was a Porsche, but Selleck’s height precluded him from fitting in one. They swapped the Porsche for a Ferrari in order to accommodate Selleck’s 6’4″ height. That, we believe, was one of the best script changes the writers could have made. The show’s Thomas Magnum could not have ridden anything else.
They See Me Rollin
Nothing But Respect
Larry Manetti, who managed to play Rick Wright on Magnum, P.I., published his memoir Aloha Magnum in 1996. Fans awaited the reveal of all the show’s scandals with bated breath. To their dismay, Manetti had nothing but positive things to say about Selleck on set! Manetti lauded Selleck’s charitable efforts, his unmatched work ethic, and his affable demeanor.
Nothing But Respect
Star!
Tom Selleck was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1986, joining the other 2,600 actors. With only a few more seasons of Magnum, P.I. remaining, the star was dedicated to him. We’re certain that this star would not be here today if it weren’t for his outstanding performance on Magnum! If you want to see his famous star for yourself, you can visit 6925 Hollywood Boulevard!
Star
One, Two
It’s hard to imagine that initially, producers cast anyone but Tom Selleck for the role of Thomas in Magnum, P.I. However, that’s exactly what happened. First, the producers agreed that TV star Kevin Dobson would play the lead role. He ended up turning down the role, wanting his career to go in a different direction. That’s how Selleck was able to get that career changing role!
One Two
A Miss
One of the conditions of Selleck’s acting contract with Magnum, P.I. was to not work on any other projects while the show is ongoing. Due to this contract, he had to turn down several job offers. One of the biggest positions he had to turn down because of this condition was the part of Indiana Jones in the Raiders of the Lost Ark! We’re sure Harrison Ford was happy about the clause, though. The film went on to be one of the highest grossing of all time. There was one fact that Selleck probably regrets to this day: he could have worked on the film when Magnum, P.I. production was delayed.
A Miss
Swing And A Miss
Selleck had an opportunity to play a role alongside Julie Andrews in Victor/Victoria. He had his reservations about the part that continued until he changed his mind and accepted the role. Unfortunately, it was too late. Selleck signed on to Magnum, P.I. and was forbidden from playing other roles until the show was over.
Swing And A Miss
Creative Team
Did you know that Tom Selleck’s character in Magnum, P.I.</em >was written to act more like James Bond? Selleck, in fact, was the person who convinced the writers to make his character more approachable to fans. We sure are glad that Selleck was able to negotiate with the writers because the show would not have been what it was today without that vital change!
Creative Team
First Wife
Tom Selleck married model Jacqueline Ray a year after they started dating. The marriage was going so well that he adopted her son, Kevin Shepard, during that time! Unfortunately, their marriage ended 11 years after it started. Divorce doesn’t end all relationships, though. He continued his relationship with his stepson Kevin well after the divorce.
First Wife
A Superstar of It’s Own
The only star that could possibly rival Tom Selleck’s acting abilities is his ever-popular mustache! It was popularized in Magnum, P.I., and continues to be one of his biggest assets to this day. Many fans do not recognize the Hollywood star without his mustache. But, his mustache is not so iconic that fans always recognize him. Sometimes, fans at times confuse him with other popular 80’s actors.
A Superstar of It’s Own
Agree to Disagree
It’s hard to argue otherwise that Tom Selleck’s signature feature is his mustache. Some fans have confused his iconic mustache with another actor’s. Selleck explained, “There was a time I could have been mistaken for Burt Reynolds. I had a mustache and so did he. But he was the number one star in the world, so there wasn’t really much confusion.”
Agree To Disagree
Ay Baby
In the final year of Magnum, P.I. Selleck began working on the set for Three Men and a Baby with actors Steve Guttenberg and Ted Danson. While some critics at the time argued he peaked in his portrayal of Magnum in the hit television series, the movie advanced his career in and grossed over $170 million. It was the biggest motion picture of the year!
Ay Baby
Love Story
After his divorce to model Jacqueline Ray, he married Jillie Mack in 1987. They had a daughter together, named Hannah, born in 1988. The family lives in Thousand Oaks, California.
Love Story
Small Role
Selleck had some strings to pull, but he was able to have his wife and parents cast on Magnum P.I.! Even though they played minor characters, Jillie was able to appear during the Rembrandt’s Girl episode in the fourth season.
Small Role
The Right
Many Hollywood celebrities lean towards the left, but not Selleck. He has been very vocal about his conservative views and announced that he is a proud republican. He openly endorsed John McCain in the 2008 presidential election and is an vocal member of the National Rifle Association! He actually sits as one the directors of the board.
The Right
Neither Here Nor There
As such a heart throb of the Republican party, Selleck surprisingly chose not to endorse anyone for the 2016 Presidential race. To this day, he has not openly disclosed whether he voted for Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton. However, he chose to take a stance on the Dallas police shooting! He wrote a letter to David Brown, the former department chief and said he felt that he handled the situation well!
Neither Here Nor There
Cha-Ching
Selleck has had nearly an unrivaled career throughout the years. He’s starred in over 50 roles in film, not including the commercials and Broadway appearances. However, his net worth only comes out to $25 million. We won’t argue that it’s a lot of money, but it’s still lower than we expected.
Cha-Ching
Baywatch
With Selleck as a big of a hunk as he is, it’s no surprise that he was called to play Mitch Buchannon on Baywatch! However, Selleck turned down the offer because Selleck is a man of morals. What does that mean? Well, he explained that he refused to be a sex symbol in Hollywood, so he chose other roles.
Baywatch
Dr. Richard Burke
Tom Selleck may have turned down some roles for their grand sex appeal to audiences, but there was one romantic role he had no trouble accepting. He appeared on Friends as Dr. Richard Burke as Monica’s then-boyfriend. His appearances occurred in the second season of the series that ran in the 90’s. Selleck’s performance was so astounding that he earned a nomination for the Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series!
Dr. Richard Burke
Frank Reagan
Tom Selleck must have had a particular knack for playing members of the police force. He starred in the show Blue Bloods as Frank Reagan, the police commissioner. According to Selleck, he routinely received salutes when he stepped out in costume. Why? The reason is that police officers are mandated to salute police commissioners when they see them in uniform. While we don’t know how Selleck felt about the salutes, we’re sure he was flattered to be receiving the sign of respect!
Frank Reagan
Dad Jokes
It seems that Selleck is quite the humorist! His costar Donnie Wahlberg has widely reported on Tom Selleck’s sense of humor. Wahlberg stated, “He can [be funny], yes, usually after he makes sure everyone understands what’s important. It would feel like Christmas on a Tuesday night in August when my dad started telling jokes and it’s the same thing with Tom, when he starts with his oddball jokes and his weird rhymes that he tells from 1930 that are so funny. Everybody feels so much lighter and happier.”
Dad Jokes
An Affair To Remember
With looks as dashing as Selleck’s, it comes as no surprise that he had the life of a playboy. Before marrying Jillie Mack, he briefly dated model Marie Helvin, who detailed the affair in her autobiography. She said, “When I visited Hawaii once, Tom Selleck was shooting for Magnum, P.I. We met and bit of an affair started, then Selleck came to London, we had dinner and went back to his hotel. But the next morning, I sent him a letter to break off this relationship because I was worried about my married life. Later on after a week, he joined Musical Cats backstage and met his wife-to-be.”
An Affair To Remember
Tom and Mimi
Selleck’s playboy affairs didn’t end with Marie Helvin. He dated Mimi Rogers for an entire year. Their marriage, however, never came to fruition, and Rogers would later go on to date and marry Tom Cruise.
Tom And Mimi
Grilled By Rosie
Rosie O’Donnell invited Tom Selleck to her daytime comedy show, The Rosie O’Donnell Show. Selleck initially thought that the invitation was to promote his 1999 film The Love Letter. As we all know, O’Donnell is always full of surprises. She took the opportunity to interrogate the NRA member and noted Republican about his controversial views on gun ownership. Selleck had one thing to say, “It’s your show, and you can talk about it after I leave.”
Grilled By Rosie
Killers
In 2010, Tom Selleck starred in the movie Killers, alongside Ashton Kutcher and Katherine Heigl. Kutcher was one of the producers of the film and stated he was looking for a particular actor to portray Mr. Kornfeldt. Kutcher said, “I call Mr. Kornfeldt ‘Sir’ in the script a lot. And I was thinking, ‘Who am I going to call Sir?’ Who’s a bigger guy, who’s got an intimidating thing, but doesn’t have to try to be intimidating?” We think Tom Selleck was the perfect actor for that role.
Killers
A Break
Starring in 50 films can make having a good work-life balance a challenge for any actor. Selleck was so concerned about the amount of time he was spending with his family while filming Magnum, P.I., that he took a break from his acting career. It’s obvious that this man had a good upbringing and that he wants to instill the same values in his family!
A Break
Hard Times
Even though Tom Selleck has had his fair share of playboy moments, he had something insightful to say about relationships: “I’ve found it very difficult to expose my private life and live with it. It’s important to nurture your marriage. I think wanting time away from work has been good for that.”
Hard Times
Reasons Reasons
While Tom Selleck played his role on Magnum, P.I. flawlessly, he had something to say to Closer Weekly about the show:”Magnum, P.I. went to 163 shows and we still had ground to cover, and I wasn’t tired of it. I was tired from it because I was in every shot.” He probably enjoyed the work he did in Blue Bloods more considering there were many of scenes that did not include his character.
Reasons Reasons
Not The Only Reason
There were many reasons Selleck ended his stint on Magnum, P.I., but among the top of them might surprise you. “I quit Magnum to have a family,” Selleck said. “It took a long time to get off the train, but I try very hard to have balance.” It’s not everyday that an actor chooses to prioritize his family over his career!
Not The Only Reason
Words of Wisdom
The first marriage isn’t always the one that lasts with top Hollywood actors. However, Selleck’s second marriage to Magnum, P.I. actress Jillie Mack seems to be the kind that will last a lifetime. The couple has been together for over 30 years! Selleck had some advice he shared about marriage: “It’s important to nurture your marriage. I think wanting time away from work has been good for that.”
Words Of Wisdom
I Do
Tom Selleck married actress Jillie Mack in 1987. Bob Selleck, Tom Selleck’s brother, organized the super-private ceremony. Mack and Selleck got married in a quaint chapel in Lake Tahoe, Nevada using the code names “Tom Jenkins” and “Suzie Mark.” The minister found out the superstar couple he was marrying only a few minutes before the ceremony started!
I Do
Nervous
The wedding officiant, Reverend David Immel, had some words to say about Tom Selleck and Jillie Mack before exchanging their vows: “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.” What a dreamy husband!
Nervous
My Daughter, Hannah
Tom Selleck is a proud father, and just like any proud father, he loves his daughter with his entire heart. When he and Jillie had Hannah in 1988, they vowed as parents to raise her out of the peering eyes of press cameras and celebrity rumors. His now-29-year-old daughter is an equestrian, and she also models occasionally for her sponsors and for family friends.
My Daughter Hannah
Encouragement
You might be surprised to learn that Hannah did not grow up in the glamorous lifestyle that many celebrity children live. She was actually raised on the family farm, and she learned an incredible number of life lessons on that farm. For starters, her love of horses started on the farm and continues to this day. She said in an interview that she started riding because, “As a kid they tried to raise me as normally as possible given my dad’s line of work. Those horses have been a great way for me to have my own accomplishments outside of whatever my parents had done.”
Encouragement
Our Decision
Jillie explained her reasoning for raising Hannah on the farm. She said, “We both thought it was the best environment for [Hannah] to grow up.” That begs the question, was raising their only daughter on a 65-acre ranch in California the best thing to do? We’re thinking that the answer is yes, considering how well-rounded their daughter is today.
Our Decision
Farm Life
Hannah grew up to love horses, so much so that she became an equestrian! Without her upbringing on the farm, would she have ended up the person she is today? We’re thinking she wouldn’t have been, and Hannah seems to agree: “I have a small breeding program in California where I’m developing young horses to bring along and sell. It’s a business that so far has been really great and a great experience. It is a very expensive sport, so that is why my dad encouraged and invested in this breeding operation. They have been very supportive. The prices of horses have become astronomical. So that’s why it’s so much more rewarding to bring a horse along on your own.”
Farm Life
How Far?
We can’t even imagine how difficult it must have been to run a 60-acre avocado farm. Between waterings, dealing with fluctuating crop yields, and making sure those pesky bugs stay off the plants, there’s a lot to think about when managing a farm. When the California drought hit a few years ago, Tom Selleck did something a bit illegal to water his farm. He hired a truck to get water from a hydrant in a nearby town. When the theft was discovered, it was estimated that the water was worth $1.4 million! Selleck was probably a bit worried to find out that this crime was in fact, a felony in the eyes of the law.
How Far?
On The Other Side
In 2015, the Calleguas Municipal Water District sued Selleck for his water crime. The allegation detailed how he illegally transported water to his property. A private investigation revealed that the fan favorite Hollywood actor hired tanker trucks to steal the water not only once, but multiple times. In fact, he conducted twelve operations of water pilfering over 2 years! To make matters worse, this was the second lawsuit against the actor. He ignored the first lawsuit.
On The Other Side
Settlement
The water district agency hired a private investigator that uncovered a lot of serious problems with Selleck’s water scandal. The private investigator was not a free service, either. The investigation cost a total of $22,000! Both parties ended up settling out of court and Tom Selleck was required to pay only $21,000.
Settlement
Stepson Woes
Remember Kevin, Selleck’s step-son from his first marriage to model Jacqueline Ray? Even after Ray and Selleck’s divorce, Selleck stayed a true father to his step-son throughout his childhood years. As Kevin grew older, he struggled in his music career and was faced with many financial difficulties. This put a massive strain on their relationship that continues to this day.
Stepson Woes
Coffee Time
As a man with one failed marriage under his belt and another marriage just beginning, Selleck said that he made a deliberate effort to notice how he socialized with women during his second marriage. When Italian film actress and singer Sophia Loren moved into Jillie and Selleck’s neighborhood, Jillie was noticeably concerned about her new neighbor. “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,” Selleck said. However, Selleck left his playboy tendencies behind when his second marriage began and has always stayed faithful to his wife, Jillie.
Coffee Time