Tom Selleck, renowned for “Magnum P.I.,” “Friends,” and “Three Men and a Baby,” has seamlessly transitioned to Police Commissioner Frank Reagan on “Blue Bloods.” Despite the ups and downs in his long showbiz career, he’s maintained a low profile in tabloids, staying devoted to his family. Here are some lesser-known facts about this Hollywood legend.
He Dropped Out Of College To Pursue Acting
Born in Detroit, Selleck later moved to Southern California where he grew up. During his time at the University of Southern California, he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity and worked as a male model to cover expenses. Despite being just three credits away from completing a business degree, he chose to drop out and signed a contract with 20th Century Fox to pursue an acting career.
He’s A Veteran
Between 1967 and 1973, Selleck served in the California Army National Guard, holding the rank of sergeant in California’s 160th infantry regiment. Subsequently, he became the face of recruitment posters for the California National Guard.
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Wikimedia Commons
He Was A Contestant On ‘The Dating Game’
In 1965, Tom Selleck made one of his initial TV appearances as a contestant on the game show “The Dating Game.” Despite participating again in 1967, he faced defeat on both occasions. Perhaps, his luck changed when he eventually sported his iconic mustache!
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Wikimedia Commons
His Mustache Has A Major Presence
When you envision Selleck, his most distinctive feature likely comes to mind – his iconic mustache. This facial trademark has garnered its own Facebook page, categorized as a “Public Figure” with over 40,000 followers. It’s safe to say that without his mustache, Selleck is nearly unrecognizable!
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Wikimedia Commons
He Has Been Married Twice
Selleck’s initial marriage to model and actress Jacqueline Ray concluded in 1982 after a decade. Throughout their marriage, Selleck adopted Ray’s son, Kevin, from her previous relationship.
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youtube
He Was A Struggling Actor Until His Mid-30s
At the age of 35, Tom Selleck experienced his breakthrough with “Magnum P.I.,” a crime drama featuring him as a private investigator in Hawaii. This role propelled him into the spotlight after the actor had previously starred in six other TV pilots that failed to take off.
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Wikimedia Commons
He Worked As A Handyman
During a six-month delay in filming “Magnum P.I.” caused by an actors’ strike, Selleck found himself in Hawaii, all set to start shooting. With a lease signed for an apartment, he took on the role of a handyman for his landlord to make ends meet during the hiatus.
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pixabay
He Might Have Been Indiana Jones
Selleck was initially offered the role of Indiana Jones in “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” However, due to a contractual conflict with his commitment to “Magnum P.I.,” CBS compelled him to decline the movie. Selleck shared this revelation with David Letterman in 2014.
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wikipedia
He Met His Second Wife After Seeing Her Perform In ‘Cats’
Celebrating over 30 years of marriage, Tom Selleck and his second wife, Jillie Mack, crossed paths in 1983 when Selleck witnessed her performance in “Cats” in London. Selleck attributes the success of their marriage to his decision to prioritize family over his career.
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Wikimedia Commons
He Had A Secret Wedding
In 1987, Selleck and Mack tied the knot in a discreet ceremony at a 24-hour wedding chapel near Lake Tahoe in Nevada. To keep the event private, they used the aliases “Tom Jenkins” and “Suzie Mark” to avoid media attention. Additionally, they opted for Polaroid photos, ensuring that no one could access the negatives and maintain the secrecy of their special day.
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Wikimedia Commons
He Played Basketball In College
Standing at an impressive 6 feet 4 inches tall, it’s understandable that a young Tom Selleck would be drawn to basketball. During his time as a student at the University of Southern California, he actively played for the school’s men’s basketball team.
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pixabay
He Briefly Dated Mimi Rogers
Prior to tying the knot with Jillie Mack, Tom Selleck was in a relationship with actress Mimi Rogers. Interestingly, Rogers later married another heartthrob of the ’80s, Tom Cruise. Selleck reportedly met Jillie Mack not long after his breakup with Rogers, as highlighted by People magazine.
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wikipedia
Some People Confuse Him With Burt Reynolds
Due to their mustaches and similar features, there have been instances where people mistakenly confused Tom Selleck with the late Burt Reynolds. The resemblance between the two is evident, as you can see.
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Wikimedia Commons
He Lives On An Avocado Ranch
Residing on a 65-acre ranch and avocado farm in California, Tom Selleck has an unexpected aversion to avocados. Despite owning the farm, he confessed to People magazine that he dislikes avocados, stating, “I don’t eat ’em … Honestly, they make me gag. But it’s just as well. I’ll sell my portion.”
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Wikimedia Commons
His Daughter Is An Accomplished Equestrian
Tom Selleck and Jillie Mack are parents to one daughter, Hannah. While she explored the entertainment industry briefly, she chose not to pursue a career following in her parents’ footsteps. Instead, Hannah has become an accomplished equestrian and earns a living by breeding horses.
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Wikimedia Commons
‘Three Men And A Baby’ Is His Highest-Grossing Movie
In the 1987 hit film, Tom Selleck, Steve Gutenberg, and Ted Danson portrayed three bachelors unexpectedly tasked with caring for a baby. Despite facing strong competition from films like “Dirty Dancing,” “Lethal Weapon,” and “Fatal Attraction,” this movie emerged as the top-grossing film in America for 1987. It remains Selleck’s highest-grossing movie to date, earning an impressive $167 million domestically.
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wikipedia
He Once Took Part In MLB Spring Training
In preparation for the 1992 film “Mr. Baseball,” Tom Selleck immersed himself in the role by spending three weeks at spring training with the Detroit Tigers. As a Detroit native and a long-time fan of the team, Selleck considered this experience a dream come true. Reflecting on the preparation, he mentioned to Deseret News, “I was never more prepared for a movie role.”
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wikipedia
He’s Only Done Broadway Once
In 2001, Tom Selleck marked his Broadway debut in the revival of “A Thousand Clowns.” While the show and his performance garnered mixed reviews, it stands as his sole credit on Broadway to date.
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youtube
He’s An Animal-Lover And Once Had A Family Cow Cremated
Tom Selleck has a particular fondness for animals, particularly dogs. At one time, he had a total of five dogs, comprising a German shepherd, an English cocker, and three Cavalier King Charles spaniels. Notably, he has also shared the screen with a dog in the Jesse Stone film series.
During a 2009 appearance on “The Daily Show,” Selleck shared details about the various animals on his ranch. He even revealed a touching anecdote about the family’s strong attachment to a cow, expressing their sentiment by requesting the vet to cremate her when she passed away so they could keep her ashes.
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pexels
He Was Told That His ‘Friends’ Role Might Hurt His Career
Despite being advised that accepting a role on the sitcom “Friends” would be a career setback, Tom Selleck decided to take the part because he enjoyed the show and had a positive experience with Courteney Cox during a screen test for the 1992 film “Folks!” His performance on “Friends” earned him an Emmy nomination and introduced him to a new generation of fans.
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reddit
He’s A Bit Of A Luddite
Tom Selleck is known for his reluctance to embrace new technology. In a 2015 interview with Entertainment Tonight, he revealed that he had sent only one text message in his life and had never used email. Furthermore, he has opted not to join social media platforms like Twitter or Instagram, making him an exception among celebrities in the digital age.
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Wikimedia Commons
He Does NOT Have A Name For His Mustache
Tom Selleck does not have a nickname for his mustache, and he offers no specific advice for anyone looking to grow one. He attributes his distinctive upper lip hair to genetics, stating, “You either got it or you don’t,” in an interview with GQ.
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Wikimedia Commons
He Did A Write-In Vote In The 2016 Presidential Election
During the 2016 presidential election, Tom Selleck opted not to support either of the major candidates, Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump. Instead, he revealed on “The View” that he endorsed a write-in candidate, specifically Dallas Police Chief David Brown.
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Wikimedia Commons
He Has An Honorary Degree From Pepperdine University
While Tom Selleck dropped out of the University of Southern California (USC), he later received an honorary doctorate from Pepperdine University in 2000. During his commencement speech at Pepperdine, he took the opportunity to address students about the importance of character.
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Wikimedia Commons
He Wishes The New ‘Magnum P.I.’ Well
While not directly involved in the CBS remake starring Jay Hernandez, Tom Selleck reportedly gave his approval for the new show. Although he won’t be making an appearance in the remake, the new series reportedly intends to pay homage to Selleck’s iconic mustache in at least one episode.
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reddit
He Doesn’t Like Being Thought Of As A Sex Symbol
Despite being considered one of the biggest sex symbols of his era and gracing the cover of Playgirl magazine four times, Tom Selleck did not view himself as a hunk. In a 1989 interview with the Chicago Tribune, he expressed, “I think of myself as an actor first, not a sex symbol. Do I think I’m sexy? No, that’s someone else’s judgment, and I honestly don’t think you can try to be sexy and really succeed.”
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Wikimedia Commons
He Was The First Celebrity Guest On ‘The View’
In 1997, Tom Selleck made history as the first celebrity guest on the talk show “The View.” Over the course of more than 20 years, he has made a total of 16 appearances on the show. His most recent appearance was to promote “Blue Bloods,” showcasing his continued connection with the long-running talk show.
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youtube
He’s Never Had Plastic Surgery
In a 2014 interview with GQ, Tom Selleck stated that he had never undergone plastic surgery. However, he did not entirely rule out the possibility of considering it in the future. Selleck expressed that he doesn’t have a strong opposition to plastic surgery, viewing it as a potential tool rather than a purely narcissistic pursuit of vanity. He emphasized the distinction between cosmetic procedures for professional reasons and those driven solely by personal appearance.
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wikipedia
He Shaved Off His Trademark Mustache For ‘In & Out’
Tom Selleck made a notable change in his appearance for the 1997 film “In & Out” by shaving off his famous mustache. In the film, his character, a gay entertainment reporter, shares his coming-out story, including a kiss with Kevin Kline’s character. Interestingly, years later, Selleck offered to shave off his mustache for the CBS show “Blue Bloods,” but the network declined the proposal.
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wikipedia
He Danced With Princess Diana At A White House Dinner
While John Travolta is widely known for dancing with Princess Diana at a 1985 White House dinner, it’s interesting to note that Tom Selleck was also present at the same event and shared some dance floor moments with the British royal. Selleck described Princess Diana as “just charming, lovely.” He mentioned that he had learned to dance the waltz during his youth for cotillion balls, but even with that experience, he admitted feeling nervous while dancing with the princess.
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Wikimedia Commons
Watch Tom discuss “being a hunk” and why he loves his Mom
Watch this interview when Tom Selleck, celebrated on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, reflects on his journey to fame and credits much of his success to his mother’s influence.
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