Tom Selleck

Tom Selleck

Active - 1970 - 2015  |   Born - Jan 29, 1945 in Detroit, Michigan, United States  |   Genres - Drama, Action, Mystery

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Biography by AllMovie

Leading man and sex symbol, Selleck has a gentle, humorous manner. He attended college on an athletic scholarship, majoring in business. A drama coach suggested he become an actor; soon he began making the rounds of auditions. He won a part in the disastrous film Myra Breckinridge (1970), his screen debut, then appeared in small roles in a handful of films during the '70s. Meanwhile, Selleck was signed to a seven-year contract with Fox, leading to a great many TV roles, including appearances as a recurring character on the TV series "The Rockford Files." Eventually he was chosen as the lead for the TV series "Magnum P.I.;" the show became a hit, staying on the air from 1980-88, and he became a star and sex symbol, winning an Emmy, a Golden Globe award, and a star on Hollywood Boulevard. He suffered a serious career setback in 1981, when he was chosen to star in the Lucas-Spielberg blockbuster Raiders of the Lost Ark, but couldn't get released from his TV responsibilities. Beginning in 1983 he tried to break back into films, finally landing a major hit in a co-starring role in Three Men and a Baby (1987); although he appeared in a dozen films after 1983 he never firmly established himself as a screen star. He has also been active as a TV producer. He is married to English dancer Jillie Mack.

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Factsheet

  • Attended USC on a basketball scholarship.
  • Activated during the Watts Riots while in the California National Guard.
  • First TV appearance was on The Dating Game in 1967.
  • Originally slated to star in Raiders of the Lost Ark but CBS would not release him from Magnum, P.I. commitments.
  • Father Robert played his grandfather on Magnum, P.I..
  • Member of the National Rifle Association, feuded with Rosie O'Donnell about gun control during an appearance on her show in 1996.
  • Involved since 2005 in an ongoing series of made-for-tv movies based on the Jesse Stone series written by Robert B. Parker; Selleck is a producer for the series as well as lead actor.