ACTOR
Tom Selleck
54 archived facts 4 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
All facts (54)
- #001
Tom Selleck played the same character, Thomas Magnum, in three different series: Magnum, P. I. (1980), Simon & Simon (1981) and Murder, She Wrote (1984).
- #002
For the eighth and final season of Magnum, P. I. (1980), Universal Studios gave Tom Selleck a $350,000 bonus, which he spent on generous gifts such as Rolex watches and Porsches, as well as $1,000 bonuses, for the entire cast and crew of Magnum, P. I. (1980).
- #003
Although Tom Selleck plays Len Cariou's son on Blue Bloods (2010), Cariou is only six years older than Selleck in real life.
- #004
Before taking on his breakthrough role in Magnum, P. I. (1980), Tom Selleck appeared in six failed television pilots.
- #005
Tom Selleck and his family's primary residence is in Thousand Oaks, California, but they also have secondary properties in Freedom, California; Jonesboro, Maine; and the Shetland Islands, off the coast of Scotland.
- #006
Tom Selleck was a member of the California National Guard and was mobilized for the Watts riots.
- #007
While preparing for Mr. Baseball (1992), Tom Selleck joined the Detroit Tigers for spring training in 1992. He actually batted in a game against the Cincinnati Reds, facing Reds pitcher Tim Layana as a pinch hitter. After fouling off a half-dozen pitches, Selleck managed to get a hit.
- #008
Tom Selleck was once a minority owner of the Detroit Tigers, his favorite baseball team since childhood.
- #009
Tom Selleck was an accomplished indoor and beach volleyball player who played the spiker position at the Outrigger Canoe Club in Honolulu. (His son Kevin attended USC, Selleck's alma mater, and became an All-American volleyball player in 1990.) Selleck's Outrigger Canoe Club teammate Dennis Berg said of him in the summer 2011 issue of Volleyball USA magazine: "Tom was a great teammate, he appreciated being one. Included in such a talented and experienced group, he practiced and played hard when the Magnum schedule allowed… He was very patient with all of us and we enjoyed the large crowds that replaced the usual small number of players' friends and wives at national tournament matches."
- #010
Tom Selleck received an honorary doctorate from Pepperdine University. He was chosen for his outstanding character and morals. He is a board member of the nonprofit Michael Josephson Institute of Ethics and a co-founder of the Character Counts Coalition. He attended the University of Southern California and earned a basketball scholarship after walking onto the team as a junior in his final year.
- #011
Tom Selleck was inducted into the International Mustache Hall of Fame (inaugural class) in the Film and Television (2015) category.
- #012
A member of the California National Guard, Tom Selleck attended the California Military Academy and was commissioned as a Lieutenant. He later appeared in recruitment posters for the California National Guard and the California Military Academy.
- #013
Tom Selleck played competitive volleyball at the Outrigger Canoe Club, was named an All-American three times and won the over-35 division at the National Championships twice.
- #014
Tom Selleck played a private detective in two television series: Lance White in The Rockford Files (1974) and Thomas Magnum in Magnum, P. I. (1980).
- #015
In 1997 Tom Selleck was honored with the Horizon Award and the Congressional Award in Washington, DC. The Horizon Award is a special award presented by the United States Congressional Joint Leadership and the Congressional Award Board. The Horizon Award is given to individuals from the private sector whose personal contributions have helped expand opportunities for all Americans and whose achievements in life set outstanding examples for young people.
- #016
In February 2009, Tom Selleck joined the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund as national spokesman for the new Education Center being built on the National Mall.
- #017
Tom Selleck and Larry Manetti met in the same episode of the final season of The Rockford Files (1974), a year before Manetti co-starred with him on Magnum, P. I. (1980).
- #018
Because of his commitment to Magnum, P. I. (1980), Tom Selleck missed out on the lead role in The Terminator (1984). The role ultimately went to Arnold Schwarzenegger.
- #019
Magnum, P. I. (1980) was chosen by "The Sleuth" television network as the number one detective series of all time.
- #020
He turned down the lead role in the television series Vega$ (1978), which went to Robert Urich. Selleck and Urich had once appeared together in a television pilot called Bunco (1977) that was never picked up.
- #021
He first appeared on television in 1967 as a college senior on The Dating Game (1965), and then appeared a second time (the date is currently unknown). Incredibly, he lost both times. Shortly afterwards he appeared in television commercials for products such as Pepsi-Cola.
- #022
He is a member of the National Rifle Association and had a memorable argument with Rosie O'Donnell on The Rosie O'Donnell Show (1996) about a commercial in which he appeared while supporting gun control and the NRA.
- #023
Throughout the 1980s he vocally supported President Ronald Reagan. In Blue Bloods (2010), his character "Commissioner Frank Reagan" has political connections.
- #024
He was not the producers' first choice for the lead role in Magnum, P. I. (1980). The role was offered to Kevin Dobson, but he turned it down.
- #025
Growing up, his mentor was James Garner, and he watched The Rockford Files (1974) as well as Garner's films.
- #026
George Lucas, who worked with Harrison Ford on many films, wanted a different actor for Indiana Jones and had chosen Tom Selleck. However, Selleck was already committed to Magnum, P. I. (1980) and CBS would not agree to postpone shooting. So Tom lost out and, despite becoming a star with the series, never achieved movie stardom.
- #027
He competed to play Captain Apollo in Battlestar Galactica (1978), a role that went to Richard Hatch.
- #028
He is the only actor to appear in every episode of Magnum, P. I. (1980).
- #029
He was chosen by People magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world.
- #030
He has a ranch north of Los Angeles, California.
- #031
Tom Selleck himself served in the California National Guard, and every character he played in a television series had a military background: Thomas Magnum ("Magnum, P. I." 1980-1988) was a former Navy SEAL; A. J. Cooper ("Las Vegas" 2007-2008) was a former sailor; and NYPD Commissioner Francis "Frank" Reagan ("Blue Bloods" 2010-2021) is also a former sailor.
- #032
After his close friend Charlton Heston retired in 2003, he was accepted as the next President of the National Rifle Association (NRA).
- #033
He was thought to have appeared as a parody of himself in The Cannonball Run (1981). The role ultimately went to Roger Moore.
- #034
He is a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity.
- #035
Tom Selleck was considered for the role of Professor John Robinson in the 1998 film Lost in Space, which went to William Hurt.
- #036
Tom Selleck studied acting with Milton Katselas at The Beverly Hills Playhouse.
- #037
Tom Selleck has a German Shepherd named "Ooma."
- #038
Tom Selleck shaved his signature mustache for the comedy film In & Out (1997). Since he was once rarely seen without it, he kept it covered for most of his stage and screen work.
- #039
Tom Selleck is best known for his lead role in the television series Magnum, P. I. (1980).
- #040
Tom Selleck was considered for the role of Harry Madox in the 1990 film The Hot Spot, which went to Don Johnson.
- #041
Tom Selleck was the first celebrity guest to appear on The View (1997), on August 11, 1997.
- #042
Tom Selleck was considered for the lead in Ruckus (1980) but was deemed too old for the role. The part went to Dirk Benedict.
- #043
Tom Selleck's second wife, Jillie Mack, was an English dancer.
- #044
Tom Selleck is a member of the conservative Wednesday Morning Club in Hollywood, California.
- #045
On June 4, 1986, Tom Selleck was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television at 6925 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
- #046
Tom Selleck openly supported Senator John McCain in the 2008 presidential election.
- #047
Tom Selleck grew up in San Fernando and attended the University of Southern California, where he earned a degree in English.
- #048
Tom Selleck was considered for the role of Harry Brock in the 1993 film Born Yesterday, which went to John Goodman.
- #049
Tom Selleck began working as a male model and became a star with Magnum, P. I. (1980).
- #050
Tom Selleck turned down the role of Richard Williams in the soap opera Titans (2000), which went to Perry King.
- #051
Another rare appearance by Tom Selleck without his signature mustache was in Target: Angels (1976), originally broadcast on October 27, 1976.
- #052
Tom Selleck dropped out of the comedy film Partners (1982) and was replaced by Ryan O'Neal.
- #053
Tom Selleck's father was a banker.
- #054
Tom Selleck is Annabelle Selleck's father-in-law.
Continue through the archive
Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
Sources for the entries on this page
- IMDb IMDb kaydı
Information from external sources is independently selected, consolidated and edited by Arka Evren. Sources are listed for verification and further reading. Encyclopedia text is used under its licence (CC BY-SA). How we work