Tom Selleck has had a long and highly successful career in the entertainment industry. The star of “Magnum, P.I.” and “Blue Bloods” is still passionate about his work – the next season of the successful drama series will soon be airing.
Over the years, Selleck has played many challenging roles. However, the 77-year-old has a history of doing his own stunts – a fact that unfortunately haunts him.
Tom Selleck wasn’t sure if he wanted to become an actor when he was growing up. Born on January 29, 1945, in Detroit, Michigan, his family moved to California, where he grew up in the San Fernando Valley.
Selleck dreamed of enrolling at the University of Southern California (USC), but his family couldn’t afford the tuition fees.
In 1962, he graduated from Grant High School. After enrolling at Los Angeles Valley College, he decided to live at home with his parents to save money.
In his younger years, it seemed more likely that Tom would pursue a career in sports rather than acting. He was an aspiring basketball player and dreamed of turning pro. Given this background, one can only imagine how happy he was when he received a basketball scholarship to the University of Southern California.
“I never acted in school plays. I had no interest in it,” Tom said in 2015 to AARP.
But playing basketball at a high college level was easier said than done. As reported by KSL, he scored only four points in seven games for the USC Trojans during the 1965-1966 season. The following year, he remained scoreless in three games.
An excerpt from the USC handbook describes Tom as “an agile and quick performer who adds depth to the frontline. The economics student is a good leaper with fine agility. As a rapidly improving shooter, he has impressed the coaches with his effort in practice. Needs to work on defense.”
But in the end, Tom simply couldn’t keep up with his larger, taller teammates.
“I was pretty good, but I wasn’t good enough,” Selleck recalled.
Tom Selleck – Beginning of Acting Career
In the back of his mind, Selleck understood that basketball probably wouldn’t be his future career. However, he had a plan B and took on a part-time job to pay his tuition fees. The aspiring student landed a few appearances in television commercials and appeared on The Dating Game.
In hindsight, it wasn’t his proudest moment, but it would influence his future more than he could ever have imagined.
“Humiliating and embarrassing,” he remembered being on the dating show. “I lost. Twice. I wasn’t particularly funny or witty.”
Shortly after, however, Selleck got a spot in the talent program at 20th Century Fox. He began honing his skills, but after two years, he took a six-month active duty stint.
Upon his return, Selleck was dropped. But instead of giving up, he was confident he would make it as an actor.
In the early 1970s, he played minor roles in many television series. Then, as he approached his mid-30s, Selleck appeared in six TV pilots. Still, the big breakthrough eluded him.
According to Tom himself, many thought he became successful overnight when he landed the role of Thomas Magnum in Magnum, P.I.
Breakthrough with ‘Magnum P.I.’
In reality, he had struggled and fought hard.
“The best thing that happened to me was not getting a real job until I was 35,” explained Selleck.
“When I was 25, I looked like I was 35, but sounded like I was 15. There are a lot of very good actors who can make it as younger leads but can’t cross over – because the audience doesn’t accept them as adults.”
Magnum, P.I. became a huge success. The crime drama series aired between 1980 and 1988, instantly catapulting Tom to celebrity status. He was nominated for an Emmy as Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for five consecutive years – finally winning it in 1984.
For over a decade, Selleck had struggled to make it as an actor, and he was on the verge of giving up.
“I think if Magnum hadn’t worked, I wouldn’t have worked again in this business,” he admitted.
Tom achieved cult status through Magnum, and his career since then is nothing short of an incredible success story. Among his other successes are films like “Three Men and a Baby” and “In & Out.” He was also introduced to a new generation of fans when he played Monica Geller’s older boyfriend, Richard Burke, starting from the second season of the hit comedy series “Friends.”
In 2010, Selleck landed the role of Frank Reagan in the drama series Blue Bloods, which opened a new and exciting chapter for the actor. The series has just been renewed for its 13th season, premiering this fall.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Selleck has a fortune of around $45 million.
In many movies and TV shows, actors have their own stunt doubles. Often, this can be a dangerous job, but for a select few, it’s simply not an option to have someone else perform their stunts.
