“Tom Selleck Opens Up About How His Daughter’s Health Crisis Shifted His Career Priorities”
Tom Selleck, renowned for his iconic role as Magnum P.I., has navigated the entertainment industry for over 40 years. Reflecting on his journey in a recent interview, the 79-year-old actor shared how his early fame and the pressures of a busy career sometimes conflicted with his responsibilities as a parent.
Selleck, who shares his son Kevin, 57, with his ex-wife Jacqueline Ray and married actress Jillie Mack in 1987, welcomed their daughter Hannah in December 1988. During a health crisis in the late ’80s, Hannah developed viral pneumonia and was hospitalized, prompting Selleck to pause his acting career.
He was scheduled to film Christopher Columbus: The Discovery in Spain alongside Marlon Brando but chose to prioritize his family’s needs. “I got off that train,” Selleck said. Despite his excitement about working with Brando, he found the experience unfulfilling compared to being with his family. “It wasn’t worth it. It was never going to be worth it,” he reflected. “I had quit Magnum to focus on family, and then I was just jumping at every opportunity.”
After a nearly three-year hiatus, Selleck found renewed success with notable roles, including his portrayal of Dr. Richard Burke on Friends. Reflecting on his career, he admitted, “You always think you missed opportunities. In our business, the work comes first, but you find a way to make it work.”
Selleck has enjoyed greater satisfaction with steadier work, particularly his role as Commissioner Frank Reagan on Blue Bloods, which concludes this fall after 14 seasons. He has cherished the balance between his professional life and personal time on his 63-acre California ranch, where he and his wife enjoy farming and relaxation.
On quieter days, Selleck savors moments with a cigar and a glass of whiskey, appreciating the journey he’s had. “I’ve had a very good life, a very lucky life,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s what I figured I’d be doing, but it’s with a lot of gratitude.”
