“Tom Selleck Reflects on the Struggles and Triumphs That Shaped His ‘Magnum, P.I.’ Stardom”
In his new memoir, Tom Selleck kicks off with a dramatic moment: a car crash that occurred when he was 17. As the passenger in his mother’s red Chevy Corvair, Selleck and two friends went airborne off Mulholland Drive in Los Angeles. While everyone survived the incident, the harrowing experience sets the stage for a reflection on his life.
“That’s an unusual way to start,” admits Selleck, the star of “Magnum, P.I.” and “Blue Bloods,” in a recent interview. “But it felt like the right way to delve into my past, using that accident as a lens to examine my upbringing and its consequences.”
“You Never Know” chronicles Selleck’s journey from his university days at USC, his stint in the Army, and his time as Bachelor No. 2 on “The Dating Game” to his early roles in commercials and unsold pilots before he achieved Emmy-winning fame as Thomas Magnum.
“I didn’t lead a headline-grabbing life,” the 79-year-old actor tells The Associated Press. “My goal with this book was to entertain by getting into these stories in a way that lets readers into my mind.”
Selleck dedicated four years to writing the book longhand on yellow legal pads, often quoting George Will and Raymond Chandler. He read his work to his wife each evening at dinner.
The memoir paints a picture of an actor who persevered through numerous setbacks—his first major film, “Daughters of Satan,” was less than stellar—and finally found success in his mid-30s.
“If Selleck has one thing to sell, it’s authenticity,” says Ellis Henican, Selleck’s co-writer. “He knows who he is and has built a successful career in a tough industry by staying true to himself.”
Selleck, who had no intention of writing a scandalous tell-all, does reveal personal insights, including details about his secret marriage to his second wife, Jillie Mack, whom he fell for after seeing her in “Cats.”
“There’s a lot I haven’t talked about, and much of what others have said isn’t accurate,” he says.
The memoir also uncovers Selleck’s struggles with insecurity and self-doubt. “That critic on your shoulder is a formidable opponent,” he writes. He aims to connect with young actors by sharing the realities of an industry where rejection is the norm.
Selleck famously missed out on the role of Indiana Jones in “Raiders of the Lost Ark” due to his “Magnum, P.I.” schedule. Though a Hollywood strike briefly made it possible to do both, he reflects, “My only regret was that the what-if was there from time to time.”
“Magnum, P.I.,” which aired from 1980 to 1988, brought Selleck fame as a Vietnam War veteran-turned-detective driving a red Ferrari. He won an Emmy in 1984 for an episode where Magnum, alone in the Pacific Ocean, grapples with his past. Selleck humorously recalls grabbing his Emmy and running to his host podium, surprised by the enthusiastic applause.
Throughout his career, Selleck took calculated risks, like turning down a steady role on “Young and the Restless” and choosing to work on “The Sacketts” despite initial reluctance from the director. “I’m most proud of being willing to take risks,” he says. “Risk is the price you pay for opportunity.”
The memoir also features glimpses of other celebrities, including Carol Burnett, Princess Diana, and Frank Sinatra, who appeared on “Magnum, P.I.” and displayed both his acting talent and a strong personality.
Fans of “Blue Bloods” will find out in the final pages that Selleck fought for the show to be character-driven rather than a procedural, resulting in its current 14-season run. “I can’t be that lucky twice,” he writes.
Selleck describes his approach to his career as methodical and dedicated. “Just showing up and collecting a paycheck wasn’t enough,” he says. “I always aimed to do the work in a businesslike manner, without tantrums or throwing scripts against the wall.”
