“Friends Star Rejected Indiana Jones Role Before Harrison Ford Was Chosen”

Harrison Ford made his iconic debut as Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark in 1981, a role he has since reprised in four additional films. However, it turns out that Tom Selleck was initially slated to play the adventurous archaeologist before he turned down the part.

In an excerpt from his memoir, You Never Know, Tom Selleck, known for his roles in Friends, Blue Bloods, and Three Men and a Baby, revealed that he opted to star in Magnum P.I. instead. Published in May, the memoir details Selleck’s experience auditioning for the Indiana Jones role.

Selleck recounted that he auditioned for Steven Spielberg and George Lucas but was more preoccupied with the future of his series than with his audition. “I got there, and Steven greeted me warmly, handed me the pages for the test, and assured me to take all the time I needed,” he wrote, as reported by People Magazine. “The wardrobe with the hat and leather jacket helped me get into character.”

Selleck’s audition impressed Spielberg and Lucas, who offered him the role soon after. “I think it was Steven who told me. George was always more reserved, but I sensed a hint of a smile,” Selleck recalled. “I’m not sure how I responded, but I hope I at least said thank you.”

Despite being thrilled with the script and character, Selleck was still awaiting news about Magnum P.I., which had been picked up by CBS. This scheduling conflict led to Harrison Ford being cast as Indiana Jones, and the rest is cinematic history.

Selleck went on to star as Thomas Magnum for eight seasons until the show ended in May 1988. He also gained recognition for his role as Richard Burke in Friends, played Frank Reagan in Blue Bloods for over a decade, and had a recurring role as AJ Cooper in Las Vegas.