Roger E. Mosley, Magnum P.I. Star, Dies at 83 Following Car Accident

Actor Roger E. Mosley, Known for Magnum P.I., Passes Away at 83

Roger E. Mosley, best known for his role as Theodore “T.C.” Calvin on the original Magnum P.I., has passed away at the age of 83. He died from injuries sustained in a car accident in Lynwood, Los Angeles, last week.

Mosley’s daughter, Ch-a, confirmed the news to the Hollywood Reporter after previously updating followers about the incident. She shared a heartfelt message on Facebook, stating, “We could never mourn such an amazing man. He would hate any crying done in his name. It is time to celebrate the legacy he left for us all. I love you, daddy. You loved me too. My heart is heavy but I am strong. I will care for mommy, your love of almost 60 years. You raised me well and she is in good hands. Rest easy.”

His friend Tina Andrews paid tribute on Twitter, saying, “What a sweet man and a fine actor who gave great parties. RIP, Roger. You were loved and shall be missed.”

Mosley gained acclaim for his portrayal of musician Huddie Ledbetter in the 1976 film Leadbelly, and he also appeared in films such as The Mack, Hit Man, The Greatest, Darktown Strutters, and Sweet, Jesus Preacherman. However, his most notable role was as T.C. Calvin, a helicopter pilot and close friend of Tom Selleck’s character, Thomas Magnum, in Magnum P.I. The show aired from December 1980 to May 1988, with Mosley appearing in 158 of its 162 episodes.

T.C. owned a helicopter charter company in Oahu called Island Hoppers, a key element in the series. Mosley was initially hesitant to take the role, as he was focused on films at the time. However, his agent persuaded him, saying, “It’s starring this guy Tom Selleck. Tom Selleck has made about five pilot shows, and none of them has sold.” Mosley humorously recounted, “Well, eight-and-a-half years later…”

He was committed to portraying T.C. as a well-rounded character who was a university graduate and a lover of literature, rejecting scripts that suggested he smoke or drink. “I never get high, smoke, or drink on the show or in real life,” he told Ebony in 1982. “That’s not what I want black kids to see.”

In his later years, Mosley acted less frequently, mostly stepping back from film and television around 2010. He did, however, make guest appearances in two episodes of the 2018 reboot of Magnum P.I., which starred Jay Hernandez and Perdita Weeks.