“Tom Selleck Opens Up About His Struggles with Fame in the ’80s”

Tom Selleck shot to fame with his breakout role as private investigator Thomas Magnum in Magnum, P.I., earning multiple Emmy nominations and over 50 film and television credits since then. However, despite his remarkable career, the actor has a complex relationship with fame.

In a recent interview, the Blue Bloods star shared how the sudden attention caused him discomfort during a time when he still valued his privacy. “I didn’t like it,” Selleck, 79, reflected on the intense scrutiny of his life. “Mainly because of family and a sense of privacy.”

He explained to People that he often faced questions in interviews that he wasn’t comfortable answering. “I was trying to find a way to set boundaries about what I was willing to discuss. I didn’t always succeed, but the interest just grew, and it’s hard to describe.”

During his early fame, Selleck enjoyed a simple life in a one-bedroom house in Hawaii, which he rented before purchasing. The locals were largely unaware of his celebrity status due to an actors’ strike that delayed filming, allowing him to live in relative anonymity. “I was actually living Magnum’s life at the beach,” he noted, drawing parallels between his real life and his iconic character.

However, everything changed once the show gained popularity, earning him Golden Globe and Emmy nominations from 1982 to 1986. “It was a lot to adjust to,” he admitted.

Selleck expressed gratitude that filming took place in Hawaii, stating that if it had been in Los Angeles, handling the fame would have been more challenging. “I had this huge buffer, and it was a blessing.”

As a father of two grown children, including his stepson Kevin Shepard and daughter Hannah Margaret Selleck, he has always prioritized family. In 2012, he told People that his decision to leave Magnum in 1988 was driven by a desire to spend more time with them. “I quit Magnum to have a family,” he said. “It took a long time to get off the train, but I strive for balance, and this ranch has helped me achieve that.”

As for his acting career, it was announced in late 2023 that CBS’s Blue Bloods would conclude with its 14th season, with filming wrapping up earlier that summer.