“Tom Selleck Opens Up About His Struggles with Magnum P.I. Fame as an ’80s Icon”

Tom Selleck Reflects on the Downside of Magnum P.I. Fame

Tom Selleck’s iconic moustache was the envy of men everywhere, a defining feature of his role as a Hawaii-based private investigator in Magnum P.I., which catapulted him to global stardom. With his effortless charm, signature Hawaiian shirts, and rugged good looks, Selleck quickly became a cultural icon of the ’80s.

The show not only established him as a sex symbol but also solidified Magnum P.I. as a defining element of the decade. Despite his immense success, including an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 1985, Selleck’s rise to fame was not without its challenges.

In a candid new interview on the podcast hosted by Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson, Selleck shared his complex feelings about his newfound fame. “I didn’t like it,” he admitted. “Mainly because of family and a sense of privacy. I started getting asked questions in interviews that I didn’t want to answer. I had to set boundaries about what I was comfortable discussing.”

Reflecting on his life before Magnum P.I., Selleck described a simpler time when he enjoyed living in a modest one-bedroom house in Hawaii. “I belonged to the Outrigger Canoe Club, where local people knew I was an actor, but it was a different kind of life. When the actors were on strike and we couldn’t start filming, I was truly living Magnum’s life—at the beach and enjoying my privacy.”

However, the overwhelming success of the series changed everything. As Magnum P.I. became a cultural phenomenon, Selleck found himself navigating the complexities of fame. “It was a lot to adjust to,” he reflected. “If the show had been set in L.A. and received the same attention, I don’t know how I would have managed. I was lucky to have that buffer.”

By 1988, Selleck chose to step back from the spotlight to focus on his family. He adopted his stepson, Kevin Shepard, in 1987 and has a daughter, Hannah Margaret Selleck, with his second wife, Jillie Mack.

Looking ahead, Selleck may soon have even more time to spend with his family, as CBS has announced that Blue Bloods, the police drama in which he stars, will conclude after its 14th season, filmed earlier this summer.