Tom Selleck Took a Break from Acting to Care for His Hospitalized Daughter
Tom Selleck Opens Up About Family and His Accidental Acting Career in New Memoir
Tom Selleck, known for his role in Blue Bloods, emphasizes the significance of family after his daughter was hospitalized with viral pneumonia at just three years old. In a recent interview with PEOPLE, he reflected on the pivotal moment when he had to miss filming Christopher Columbus: The Discovery in Spain in 1992.
Selleck shared that after bringing his daughter Hannah, now 35, home from the hospital, he felt uneasy about returning to work. “I didn’t like that,” he admitted. This experience made him realize that acting wasn’t worth compromising family time. “I quit Magnum to have a family, and now I’m jumping at every movie that comes along,” he said, underscoring his shift in priorities.
Looking back, Selleck feels he has been a good father, though he acknowledges the constant worry of missed opportunities. “In our business, the work comes first. You find a way to make that compatible, but…” he reflected.
In his upcoming memoir, You Never Know, Selleck discusses his unexpected journey into acting. “It’s really the story of an accidental career. I’d never taken an acting class. I had no training or desire,” he explained. Despite the misconceptions that he was driven by a passion for fame, he simply wanted to find work.
Selleck encourages those entering the acting industry to be prepared for challenges, stating, “You better get an appetite for it. It was a long road.”
Now, after a successful career, Selleck enjoys winding down each day with his wife, Jillie, along with “a cigar and a glass of whiskey.” He reflects, “That combination is a nice way to end the day. I’ve had a very good life.”
As he reflects on his decades in entertainment, Selleck candidly shares that his memoir touches on themes of failure and resilience. “I don’t have the hooks that a lot of people do,” he said, acknowledging his fortunate life despite its ups and downs.
