Tom Selleck has been in the acting game for decades now. He got a fairly late start, remaining relatively undiscovered until his mid-30s, when he was cast as Thomas Magnum in the '80s CBS hit series "Magnum P.I." As a mustachioed private eye who sniffed out crime in a Hawaiian T-shirt and a red Ferrari, Selleck was launched into superstardom, becoming the male sex icon of the '80s. The role won him an Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series, and five People's Choice Awards.
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Selleck, now 78 years old, is still going strong on the crime drama "Blue Bloods," where he stars as New York police Commissioner Frank Reagan. The series is set to begin its final season on CBS on Feb. 16.
Of course, you're likely familiar with his iconic television roles. But did you know that he had his first-ever television appearance on "The Dating Game"? Did you know that he is a proud veteran who enlisted in the military right as the Vietnam War was getting serious? Or that he actually resents the sex symbol status that hung over him throughout the 1980s and beyond? What about his net worth? Does Selleck's net worth reflect all of his success over the years?
Scroll through for more fascinating facts you may not have known about the one and only Tom Selleck.
He Made His Television Debut on 'The Dating Game'
Game Show Network
Before he got his big break, Tom Selleck made an appearance on the popular television show "The Dating Game." The early reality competition show featured one woman asking questions to three eligible bachelors hidden from her view. She would then choose which one she liked best for a date. Selleck appeared on the show twice — once in 1965 and again in 1967 — losing both times.
He Received a Basketball Scholarship for College But Later Dropped Out to Pursue Acting
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Driven to make it in the cutthroat world of showbiz, a young Selleck dropped out of college to devote himself entirely to the craft. He had attended the University of Southern California on a basketball scholarship and had been just three credits shy of a business degree when he left. He had also been a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. In 2000, he received an honorary law degree from Pepperdine University (pictured above).
He's a Veteran
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Selleck served in the California Army National Guard from 1967 to 1973 and became a sergeant in California's 160th Infantry Regiment. He signed on for a six-year commitment right as the Vietnam War was ramping up. "Being in the service at that time was kind of like being in the belly of the beast of that war," he said (via Impacting Our Future).
His Starred in a Western Film with Sam Elliott
CBS
Selleck starred in a TV Western movie called "The Shadow Riders" in 1982 alongside Sam Elliott. Based on the hit novel of the same name, "The Shadow Riders" follows two brothers who fight on opposite sides of the Civil War and return home to find that their siblings have been captured by raiders.
His Big Break Was on 'Magnum P.I.'
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Selleck's most iconic role — and the one that launched him into superstardom — was on the American crime television series "Magnum P.I." Selleck starred as Thomas Magnum, a private investigator in Hawaii with a red Ferrari, a Hawaiian shirt and a majestic mustache who hunted down bad guys. The series, which ran from 1980 to 1988, became the epitome of '80s cool.
He Was Almost Cast as Indiana Jones
Disney
Harrison Ford is synonymous with the archaeologist/daredevil hero Indiana Jones. But the role almost went to Selleck. The first Indiana Jones film, "Raiders of the Lost Ark," was set to begin filming in March 1980, which would have conflicted with the "Magnum P.I." shooting schedule. Due to the 1980 AFTRA/Screen Actors Guild strike, shooting on "Magnum" was delayed until December, meaning Selleck would have been free to play Indy after all.
He Didn't Want to Be Seen as a Sex Symbol
(Photo by Donaldson Collection/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Selleck became one of the most iconic sex symbols of the 1980s and appeared on the cover of Playgirl magazine multiple times. But he never wanted to be seen as such. Selleck even turned down the role of Mitch Buchannon on "Baywatch" to avoid the title. The role would famously be passed on to David Hasselhoff instead.
He Has Been Married Twice
Tom Selleck, wife Jillie Mack and daughter Hannah. (Photo by Jean-Paul Aussenard/WireImage)
Selleck has been married twice. He was first wed to Jacqueline Ray in 1971, but the couple divorced in 1982. He would later adopt Ray's son, Kevin. Selleck got married a second time in 1987 to Jillie Mack. The two of them share a daughter, Hannah Selleck, who was born in 1988 and is an equestrian jumping athlete.
His Net Worth Is Estimated to Be Around $45 Million
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Selleck has amassed an estimated net worth of $45 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. With his current role on "Blue Bloods," Selleck earns $200,000 per episode or about $5 million per season. At the height of "Magnum P.I.," Selleck was earning $500,000 per episode — adjusted for inflation, that's about $1.2 million per episode.
He Lives on an Avocado Ranch — Despite Hating Avocados
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Selleck currently resides with his wife and daughter on a 65-acre avocado ranch in California. He doesn't eat the green, creamy fruits, however. In fact, he detests them. "I don't eat 'em. ... Honestly, they make me gag," he told People Magazine back in 2012. "But it's just as well. I'll sell my portion."
