TOM SELLECK

'Thomas William Selleck' (born January 29 1945 in Detroit, Michigan) is a Golden Globe and Emmy Award winning American actor, screenwriter and film producer, best known for his starring role on the long-running television show ''Magnum P.I.''. He is recognizable by his 6 ft 4 (193 cm) height and always sports a moustache.

Contents

Biography

Early life

Early career

Movie stardom

Magnum P.I.

Friends

Las Vegas

Awards & Accolades

Personal life

Politics

Filmography

Commercials

Television Work (includes made for TV movies.)

Trivia

References

External links

Biography

Early life

Born in Detroit to a Ukrainian father Robert Selleck (died 2001) and Scottish-American mother Martha, the family moved to Sherman Oaks when Tom was younger. Tom's siblings include brother Robert (born 1944), brother Daniel (born 1950), and sister Martha. Tom graduated from Grant High School (Los Angeles, California) in 1962.^[1]
Along with doing some modeling, Selleck attended the University of Southern California on a basketball scholarship. He was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity.^[2] While he majored in business administration, a drama coach suggested Selleck try acting. He then studied acting at the Beverly Hills Playhouse under Milton Katselas.
Selleck served in the California National Guard and was activated for the Watts riots.

Early career

Selleck began his career with bit parts in smaller movies, including the over-the-top ''Myra Breckinridge'' and Russ Meyer's ''The Seven Minutes''. He also appeared in number of TV series, mini-series and TV movies. Selleck also had a recurring role in the 1970s as Lance White in ''The Rockford Files''. Lance was very trusting and always lucky, much to the annoyance of Jim Rockford, the show's star private eye played by James Garner. White would frequently say to Rockford, "Don't worry, Jim, clues will turn up" and then a clue would just turn up, much to Rockford's consternation, for whom obtaining clues required hard work and hard knocks. Selleck's character was based on one played in Garner's earlier TV series ''Maverick'' (1957) by Wayde Preston in that series' highest-rated episode, "The Saga of Waco Williams."
Ironically Selleck, after years of little interest, was cast as 'Magnum, P.I.' and Indiana Jones in ''Raiders of the Lost Ark'' in the same year. 'Magnum, P.I.' producers would not release the actor and he had to pass on the film role, which then went to Harrison Ford. The decision of choosing the role of Indiana Jones vs. Magnum actually haunted him so much that before making the decision, he consulted his best friend on what to do. Together they came to the conclusion that honoring the contract with Universal Studios was the honorable thing to do. It turned out that the shooting of the pilot for Magnum was delayed for over 6 months, which would have enabled him to complete the role as Indiana Jones. Ironically, while waiting in Hawaii for ''Magnum, P.I.'' to commence, Steven Spielberg & George Lucas were in Hawaii as well to shoot scenes for ''Raiders of the Lost Ark''. Selleck later went on to star in ''High Road to China'', one of the many derivative adventure films inspired by the success of ''Raiders'' that emerged in the early to mid-1980s.

Movie stardom

He starred in the 1979 TV movie ''Concrete Cowboy'' with Jerry Reed. Selleck starred in a number of film roles during and after ''Magnum''; among the most notable were as an acrophobic police detective in ''Runaway'', as a stand-in father in ''Three Men and a Baby'', and as an American cowboy in the Australian western ''Quigley Down Under'', a role and film that
he considers one of his best. His other films include ''Three Men and a Little Lady'', ''High Road to China'', ''Lassiter'', ''Her Alibi'', ''An Innocent Man'', ''Folks!'', '', ''Mr. Baseball'', ''In & Out'' and ''The Love Letter''.
In the early 1990s, Selleck held a press conference to say that he was not gay after a Queer Nation poster allegedly tried to out him. Years later, he played an openly gay character in ''In & Out'' with Kevin Kline. He also sued a tabloid for printing a story that he was gay, which later was settled with an apology and a financial sum that Selleck donated to a university journalism program, to promote ethics in media.
Selleck had a very successful recurring guest-star television role on the popular sitcom ''Friends'' as "Richard," an ophthalmologist friend of Monica Geller's father and, eventually, one of Monica's (ex-)boyfriends. During filming, when he would show up on stage, he would receive long standing ovations. This led to a change in ''Friends' filming style; the live audience was removed, and laugh tracks were used instead. Selleck reprised his role as Richard several times throughout the show's ten years on the air.
Selleck has also appeared in a number of made-for-TV movies in recent years. In particular, he has sought to help bring back to popularity the western, often playing one of that genre's typical characters but thrust into a modern context.
Surprising many of his fans, Selleck unexpectedly played the role of General Dwight D. Eisenhower in the History Channel's 2004 made-for-TV movie ''. The movie showed the planning, politics, and preparation for the 1944 Invasion of Normandy, and Selleck was critically lauded for playing a cool, calm Eisenhower.
Most recently, Selleck has appeared in a recurring role on the acclaimed ABC drama ''Boston Legal'' as Ivan Tiggs, the troubled ex-husband of Shirley Schmidt (Candice Bergen), and as novelist ''Robert B. Parker's character Jesse Stone in several CBS made-for-TV movies, earning a 2007 Emmy nomination for ''.

Magnum P.I.

Tom Selleck played the role of Thomas Magnum in 1980 after six failed TV pilots. The show would go on for eight seasons and 162 episodes until 1988. Selleck was famous for his moustache, a Hawaiian-style aloha shirt, and Detroit Tigers baseball cap. Magnum drove a Ferrari 308 GTS.
Selleck will not star in the upcoming ''Magnum P.I.'' film, because he has been considered too old but may appear in a cameo role. In January 2007, it was announced that Matthew McConaughey will play Magnum.^[3]

Friends

Selleck played the recurring role of Dr. Richard Burke on Friends, a love interest to the character of Monica Geller (Courteney Cox). Richard Burke is an ophthalmologist who is 21 years older than Monica and close friends with her parents. Monica and Richard have a very close and deep relationship until Monica discovers that Richard isn't willing to have more children, when the two break up. Richard Burke appears in seasons 2, 3 and 6 of Friends and is referred to often throughout the series. The role helped revitalize Selleck's career.

Las Vegas

He is set to replace James Caan as the head owner of the Montecito on the 5th season of ''Las Vegas''. This will be his first regular dramatic gig on TV since he played Thomas Magnum on ''Magnum, P.I.''.

Awards & Accolades

On April 28, 2000, he received an honorary doctorate from Pepperdine University. He was chosen because of his outstanding character and ethic. He is a board member of the non-profit Joseph and Edna Josephson Institute of Ethics and co-founder of the Character Counts Coalition. Selleck received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1986. The star is situated at 6925 Hollywood Blvd.

★ Golden Apple Awards- 1982 Male Star of the year

★ Golden Apple Awards- 1983 Male Star of the year

★ People Choice's Award- 1984 Favourite Male TV Performer

★ Emmy Awards- 1984- Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

★ People Choice's Award- 1985 Favourite Male TV Performer

★ People Choice's Award- 1985 Favourite All-Round Male Entertainer

★ Golden Globes- 1985 Best Performance by an Actor in a TV-Series-Drama

★ Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame- 1986 6925 Hollywood Blvd
In 1993, During the brief run of the late night ''The Chevy Chase Show'' on Fox, he guest-starred and, as a gag, asked to be presented his 1992 Worst Supporting Actor Razzie award for his performance as King Ferdinand of Spain in ''. When the Razzie was actually presented to him on the air, Selleck took it in stride and asked the entire studio audience to "blow me a raspberry". Selleck thus became the third person in Razzie history to accept voluntarily one of the Worst Achievements in Film statuettes.

Personal life

Tom Selleck was married to model Jacqueline Ray from 1970 to 1982 from which he adopted her son, Kevin (born 1966), from a previous marriage.
Selleck married Jillie Mack August 7, 1987.^[4] They have one daughter, Hannah Margaret Mack Selleck^[5] (born December 16, 1988).^[2] The family lives in Thousand Oaks, California.^[7]

Politics

Selleck is a board member of the National Rifle Association.^[8] On May 19, 1999, he sparred with Rosie O'Donnell on ''The Rosie O'Donnell Show'' on the issue of gun control and an ad in which he appeared which supported the NRA. Selleck was invited to the show to promote his latest movie, ''The Love Letter'', but found himself instead defending his position on gun ownership. Selleck refused to be drawn into a heated discussion by saying: "It's your show, and you can talk about it after I leave". O'Donnell was highly criticized for this, which led her to make an apology to Selleck by saying: "For him feeling embarrassed and humiliated by me, I strongly do apologize to him personally, but I do not apologize for my feelings about this issue gun control."^[9]
Selleck describes himself politically as "a registered independent with a lot of libertarian leanings."^[10]

Filmography

★ ''Myra Breckinridge'' (1970)

★ ''The Seven Minutes'' (1971)

★ ''Daughters of Satan'' (1972)

★ ''Sons Of God'' (1973)

★ ''Shadow of Fear'' (1973)

★ ''Terminal Island'' (1973)

★ ''Midway'' (1976)

★ ''The Washington Affair'' (1977)

★ ''Coma'' (1978)

★ ''The Gypsy Warriors'' (1978)

★ ''High Road to China'' (1983)

★ ''Lassiter'' (1984)

★ ''Runaway'' (1984)

★ ''Three Men and a Baby'' (1987)

★ ''Her Alibi'' (1989)

★ ''An Innocent Man'' (1989)

★ ''Guilty As Hell'' (1990)

★ ''Quigley Down Under'' (1990)

★ ''Three Men and a Little Lady'' (1990)

★ ''Folks!'' (1992)

★ '' (1992)

★ ''Mr. Baseball'' (1992)

★ ''The Magic of Flight'' (1996) (short subject) (narrator)

★ ''Open Season'' (1995)

★ ''Kids for Character (1996) (direct to video) (host)

★ ''In & Out'' (1997)

★ ''The Love Letter'' (1999)

★ ''Meet the Robinsons'' (2007) (voice)

Commercials

He did the voice over for the 1993 AT&T ad campaigns titled "You Will". These ads had a futuristic feel, and poised the question of, "What if you had the technology to do ______ , well you will with AT&T." A lot of the technology featured in the commercial was made possible within the years to come. For instance, the internet was made publicly available to the average consumer in 1996.

Television Work (includes made for TV movies.)

★ ''The Movie Murderer'' (1970)

★ ''A Case of Rape'' (1974)

★ ''The Young and the Restless'' (cast member from 1974–1975)

★ ''Returning Home'' (1975)

★ ''Most Wanted'' (1976)

★ ''Bunco'' (1977)

★ ''Superdome'' (1978)

★ ''The Chinese Typewriter'' (1979)

★ ''The Sacketts'' (1979)

★ ''The Concrete Cowboys'' (cowboy) (1979)

★ ''Stone Ninjas'' (ninja) (1980)

★ ''Pirates of Rock'' (pirate) (1981)

★ ''Magnum, P.I.'' (1980–1988)

★ ''Divorce Wars: A Love Story'' (1982)

★ ''The Shadow Riders'' (1982)

★ ''Murder, She Wrote'' (1986)

★ ''Broken Trust'' (1995)

★ ''Ruby Jean and Joe'' (1996) (also executive producer)

★ ''Friends'' (recurring role in 1996)

★ ''Last Stand at Saber River'' (1997) (also executive producer)

★ ''The Closer'' (1998)

★ ''Running Mates'' (2000)

★ ''Crossfire Trail'' (2001) (also executive producer)

★ ''Monte Walsh'' (2003) (also executive producer)

★ ''Twelve Mile Road'' (2003)

★ ''Reversible Errors'' (2004)

★ '' (2004)

★ Jesse Stone TV movies (also executive producer & producer)

★
★ ''Stone Cold'' (2005)

★
★ ''Jesse Stone: Night Passage'' (2006)

★
★ ''Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise'' (2006)

★
★ ''Jesse Stone: Sea Change'' (2007)

★ ''Boston Legal'' (recurring role in 2006)

★ ''Meet The Robinsons'' (2007)

Trivia

★ One of only two people to have an original Hornby Eastwood 200.

★ Is a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity.

★ Is a member of the church of Christ.

★ Appeared twice on ''The Dating Game'' and lost each time.

★ Was once a University of Southern California campus representative for United Airlines.

★ Used to be part owner of The Black Orchid restaurant with Larry Manetti and one other investor in Honolulu, Hawaii.

★ In 1998, he was chosen by People Magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world.

★ He joined the Detroit Tigers in 1992 for spring training. He actually took an at-bat (as a pinch hitter) in a spring training game against the Cincinnati Reds, facing Reds' pitcher Tim Layana. Selleck ended up striking out after fouling away half a dozen pitches.

★ For the 8th and final season of ''Magnum, P.I.'', Universal Studios gave him a bonus of $350,000 which he spent on lavish gifts, such as Rolex watches, Porsches, a giant trampoline for his children, an inflatable castle and $1,000 bonuses for the entire cast and crew of ''Magnum, P.I.''.

★ He has donated much of his time and money to the charity ''Locks of Love'' which provides children with wigs who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy.

★ He has said often that his favorite book is ''The Stranger'' by Albert Camus

★ He went to high school with Mike Post, according to the book ''Aloha Magnum'' by Larry Manetti

★ He was run as a joke candidate for President in the 2002 University of Alberta Students' Union Election. As one of seven candidates, he netted nearly 600 votes, beating two real contenders.

References

1. http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800019593/bio retrieved 2007-07-30
2. http://www.nndb.com/people/677/000023608/ retrieved 2007-07-30
3. ''Magnum'' at BitsofNews.com
4. http://www.tv.com/jillie-mack/person/36820/summary.html retrieved 2007-07-30
5. http://tomselleck.tv-website.com/ retrieved 2007-07-30
6. http://www.nndb.com/people/677/000023608/ retrieved 2007-07-30
7. http://www.larkinhorses.com/About/newsstories.html retrieved 2007-07-30
8. http://www.nra.org/Article.aspx?id=7918
9. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000633/news
10. http://www.theadvocates.org/celebrities/tom-selleck.html

External links

★

★

★ Selleck's Political Views

★ TRANSCRIPT: Tom Selleck at the "The Rosie O'Donnell Show"

★ Tom Selleck at the "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" (Video)