Tom Selleck's Life and Career in Photos

Mar. 15, 2025

Tom Selleck on ‘Magnum PI.'.Photo:CBS via Getty

CBS via Getty

Tom Selleckhas been a household name for more than 40 years!After landing his big break onMagnum, P.I., Selleck’s career has taken him everywhere from the big screen to Broadway, and in 2024, he even wrote a memoir!As the actor celebrates his 80th birthday on Jan. 29, 2025, here’s a look back at his life and career in photos.

Tom Selleckhas been a household name for more than 40 years!

After landing his big break onMagnum, P.I., Selleck’s career has taken him everywhere from the big screen to Broadway, and in 2024, he even wrote a memoir!

As the actor celebrates his 80th birthday on Jan. 29, 2025, here’s a look back at his life and career in photos.

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Tom Selleck’s Early Career

Tom Selleck appearing on ‘The Dating Game.'.ABC

ABC

“It is really the story of an accidental career,” he told PEOPLE in 2024. “I’d never taken an acting class. I had no training, no desire.”

His first job saw him as a basketball player in a Pepsi commercial before he was cast as “Bachelor No. 2” onThe Dating Game(above).

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Tom Selleck on ‘The Young and the Restless’

Jaime Lyn Bauer and Tom Selleck in ‘The Young and the Restless.'.AGIP/RDA/Everett

AGIP/RDA/Everett

He later appeared onThe Young and the Restlessfrom 1974 to 1975 as Jed Andrews, the love interest of Jaime Lyn Bauer’s Lorie Brooks.

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Tom Selleck on ‘Magnum, P.I.’

Tom Selleck in 1984 as Thomas Sullivan Magnum.CBS via Getty

Everything changed in 1980 when he landed the breakthrough Emmy-winning role of Thomas Magnum onMagnum, P.I.

While the show made him a household name, Selleck recently shared thathe “didn’t like” that initial spotlight.

04of 12Tom Selleck’s First PEOPLE coverTom Selleck on the cover of PEOPLE in 1982.In 1982 Selleck graced the cover of PEOPLE for the first time as “Magnum, P.I.’s sexy star.“For the story,he opened up about why his love life lacked “Hawaiian punch"following his separation from his first wife Jacqueline Ray.“I’m self-protective,” he said. “One of my nightmares would be to get heavily involved with somebody while I’m still trying to figure out what’s going on in my life.”He also explained that the attention that came along with his rising star power was another obstacle in the love department.“It’s very fatiguing to know that everything you do, all day, is being photographed,” he explained. “I’m not saying it’s a cross to bear, it’s just not a very easy adjustment.”

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Tom Selleck’s First PEOPLE cover

Tom Selleck on the cover of PEOPLE in 1982.

In 1982 Selleck graced the cover of PEOPLE for the first time as “Magnum, P.I.’s sexy star.”

For the story,he opened up about why his love life lacked “Hawaiian punch"following his separation from his first wife Jacqueline Ray.

“I’m self-protective,” he said. “One of my nightmares would be to get heavily involved with somebody while I’m still trying to figure out what’s going on in my life.”

He also explained that the attention that came along with his rising star power was another obstacle in the love department.

“It’s very fatiguing to know that everything you do, all day, is being photographed,” he explained. “I’m not saying it’s a cross to bear, it’s just not a very easy adjustment.”

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Tom Selleck on the Big Screen

Oscar Abolafia/TPLP/Getty

06of 12Tom Selleck Marries Jillie MackJillie Mack and Tom Selleck in 1987.Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty ImagesSelleck metJillie Mackin the 1980s while she was performing as Rumpleteazer in a West End production ofCats. He saw the show several times while in town filmingLassiterand the two began to date. “They had dinner one night and it went on from there,” Mack’s agent told PEOPLE.The couple wed in 1987 in Lake Tahoe, Nevada and weeks later stepped out as newlyweds at the Emmy Awards (seen here). Not long after that, Selleck quitMagnumandthe couplemoved to a ranch in Ventura, California.

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Tom Selleck Marries Jillie Mack

Jillie Mack and Tom Selleck in 1987.Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

Selleck metJillie Mackin the 1980s while she was performing as Rumpleteazer in a West End production ofCats. He saw the show several times while in town filmingLassiterand the two began to date. “They had dinner one night and it went on from there,” Mack’s agent told PEOPLE.

The couple wed in 1987 in Lake Tahoe, Nevada and weeks later stepped out as newlyweds at the Emmy Awards (seen here). Not long after that, Selleck quitMagnumandthe couplemoved to a ranch in Ventura, California.

07of 12Tom Selleck as a DadTom Selleck and daughter Hannah Selleck.Hannah Selleck/ InstagramThe following year, Mack and Selleck welcomed daughter Hannah Margaret Selleck, seen here with Dad as a little girl.Selleck also is a dad to Kevin, Ray’s son, whom he adopted while they were married.

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Tom Selleck as a Dad

Tom Selleck and daughter Hannah Selleck.Hannah Selleck/ Instagram

Hannah Selleck/ Instagram

The following year, Mack and Selleck welcomed daughter Hannah Margaret Selleck, seen here with Dad as a little girl.

Selleck also is a dad to Kevin, Ray’s son, whom he adopted while they were married.

08of 12Tom Selleck’s Love of SportsTom Selleck during Hollywood Stars Baseball Game.Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via GettyOver the years Selleck has gone back to his athletic roots and taken part in the Hollywood Stars celebrity baseball game. In 1991, he suited up in Dodgers blue and white.

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Tom Selleck’s Love of Sports

Tom Selleck during Hollywood Stars Baseball Game.Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Over the years Selleck has gone back to his athletic roots and taken part in the Hollywood Stars celebrity baseball game. In 1991, he suited up in Dodgers blue and white.

09of 12Tom Selleck on BroadwayTom Selleck during his Broadway debut in 2001.Diane L. Cohen/GettySelleck made his first and only Broadway appearance in 2001 when he joined the cast ofA Thousand Clowns.

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Tom Selleck on Broadway

Tom Selleck during his Broadway debut in 2001.Diane L. Cohen/Getty

Diane L. Cohen/Getty

Selleck made his first and only Broadway appearance in 2001 when he joined the cast ofA Thousand Clowns.

10of 12Tom Selleck on ‘Friends’Tom Selleck and Courteney Cox on ‘Friends.'.Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via GettyIn 1996, Selleck stepped into the role of Dr. Richard Burke onFriends.He appeared on less than a dozen episodes of the show but made a mark as one of Monica’s most memorable — and impactful — love interests. His final appearance on the show came in 2000 when Monica and Chandler get engaged.

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Tom Selleck on ‘Friends’

Tom Selleck and Courteney Cox on ‘Friends.'.Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

In 1996, Selleck stepped into the role of Dr. Richard Burke onFriends.He appeared on less than a dozen episodes of the show but made a mark as one of Monica’s most memorable — and impactful — love interests. His final appearance on the show came in 2000 when Monica and Chandler get engaged.

11of 12Tom Selleck on ‘Blue Bloods’Tom Selleck on ‘Blue Bloods.'.John Paul Filo/CBS via GettyIn 2010 Selleck began his 14 season run as New York Police Commissioner Frank Reagan. Though the show came to an end in 2024, with the designation of being the second-longest-running scripted series on CBS (followingNCIS).“After 15 years, it’s hard. It’s hard to let go because coming to work was a joy,“Selleck said of the show’s end.

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Tom Selleck on ‘Blue Bloods’

Tom Selleck on ‘Blue Bloods.'.John Paul Filo/CBS via Getty

John Paul Filo/CBS via Getty

In 2010 Selleck began his 14 season run as New York Police Commissioner Frank Reagan. Though the show came to an end in 2024, with the designation of being the second-longest-running scripted series on CBS (followingNCIS).

“After 15 years, it’s hard. It’s hard to let go because coming to work was a joy,“Selleck said of the show’s end.

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Tom Selleck Today

Jillie Mack, Tom Selleck and their daughter Hannah Selleck in 2024.Gary Gershoff/Getty

Gary Gershoff/Getty

In May 2024, Selleck released his memoirYou Never Know, but hasn’t been on screen sinceBlue Bloodsended.

While he recently joked that there are not really “offers pouring in,” he said he’d be interested in working withYellowstonecreatorTaylor SheridanandSam Elliott.

“A good Western’s always on my list,” he said. “I miss that; I want to sit on a horse again.”

“It would be an interesting challenge because Jesse is older now,” he said. “There’ve been quite a few years between shows. That doesn’t mean he isn’t a viable character. Everywhere I go one of the things I get asked is, ‘When can I see another Jesse Stone?’”

source: people.com