TOP STORIES OF 2023: ‘I AM A VETERAN; I’M PROUD OF THAT’: TOM SELLECK REFLECTS ON AN ARMY CAREER

 

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Before the hit TV show MAGNUM P.I. making him a household name, Tom Selleck served in the National Guard as a sergeant in the U.S. Army infantry.

Before entering the military, Selleck began studying business at the University of Southern California, then pursued acting at the encouragement of a drama coach. He began doing commercials and appearing on other small television shows and was eventually hired by Twentieth Century Fox.

“When I came to Fox, I was alone, with no frame of reference, no connections,” the BLUE BLOODS star recalls. “I have never done a play in my life. I started at about $35 a week, and every six months you get fired or renewed. If you get an extension, you will get a raise according to their fixed-term contract.”

After enlisting, he returned to work at Fox but was later laid off. He continued to make many smaller television and commercial appearances before landing the role of Thomas Magnum on the hit show MAGNUM P.I. in 1980.

“I am a veteran; I’m proud of that,” said the actor, who served in the Vietnam War from 1967-73.

“In that sense, we are all brothers and sisters,” Selleck said of his teammates.

He continued to support the military and made several public service announcements for the National Guard.

“Over time, we have learned that we need to welcome our troops home,” Selleck said. “Regardless of whether you have political issues with whatever mission they are performing, they still serve and we need to thank them for that.”

The 78-year-old man credits God for his success, as reported in Movieguide®:

After leaving the army, Selleck restarted his acting career and soon scored a leading role in MAGNUM P.I. While his talent helped him land the role, Selleck credits God for guiding him.

He explained: “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may lift you up in due time.”

“I try very hard to behave ethically because it is so important to my stability today,” Selleck shares. “We are an individual-focused culture. The culture says that essentially nothing is more important than how you feel.”

The Emmy-winning actor will also release a memoir, “You Never Know,” due out in May 2024, which he says will be more personal but reserved than the stories about Ordinary celebrities.

“I can tell you that won’t happen: It won’t be a match-fixing. It won’t be about who I date. There’s a certain level of privacy, but I’m extremely intimate with the personal impact things have on me,” he told Parade magazine.

Movieguide® recently revealed more details about the upcoming memoir:

From the USC basketball court, to a happy accident, to discovery and then embracing a job I love. It was a long bumpy road with some singles, some home runs and a lot of strikeouts,” Selleck said. “I think it’s time to share the ride.”

“With his own voice and uniquely humble style, the famous actor takes readers on an unexplored but serendipitous journey to the top in Hollywood, its temptations and distractions, its failures and his mistakes, and over time, his deserved successes,” reads the memoir’s description. “Along the way, he has dispelled countless misconceptions and shared dozens of untold stories from every corner of his personal and professional life.”

While following Selleck’s long journey to stardom, the memoir also highlights his friendships with A-list actors from a bygone era – like Frank Sinatra and James Garner – who taught Selleck important lessons. about life, acting and celebrity status.”