Biography

Tom Selleck's versatility in both television and film has won the attention of audiences and critics worldwide. He is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Tom Magnum in the ‘80s CBS television hit "Magnum, P.I.," which garnered him both an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series, as well as four People's Choice Awards, four Emmy nominations and six Golden Globe nominations for the role. In 2018 Selleck was awarded the Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Award from NATPE (National Association of Television Programming Executives), for his extraordinary passion, leadership, independence and vision in the process of creating television programming and in evoking the spirit of Brandon Tartikoff's generosity.

Although Selleck is a television icon who still maintains a strong fan base that dates back to "Magnum, P.I.," he has also established a contemporary audience from the success of his Emmy Award-nominated role in the "Jesse Stone" movie of the week franchise, which began airing in 2007. Selleck executive produces and co-writes each installment. The successful franchise includes "Jesse Stone: Sea Change," which aired in 2008, and garnered Selleck an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie. In 2015 the franchise moved to the Hallmark Channel, where it will continue its run.

Selleck narrated "North America," a natural history documentary that premiered in May 2013. Produced by Keith Scholey, the "North America" film crew spent 2,830 days on 250 separate expeditions, using 11 types of cameras – including ultra-high-speed and submarine ones – to create more than 850 hours of footage. Selleck's iconic voice helps bring the series to life with playful anecdotes and touching storytelling of the expansive, beautiful terrain of the north, as well as the sometimes comical behaviors of the animals that inhabit it.

Selleck starred as General Dwight D. Eisenhower in the 2004 Emmy Award-nominated television movie, "IKE: Countdown to D-Day," which was a two-hour film depicting the tense 90 days leading up to the D-Day invasion. This film was placed among the year's top-10 primetime movies and was also nominated in the film category at the 2004 Monte Carlo Television Festival. Also in 2004, Selleck starred alongside William H. Macy in "Reversible Errors," a two-part television film.

His television credits include a series regular on "Las Vegas" and recurring roles on "Boston Legal" and "Friends," for which he earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series in 2000. Additional television credits include "Twelve Mile Road," "The Closer," "Shadow Riders," "Divorce Wars," "Ruby Jean and Joe," "Broken Trust," "Last Stand at Saber River," "Returning Home" and "Running Mates."

In 2001 Selleck starred in "Louis L'Amour's Crossfire Trail" as Rafe Covington, a man who promises to watch over a dying friend's wife and ranch after he's gone. The film was based on the Louis L'Amour western novels.

Selleck's motion picture acting career has shown him in a variety of roles. In 1987, he starred opposite Ted Danson and Steve Guttenberg in the romantic comedy "Three Men and a Baby," which established Selleck's success in film. The film won Favorite Comedy Motion Picture at the People's Choice Awards in 1988. In 1990 he returned to the silver screen in the film's sequel, "Three Men and a Little Lady." Additional feature film credits include "Quigley Down Under," where he portrayed an American cowboy in Australia. The film was directed by Simon Wincer. Other feature film credits include: "In & Out," "Mr. Baseball," "Her Alibi," "The Love Letter," "Broken Trust," "Penta/America," "Folks," "An Innocent Man," "Runaway" and "High Road to China."

On Broadway, Selleck played Murray Burns, a cheerful eccentric who raised his nephew, a 12-year-old middle-aged kid in New York City, in the romantic comedy "A Thousand Clowns," in 2001 at New York's Longacre Theatre.

Aside from his acting successes, Selleck has become prolific behind the scenes. He co-wrote the screenplays for both "Jesse Stone: Death in Paradise" and "Jesse Stone: No Remorse" with J.T. Allen and Michael Brandman. Additionally, he starred in and executive produced "Monte Walsh." Other notable executive producer credits include "The Closer," "Louis L'Amour's Crossfire Trail," "Last Stand at Saber River," "Ruby Jean and Joe," "Revealing Evidence: Stalking the Honolulu Stranger" and "Magnum P.I." during its last two seasons. Tom Selleck plays Frank Reagan in "Blue Bloods."

Selleck devotes much of his time to philanthropic causes. He is a board member of the Joseph & Edna Josephson Institute of Ethics; an advisory board member of the Character Counts Coalition; a spokesman for the National Fatherhood Initiative; and a committee member of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Also, he is actively involved in the Student/Sponsor Partnership Program in New York City. With the late Barbara Jordan, he has been a former national spokesperson for the Coalition, an honorary chairman of the Skin Cancer Foundation and a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Mission to help the homeless. Additionally, he received a Distinguished American Award for the Horatio Alger Association and received an honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Pepperdine University.

Selleck resides in Southern California with his wife, actress Jillie Mack, and their daughter. His birthday is Jan. 29.