The Story Of The TV Super Star Who Served In The US Army For Six Years Before Hitting The Screens

Tom Selleck is well known in America for his incredible acting across movies and TV shows like Magnum P.

I.. However there are also many who adore this actor don’t know the many secrets about the famous beyond the infamous $21,000 settlement after a Califorina district accused him of stealing water.

Tom Selleck was born in Detroit, Michigan back in 1945 a mere 8 months before World War 2 would finally reach its end. He was the second child to his parents who would end up having four children. A decently sized family, to be sure. Right after Tom’s birth his family packed up and left Detroit in hopes of a beautiful future in Califorina.

[rsnippet id=”4″ name=”DFP/34009881/Article_1″]

Selleck was naturally talented, managing to excel at everything he put his mind to. A straight-A high school student, one of the best players on his school’s basketball team and even did some modeling. Selleck was living a successful life, but it was acting where Selleck’s true passion was. He had absolutely fallen in love with acting and knew that would be his life’s work.

Selleck became so dedicated to acting that he joined a “playhouse” near the University of Southern California.  This playhouse would allow him to further hone his craft and get much needed exposure.

The decision to join the playhouse paid off in dividends as Selleck managed to secure acting gigs in commercials and even appearing on the popular TV show, “The Dating Game.” But this was only the start for Selleck as he managed to secure a contract with Twentieth Century Fox.

In 1967 Tom Selleck was selected to be drafted into the United States Army. He would serve 6 years, ending his military career in 1973.

[rsnippet id=”5″ name=”DFP/34009881/Article_2″]

Despite his heart remaining with acting, Selleck told Military.com that he is still very proud of being a veteran.

I am a veteran, I’m proud of it. I was a sergeant in the U.S. Army infantry, National Guard, Vietnam era. We’re all brothers and sisters in that sense.

Unfortunately upon Selleck’s return back to civilian life, he learned that he was fired from Twentieth Century Fox. Not the hero’s welcome one would expect, but Tom Selleck was not about to let this stop him from following his dreams.

Not soon after Selleck was hired to act in six television pilots. None seem to find the success they needed but then the seventh pilot managed to skyrocket his career. That show was Mangum P.I. and would change Selleck’s life forever.

The show stars a veteran who uses the skills he learned from the military to be a stellar private investigator in Hawaii. The show suffered a bumpy start but soon the show took off and Selleck quickly became the focus of the American public. He was even called the All-American Heart Throb.

In 1984 Selleck even won an Emmy for “Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.” A long way from his days at the playhouse near the University of Southern California!

After the show’s run of 162 episodes, Selleck was finally free to experiment more with projects that interested him. This included “Friends”, “The Closer”, “Las Vega” and more recently the hit show “Blue Bloods.”

Despite his massive success and becoming famous beyond his wildest dreams, Tom Selleck never once strayed from his strong religious beliefs. He always went back to God for the answers to deep moral questions. In an interview with NY Daily News Selleck told of the importance of good moral choices.

I try very hard to conduct myself in an ethical way, because that’s important to my stability now. We’re in a culture that’s so centered on the individual. The culture says that basically nothing is more important than the way you feel.

We’re living in an age that celebrates unchecked impulses. I work with exceptional kids, gang kids, deprived kids, enriched kids and they all have an astounding sense of entitlement. They don’t celebrate earning the privilege of driving at 16. They expect a car. There’s a big difference.

Tom also never forgot the most important thing in his life: family. Even throughout the years of incredible fame and wealth, he never once let himself lose focus on what matters most. In 1987 Selleck secretly married his Jillie, after the two had been in love for many years. Selleck has never had eyes for anyone else but her. The pair raised one child.

Jillie and I have a pretty good partnership. We don’t do anything or make any decisions without consulting each other. And if one of us makes a decision involving Hannah [their child], the other parent completely supports that position, even if you disagree.

[rsnippet id=”6″ name=”DFP/34009881/Article_3″]

Tom and Jillie decided that it would be best to raise their daughter Hannah away from the city on a farm where she would learn important life skills. Away from the hub-bub of modern day life and the cameras that would follow her, Hannah is able to live what her parents call a real life.

Please remember to LIKE our Facebook page and SHARE this story!