'Magnum, PI' star Tom Selleck says he quit the iconic show because he grew 'tired of it'
In the list of decorated crime drama series, 'Magnum, PI' has its name firmly cemented right at the top. The hit CBS series starring Tom Selleck ran from 1980-88 and consistently found a place in the top 20 US TV programs.
Much of the fan following had a lot to do with Selleck as the iconic Thomas Sullivan Magnum III. The 75-year-old is one of the biggest names in Hollywood and was one of the main reasons behind the show's success.
The original series was regarded as a cult classic and Magnum was a hero in a Hawaiian shirt — A Vietnam vet-turned-PI who could foil robberies and rescue beautiful women among his many skills. All in a day's work.
Selleck's Magnum made no attempts to hide the fact that he was the macho image back in the day. The floral patterned shirt open at the chest to reveal some muscle, sleeves that subtly showcased some thick guns and a Ferrari 308 GTS to vroom around.
It wasn't surprising men wanted to be the hunk Selleck was. Plus there were was some doses of comedy and the man was part GI Joe. If anything, Selleck's Magnum was Hawaii's own knight.
Eventually, the cheesy '80s action drama had to come to an end after eight highly entertaining seasons, and apart from the fact that it was some mileage, Selleck too had been heavily involved and despite being at the peak of his stardom, decided to leave the long-running series.
In an interview with People, Selleck said: "I quit 'Magnum', not because I didn’t like it." He said. "I was tired of it. And I wanted a three-dimensional life because I didn't have one."
Also adding to this was the fact that Season 7 was completely off-piste. Nobody saw it coming and as befuddling as it seems, it was still received warmly by staunch Magnum fans.
The finale of Season 7, 'Limbo' saw Magnum involved in a warehouse shootout so intense that it ended with the titular character dying. Except, what followed was major fan outrage for killing one of the most epic TV characters and Magnum was promptly back from the heavens.
Explanation: He woke up from a coma after a shattering near-death experience. The actual series finale, according to Cinemablend, saw more than 50 million viewers.
Graeme Virtue of the Guardian wrote "That could have been that, but financial as well as supernatural forces were at play," in a piece that talks about Magnum PI's evolution over the season. So, in addition to these factors, Selleck's tiredness of the role too had a major role in the series calling it a day.
He seems happy with the move. "I’m a fairly private person. And I've always treasured the balance between work and time with my family. It’s always about them," he added.
Selleck also explained his personal relationship and his ranch help "keep him sane". The actor has been married to Jillie Mack since 1987, He was first married to Jacqueline Ray. Talking about the ranch, Selleck said he does grunt work and makes the rounds. "I like watching things grow. It's a retreat."
Selleck also explained he was proud of his achievements on-screen and off it. "I'm proud of my work, I still love what I do, and I have my family," he said. "I've been enormously fortunate."