Who is Stephen Hill? ‘Magnum PI’ star praises NBC for giving canceled show 'opportunity to shine'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Reboots can be a tricky venture to navigate and earn success, but NBC was extremely fortunate to find good results with the reboot of the original 'Magnum PI'. The show ran for five seasons and was only recently axed owing to the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike. Since 2018, 'Magnum PI' enjoyed a brilliant run, with one of its stars, Stephen Hill, coming out in the open and praising NBC for allowing him the "opportunity to shine."
Stephen praised the NBC executives for giving the show home for five seasons. The recent string of show cancellations has made matters worse for the networks, which are now evaluating their slate of shows more thoroughly. This eventually led to the downfall of 'Magnum PI', which, for now, seems a tad bit difficult to revive.
Who is Stephen Hill?
Stephen Hill is an American actor who portrayed Theodore Calvin in the CBS/NBC reboot series 'Magnum PI'. He was also cast in the role of York in the HBO mini-series 'Lewis & Clark' and made an impact in Pete Chatmon's 'BlackCard'. Additionally, Stephen was featured in the fifth season of 'Boardwalk Empire' in the recurring role of Clarence, serving as the right-hand man to Jeffrey Wright's character, Dr Narcisse. Hill has had guest appearances in various television shows such as 'Law & Order: SVU', 'Blue Bloods', 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia', 'Louie', 'Political Animals', and 'Unforgettable'.
After the announcement of the cancellation of 'Magnum PI', Stephen took to social media and shared a photoshoot snapshot of himself with his cast mates -- Jay Hernandez, Perdita Weeks, and Zachary Knighton -- all wearing cheerful smiles. In the post, he expressed gratitude to the NBC executives for giving him the opportunity to play a significant role in a classic reboot.
‘I've had tears of joy in a headlock from day one!’
Stephen’s Instagram post read, "I've had tears of joy in a headlock from day one! And don't you forget it!" He further added, “Grateful for @cbstv @nbc@nbcuniversal for giving us the opportunity to shine our light upon so many of you. I'm grateful in advance for all the networks that will allow you to bring us into your hearts and homes in the future.”
Hill also admitted that he appreciated the original 1980s version of 'Magnum PI' and wrote, “I love watching episodes of the O.G. Magnum PI, and although sadly, some of those cast members are no longer with us physically, they still make me smile big, cry, and laugh. I was only 4 years old when that show 1st aired, but here I am loving it so many years later.”
He also expressed his gratitude to the late actor Roger E Mosely, who portrayed Theodore TC Calvin before him. Hill remembered Roger fondly and appreciated his kindness in taking him "under his wing" before Roger's death in 2022. Stephen emphasized that not many people understand the profound significance of having such a trailblazer for Black actors to mentor and empower him in that way. He considered it one of the most special milestones of his career and life, acknowledging that both he and Roger had the grace, humility, and sensitivity to recognize the importance of their connection.