On a flight this summer the attendant struck up a conversation as a copy of Tom Selleck’s book sat on my tray table. People are always a little surprised by the tastes beyond my years but soon the attendant was reminiscing about Magnum, P.I., Three Men and a Baby and Friends. People just seem to like Tom Selleck. Seeing him live, Selleck was charming, honest and affable. His memoir comes off much the same, an easy read with a few surprises, insights and a no-nonsense, direct type of personality.
During the Covid-19 years, Selleck would write pages during the day, share them with his family over dinner then discuss with writer Ellis Henican who would help shape it into the book. You get some background on Selleck’s upbringing in Los Angeles, his journey from a college basketball player and more or less stumbling into an acting career. Meeting friend and future co-star Sam Elliott and early jobs opposite Mae West and Raquel Welch. There’s a nice segment on his time on The Rockford Files with James Garner and Stephen J. Cannell and how Garner gave him some career advice when Magnum, P.I. came around.
Of course, you read about his audition process for Raiders of the Lost Ark and being hired by Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. Which also provided a sense of “being enough” even if the role didn’t pan out due to his commitment on Magnum. Selleck fought hard to make the show about something with characters, drama, humor and action which resulted in one of the most popular and endearing shows of all time with a finale watched by over 50 million viewers.
There are chapters on his film work like High Road to China with Brian G. Hutton, a Golden Harvest production shot in Yugoslavia, the massive success of Three Men and a Baby and how proud he is of Australia set western Quigley Down Under even though it wasn’t a hit upon release. Selleck hasn’t had too many tabloid worthy exploits beyond a divorce so there’s no addiction stories or trips to rehab recounted. While you do learn how he saw Cats the musical eight times and ended up marrying one of the actors and they’re still together today. One of the more surprising stories involves teaching his son to drive and a harrowing incident in a parking garage a few stories up.
Selleck’s current hit show, Blue Bloods, wraps up its 14th and final season this fall. Maybe he’ll have time to write a Memoir sequel…