Tom Selleck, 79, Reflects on Family, Sacrifices, and Life Beyond the Spotlight
At 79, Tom Selleck is more focused than ever on what matters most: family, peace, and purpose. Living quietly on his 63-acre ranch in Los Angeles, the Blue Bloods star cherishes time with his wife, Jillie, his daughter Hannah, and his son Kevin, from his previous marriage to Jacqueline Ray.
At the peak of his Magnum, P.I. fame, Selleck made a bold move—walking away from Hollywood. When his toddler daughter was hospitalized with viral pneumonia, he skipped out on filming Christopher Columbus: The Discovery in Spain, choosing instead to be by her side. “I missed all the rehearsals… and then I went, but I didn’t like that,” he recalls. “I quit Magnum to have a family, and now I’m jumping at every movie that comes along,” he once reflected, realizing the toll it was taking on what mattered most.
That break allowed him to reset. He reconnected with his family and, in time, his career found new life—with roles in In & Out, The Closer, and Friends. Still, balancing fame and fatherhood wasn’t easy. “The work comes first… you find a way to make that compatible,” Selleck admits.
Now, as Blue Bloods enters its final season, Selleck is enjoying the slower pace of ranch life—reading scripts, sharing quiet moments with Jillie, and reflecting on a life well-lived. “A cigar and a glass of whiskey is a nice way to end the day… I’ve had a very good life,” he says with quiet contentment.
His memoir, You Never Know, is set for release on May 7 and is now available for preorder.
Related: Don’t miss more updates as Blue Bloods wraps up its final chapter.
