Tom Selleck has made a name for himself in Hollywood with an impressive CV to boot, known for his roles in Magnum PI, Blue Bloods and Friends.
Despite becoming a household name, Selleck has learned that family always comes first.
While his career was thriving, starring as the lead for Magnum PI, Selleck made the sudden decision to take a break from acting.
The decision came out of Selleck’s desire to step back from the Hollywood lifestyle.
“I quit Magnum, not because I didn’t like it or I was tired of it,” Selleck told People magazine.
“I was tired from it, And I wanted a three-dimensional life because I didn’t have one.”
Selleck has since revealed that the decision came after his daughter, Hannah, was hospitalised with viral pneumonia, People reports.
“I got off that train,” he told People in a recent interview as he promotes his upcoming memoir.
The star had, at the time, signed on to star in the 1992 film Christopher Columbus: The Discovery. He committed to the film but missed a lot of the preparation while his daughter was receiving treatment.
“I had agreed to do the picture because Marlon Brando was in it,” Selleck told People.
“I missed all the rehearsal and everything. We got Hannah home, and then I went, but I didn’t like that.”
After the film, despite having the opportunity to work with Brando, Selleck says “it wasn’t worth it”.
“It was never going to be worth it,” Selleck told People.
“And I said, this is crazy. I quit Magnum really, to have a family, and now I’m jumping at every movie that comes along.”
This realisation sparked a self-imposed three year hiatus for the star in which time he prioritised time with family.
Reflecting on the time off with People in 2020, Selleck said that he “put up” with reporting that he had “disappeared” and that ultimately the “big lull” in his career helped the star “put a lot of things in perspective”.
Today the actor is balancing time with family with his work on the police series Blue Bloods.
He is living with his wife, Jillie, on their ranch in Ventura, California.
“I’ve always treasured the balance between work and time with my family. It’s always about them,” he told People.