Originally on: CBS (60 min.)

Status: Ended    Premiered: December 11, 1980  

  Last Aired: May 1, 1988

Former Naval Intelligence officer Thomas Magnum resigns his commission to become a private investigator

on the north shore of Oahu, Hawaii. He lands a home in the guest house on the estate of millionaire

author Robin Masters in exchange for testing the estate's security, but is forced to work under the strict and

ever watchful eye of Jonathan Higgins, a former British Army soldier who serves as the estate manager,

and constantly patrols the grounds with his two "lads" Zeus and Apollo, who are loyally trained

Doberman Pinschers always ready to pounce on Magnum.

Magnum makes good use of the perks that come with working on the estate, including driving

Masters' sporty red 308 GTS Ferrari, Audi, and all-terrain Jimmy, as well as equipment such as

high-end cameras and telescopes. Of course, all of these expensive toys are under the keen scrutiny of

Higgins, and Thomas often finds himself at the end of Higgins's hard bargaining to secure their loan.

Although Magnum's carefree ways often clash with Higgins's stricter manner, their mutual respect forms

a strong basis for their working relationship.

Two of Magnum's former Vietnam comrades and friends live and work nearby.

T.C. Calvin owns "Island Hoppers", a helicopter tour company, and

Rick Wright manages the King Kamehameha Club, an exclusive beach front club.

T.C.'s piloting skills and Rick's shady underworld contacts often get them roped into Magnum's cases.

Others in Magnum's circle include Naval officers Mac MacReynolds, Maggie Pool, and Buck Greene;

Hawaii P.D. officers Nolan Page and Yoshi Tanaka; Dr. Ibold; Higgins's fellow Brit Agatha Chumley;

Rick's underworld contact "Ice Pick"; and Deputy D.A. Carol Baldwin.

Robin Masters was never fully seen, ultimately leading Magnum to the conclusion that Higgins

was actually Masters, though this theory was never fully proven.

The show was a huge hit, with the first five seasons ranking in the top 20 shows in the U.S. ratings

each year, thanks to its wide range of stories appealing to a broad cross section of fans,

The series ranged from broad slapstick comedy and farce, to deep, thoughtful drama, to edge-of-the-seat action.

The series was widely applauded for being the first to recognize the difficulty Vietnam era soldiers

faced in making the readjustment to civilian life. Many episodes touched upon the impact that serving in

Vietnam had on Magnum and his friends, as well as echoes to the events of World War II.

The series won many awards, including Emmys and Golden Globes for Selleck and Hillerman.

Broadcast History:

December 1980 - April 1981: Thursday on CBS, 9:00 PM

October 1981 - April 1987: Thursday on CBS, 8:00 PM

October 1987 - May 1988: Wednesday on CBS, 9:00 PM

Biography

John Hillerman

Role: Jonathan Quayle Higgins

John Hillerman began his career on Broadway in 1959, and made his motion picture debut in 1970

with a small, uncredited role in the film They Call Me MISTER Tibbs! . Although a number of

film and television roles followed, Hillerman is most recognizable for the character of Jonathan Quayle

Tom Selleck

Role: Thomas Magnum

His parents are Robert and Martha Selleck. His father was born in Slovakia, is Tom’s tie to Eastern Europe.

Robert is now a real estate investor for Selleck Properties. His mother was a homemaker.

Tom was one of three of the Selleck's sons. He grew up in Detroit.

Roger E. Mosley

Role: T.C. Calvin

Father of five children. Founder of the Watts Repertory Company.

Larry Manetti

Role: Rick Wright

Mr. Manetti was born in Chicago, Illinois, where he was raised. He is married to actress Nancy DeCarl,

and has a son, Lorenzo. He has been in 4 things since 1999. his most recent was in "Back to You and Me"

He played a character named Nelson. This was in 2005.

Trivia

Tom has worked with Ted Danson three times. The first time when Ted guest starred on Magnum P.I.

then they co-starred in Men and a Baby and the sequel Three Men and a Little Lady.

Tom has recently done voiceovers for MSNBC promos. (2005-present)

Tom used to be part owner of a restaurant named The Black Orchid. (edit)

Tom is close to his parents.

Tom appeared on The Dating Game game show in 1967.

Tom was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity when in college.

People Magazine choose Tom as one of the most 50 beautiful people in the world in 1998.

Tom keeps a summer home in Jonesboro, Maine.

Tom married Jacqueline Ray in 1970 and they divorced in 1982. When they married Tom adopted her son,

Kevin, and still treats him like a son even after the divorce. Tom married Jillie Mack on August 7, 1987

and they have a daughter, Hannah, together.

Tom was a member of the California National Guard and went into active duty for the Watts Riots.

Tom received an honorary doctorate from Pepperdine University.

Tom turned down the role of Richard in the TV show Titans in 2000

Tom's trademarks are his famous moustache and Detroit Tigers Baseball Cap.Tom is 6’ 4” tall.

Tom's character, Thomas Magnum, in the TV series Magnum P.I. is a role that, made him

famous and he'll always be remembered for.

Tom was Peter Mitchell in the 1987 Three Men and a Baby and reprised his role in 1990 sequel

Three Men and a Little Lady. (edit)

In the made for TV movie Twelve Mile Road released in 2003, Tom played the character of Stephen Landis. (edit)

Tom was the Narrator in Special Ops: Mike Force in 2001.

Tom Selleck plays Chief Jesse Stone in the CBS TV movies; Stone Cold (2005), Night Passage,

Death in Paradise (2006) and Sea Change (2007) based on the books series by Robert B. Parker.

He is also executive producer and producer for each of these movies. (edit)

Tom was the first choice for the role of Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark,

but his commitment to the Magnum, P.I. TV series prevented him from taking the role.