Before Tom Selleck became widely recognized for his role as Frank Reagan on Blue Bloods, he first rose to fame as the lead character in the ’80s TV series Magnum, P.I.. This iconic role not only launched his career but also led him to step back from the entertainment industry to focus more on his personal life.
Selleck met Jillie Mack during the height of his fame while she was performing in the West End musical Cats in London. The couple married in 1987, shortly after Selleck made the decision to leave Magnum, P.I. to prioritize family life and embrace a quieter existence on a ranch in Ventura, California.
“I’m a fairly private person,” Selleck told People in 2020. “And I’ve always treasured the balance between work and time with my family. It’s always about them.” This commitment has guided Selleck throughout his career, ensuring that his focus remains on Mack and their children.
Mack, who gained recognition in her mid-20s for her role as Rumpleteazer in Cats, played a crucial role in Selleck’s life. The musical was not only a significant achievement in her career but also the setting where she and Selleck first connected. While filming Lassiter in London in 1983, Selleck attended Cats performances frequently—a behavior that puzzled his co-star Jane Seymour, who later shared with People in 1984, “He kept telling me how great Cats was. I thought it was good, but I couldn’t see going back a dozen times.”
After a dinner date arranged by Mack’s agent, their relationship blossomed, leading Mack to eventually move to the U.S. to be with Selleck. On August 7, 1987, they were married in a secret ceremony at a Victorian-style chapel near Lake Tahoe, Nevada. The wedding was so private that even the minister was unaware of their true identities, expecting to marry a “Tom Jenkins” and a “Suzie Mark.”
The couple welcomed their daughter, Hannah Margaret Selleck, on December 16, 1988. Raising Hannah on their family ranch, Mack and Selleck believed it was the ideal environment for her upbringing. “We both thought it was the best environment for her to grow up,” Mack told People in 2012.
Selleck noted that their rural lifestyle contributed positively to Hannah’s maturity. Now an accomplished equestrian, Hannah began competing at age 10 and later founded Descanso Farm, a facility dedicated to developing top-quality show horses.
Selleck also has a son, Kevin, from his previous marriage to actress Jacqueline Ray, which ended in 1982. After Hannah’s birth, Selleck and Mack retreated from the public eye to focus on their family, settling on a 65-acre ranch in Ventura, California. The ranch, once a working avocado farm, became a sanctuary for the family. “My relationships and my ranch keep me sane,” Selleck told People in 2020. “I do grunt work and I make the rounds. I like watching things grow. It’s a retreat.”
Mack, who made guest appearances on shows like Magnum, P.I., Frasier, and ER, has always supported Selleck’s decision to balance his career with family life. Selleck has never regretted his choice to leave Magnum, P.I.. “It took a long time to get off the train,” he reflected. “My first priority is time with my family,” emphasizing the importance of nurturing his marriage with Mack.
In an April 2024 interview with People, Selleck shared that what he values most about Mack is her “friendship” and “sense of humor.”