Tom Selleck Was ‘Fired’ From ‘Charlie’s Angels’ Before Landing ‘Magnum, P.I.’ Fame
The 'Blue Bloods' star played Jaclyn Smith's boyfriend for just one episode in 1976
Key Takeaways
- Tom Selleck appeared in an episode of 'Charlie's Angels' in 1976 as Jaclyn Smith's boyfriend.
- The actor only lasted for one episode and has joked that his 'Blue Bloods' boss fired him.
- In the early days of his career, Tom Selleck got by with various guest roles and commercials.
Before Tom Selleck got his big break in Magnum, P.I., he appeared in guest roles across various television series—one of those being Charlie’s Angels. In 1976, Selleck joined the cast for an episode, bringing to life the character of Dr. Alan Samuelson. Samuelson was a boyfriend of Kelly’s (Jaclyn Smith), and while Selleck was nothing but his typically charming self, he only lasted for a single episode, the actor joking that he was “fired.” Here, read all about Selleck’s role in Charlie’s Angels and see what he’s said about his time on the series.
Tom Selleck on ‘Charlie’s Angels’
According to the man himself, at the time of his Charlie’s Angels appearance, the series was diving into a different side of the ladies’ lives. “They were trying to experiment with boyfriends for the Angels, and I was going to be Jackie Smith’s boyfriend,” Selleck explained during an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show. “My boss on Blue Bloods, Leonard Goldberg, had a lot to do on Charlie’s Angels, and I always remind him that my part didn’t end up recurring. They fired me after the first episode. So my boss on Blue Bloods actually fired me from Charlie’s Angels. I like to kid Leonard about that,” Selleck explained.
Though his Charlie’s Angels gig didn’t go very far, in just a few short years, he’d land the gig of a lifetime on Magnum, P.I. Thomas Magnum made him a household name, but prior to that, he was just like any other struggling actor, doing commercials and a handful of pilots that never took off.
“I was always kind of a work in progress and had a lot of time to study. By age 32, I was getting better roles and gaining a lot of experience,” the actor shared with Hour Detroit. “When I burst on the scene not as a young leading man but as a grown-up leading man, it turned out to be a huge advantage because I was relatively unknown at the time.”
His role in the series changed his life, but as is the case with any job, every day wasn’t perfect.
Tom Selleck struggled with fame in his early ‘Magnum’ days
Selleck didn’t grow up with dreams of becoming an actor, so when fame finally came for him, it was difficult to wrap his head around. “I didn’t like it,” he revealed on the Where Everybody Knows Your Name podcast with Ted Danson. “Mainly because of family and a sense of privacy. I started getting asked questions in interviews that I didn’t want to say, give an answer to. I said, ‘You better find a way and find a line about what you’re going to talk about.’ I didn’t always succeed, but it just grew, and I still can’t quite describe it. But I wasn’t going through it every day.”
Luckily, Selleck eventually found his footing, and while he did seek out a more private personal life, moving to a sprawling ranch in California away from the hustle and bustle, he managed to find the perfect balance as he brought to life the iconic characters of the second half of his career, such as Frank Reagan and Jesse Stone.
Conversation
All comments are subject to our Community Guidelines. Woman's World does not endorse the opinions and views shared by our readers in our comment sections. Our comments section is a place where readers can engage in healthy, productive, lively, and respectful discussions. Offensive language, hate speech, personal attacks, and/or defamatory statements are not permitted. Advertising or spam is also prohibited.
