25+ Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About Magnum PI

1. The Iconic Moustache

Tom Selleck is an iconic part of TV history. But Selleck's moustache is arguably his most iconic feature. Selleck's bushy facial hair is so iconic that it entered the International Moustache Hall of Fame.He has a long-term relationship with his furry feature, so much so that it has become his signature look for almost the span of his entire career. The famous moustache even has its own social media pages!

2. A Failed Pilot

The success of Magnum P.I. lead star didn’t come so easily for young Tom Selleck. He wasn't an overnight sensation. Before actually getting his first big break on Magnum PI, Selleck was involved in six different pilot episodes for TV.Sadly, they never made it to air. It certainly was worth the wait because his role as Thomas Magnum finally earned him the fame that he deserved!

3. Higgins’ Accent

Pulling off any accent isn't an easy task, especially if the accent you need to pull off is a British one.There's only a small handful of talented actors and actresses that have the ability to fake an accent well for a role.For most of us, it was a massive surprise to find out that John Hillerman (Jonathan Higgins) wasn’t really British. Higgins played an army veteran who served in the British Army. But in reality, the actor behind the role was actually born in Texas, but he was a veteran of the U.S Air Force.

4. Keep It In The Family

Tom Selleck sure likes to keep it in the family since two of his wives have made appearances on Magnum P.I.His first wife, Jacqueline Ray, was apart of the third series in ‘Birdman of Budapest’. While his current wife, Jillie Mack, had a small role in an episode from season four called, ‘Rembrandt’s Girl’.Jillie played a girl at a party. Even Tom's parents have made brief appearances on the famous show.

5. Secret Talents

There are some Hollywood actors who are known for their different talents like singing, dancing (just to name a few).But not many of them are involved in professional sports.Not a lot of people know that Tom Selleck was actually a part of Hawaii’s Outrigger Canoe Club’s volleyball team.The team even won two national championships!Now that's impressive!

6. No Porsche

While Thomas Magnum gets to drive around in an incredibly stylish red Ferrari, the car wasn’t the original automobile of choice. The show's director actually wanted Selleck's character to drive a Porsche.However, due to Selleck’s 6’4 frame, he wasn’t going to fit in the car and the company wouldn't customize a vehicle to fit Selleck.

7. Handy Man

Before the filming for the show began Selleck worked a day job so he could make ends meet.Selleck was already settled in his Hawaiian residence so he could stay close to the set. To make a weekly wage he even took on several handyman jobs where he made only $7 an hour. A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do.

8. Role-playing

Most of the time actors don't get too involved in the script and characterisation of the characters.But Selleck made quite the impact on the creative team.Selleck helped turn Magnum into a more approachable heartthrob from the original idea of turning the character into a James Bondish-typecast.It's easy to see how the audience eventually fell in love with him.

9. Guest Stars

It's always interesting to see the famous stars of today making appearances as guest stars in iconic 70s and 80s TV shows. Magnum PI had its fair share of iconic modern stats on the show.Some of which included the likes of Ted Danson, Ian McShane and the lovely Sharon Stone.Sharon Stone played the role of identical twins on the series.

10. The Location Game

The show's location wasn't intentional- surprising, right?The set for Magnum PI was already in Hawaii. Why?Because CBS still had the set from Hawaii Five-O there after the show came off the air.The producers at CBS wanted to keep their offices open in Hawaii so they decided to shoot the new show there.It just so happened that this location fitted all their needs.

11. The Movie

Which was better, the TV show or the movie?That's the question a lot of people ask when it comes to Magnum PI.Unfortunately, we may never know which was better.Despite all the rumours and attempts to take the show to the big screen it never happened because of a tricky ownership change.This means that fans will only ever see it on the small screen.

12. The Shirt

Magnum wasn't just famous for his signature moustache, but for his incredibly iconic and colourful shirt too.One shirt, in particular, was especially famous– the ‘Jungle Bird’ shirt.This shirt had everything jungle related from parrots to banana leaves. The shirt was so famous that it was donated to the Smithsonian by the actor himself. 

13. They Never Left

The show did a fantastic job camouflaging the different international locations that the cast had ‘supposedly’ travelled to.But leaving the show's location was actually a very rare thing.The only time the cast and crew really left Hawaii and during the filming Déjà Vu in season six.Scenes were filmed in London. However, the audience might have thought that Magnum had travelled to Kenya and Japan when all he did was stay in Hawaii.

14. She's A Natural

Experience has nothing to do with talent in some cases. Actress Gillian Dobb managed to prove this on her own.Dobb's played the kind and cultured Agatha Chumley and was the most recurring character on the show. She almost made 30 appearances in different episodes of the series.Despite these impressive numbers, Gillian Dobb was actually the least experienced actress of all the cast members.Surprisingly enough, Magnum PI was her big break!

15. Different Tune

This fact can actually throw people off, especially if they are big fans of the show. A lot of us easily become obsessed with a show's theme tune, especially if they're really catchy. That's why this next fact could potentially shock you.What if we told you that the theme song for the first 11 episodes the opening was different? In the beginning, the opening tune had a more jazzy feel to it. But the theme tune that was later played was released as a single in the early eighties and even managed to land itself on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 25.

16. The Pine Connection

Chris Pine was born a year before the show first aired on our screens, but that's not the only connection Chris Pine has to the show.His father, actor Robert Pine actually played Magnum’s on-screen dad in flashbacks.Chris has certainly followed his father's footsteps and is one of Hollywood’s busiest actors today.Some of the Chris Pine’s films include Star Trek, Rise of the Guardians, Into the Woods and Wonder Woman.

17. The Finale

A show's final episode is the peak of every television show.However, just like everything else, they can go really well or end up terrible. The final episode of Magnum PI was one that broke records.The episode which aired on May 1st, 1988, is the 6th most-seen finale ever on television. Over 50 million viewers tuned in to watch the final episode.

18. Angela Saves The Day

Out of any actor who could have had a guest role on the show, it was Angela Lansbury's appearance that made all the difference. During her guest appearance, she literally came to the show’s rescue in terms of ratings. During the show's seventh season, it was moved to Wednesday nights, which was the same night that the soap opera hit, Dynasty was airing.In a bold move to see a rise in the show's rating, the producers had a crossover episode. The storyline crossed over into two shows, CBS’ hit series, Murder, She Wrote (starring Angela Lansbury) and Magnum P.I.Who knew the pair would make such a good team?!

19. Aloha Magnum

There was one Magnum Star who's success turned to the pages of literature.Tom Selleck’s TV co-star, Larry Manetti eventually went on to write his autobiography/memoir which was titled Aloha Magnum.On the show, Manetti played Rock Wright, who was Magnum’s friend.The book perfectly sums up everything to do with the show's filming in Hawaii.

20. 90210 

As odd as it may sound, Magnum PI and 90210 actually have a strong connection.Before the successful teen drama premiered, many members of the cast had been working on other projects. One of which actually had a role in Magnum PI.Katherine Cannon, the actress who played the intimidating mother of Donna Martin, had a part on the show. She was in an episode during the show's first season. The episode was called ‘Thank Heaven for Little Girls and Big Ones Too’.

21. The Spin-Off 

I think we can all imagine how different Magnum PI would have been if there was a spin-off series. Spin-offs are either good or just plain awful, and it's hard to tell which one the Magnum PI spin-off would have been.According to sources, the producers of Magnum PI almost launched a spin-off show which was based on the very first episode of the show, ‘J. Digger Doyle’.The plan was to have the show centre around a security professional who worked closely with Magnum.However, the spin-off never made it off the page and into production.

22. Support System

It’s hard to think of Tom Selleck as a struggling actor. But the actor needed his first wife, Jacqueline Ray, to support him while he was trying to land roles as an actor.The pair were married from 1971 to 1982, and they split up right before Selleck went off to film Magnum PI.

23. A Little Faith

Roger Earl Mosley is best known for playing ‘T.C’ on Magnum PI. However, he originally didn’t even want to land the role of Magnum’s sidekick.When the pilot was being filmed he didn’t think the show would be any good, he was just interested in making some money and so he could go back home and support his five children- which he had with four different women.He couldn’t have been more wrong about the show!  

24. The Female Sequel 

The show's spin-off attempt may have been a complete failure, but a sequel is set to appear on our screens in the near future.ABC has ordered a female leading sequel, which has finally been put into development.Eva Longoria is set as the show’s executive producer. The show is set to follow Thomas Magnum’s daughter, Lily, as she heads to Hawaii and takes over her father’s company. Sounds pretty cool, right?

25. Selleck’s Ferrari!

The Ferrari 308 which was driven by Selleck on Magnum PI was recently up for sale at an Arizona auction in 2017. Prices for the car started from $250,000 and the Ferrari 308 even came with a certificate of authentication.The car actually sold for $181,500.Now that's a lot of money!

26. Tom Selleck Needed A Break From The Show

Acting is a lot harder than people think.True, being an actor can bring along its fair share of perks but it certainly can take a toll on you- especially if you don't have the ability to balance your career and personal lives. Sadly, this was what happened to Tom Selleck.Selleck spent most of his time on set and worked more than 90 hours a week. He eventually made a bold decision and decided to take a break from the show after his second wife, Jillie, gave birth to their daughter, Hannah. This way Selleck was able to give his growing family some quality time away from his hectic work schedule. What an incredible father and husband!So there you have it, 26 action-packed facts you probably didn't know about the hit show, Magnum PI.Which fact was your favourite? Feel free to let us know in the comments.Don't forget to SHARE

these incredible facts with your friends and family on Facebook!