Aside fromSam Elliot , no actor may be more famous for their moustache than Tom Selleck — the former wiz ofMagnum , P.I. , 1987’sThree Men and a Baby , and the long - running CBS hitBlue Bloods . While you likely know he was once up for the function ofIndiana Jones , there ’s quite a bit more to Selleck ’s biography and career . Take a look at some lesser - known facts about Selleck ( who was bear in Detroit on January 29 , 1945 ) , include his military servicing and the time he suited up for the Detroit Tigers .
1. Tom Selleck was once onThe Dating Game.
carry on January 29 , 1945 in Detroit , Michigan , Tom Selleck grew up in Los Angeles andearneda basketball scholarship to the University of Southern California , where he alsoentereda direction training programme for United Airlines . While he was a gifted jock , Selleck was more interested in the performing arts . Selleck worked as a fashion model and was afterward able-bodied to assure commercial spots , including one for Safeguard deodorant , where atomic number 27 - star Teri Garr announced , “ He smells just the path a piece should sense — sporty . ” Prior to his commercial success , in 1965 , he appeared onThe Dating Game , at the clip a pop elbow room for aspire doer to gain picture . ( Steve Martin , Arnold Schwarzenegger , and Andy Kaufman allmadeappearances . ) Despite his future condition as a screen hunk , Selleck lose on the show — twice .
2. Tom Selleck served in the military.
Selleck was drafted during the Vietnam War . Hejoinedthe California National Guard in 1967 and was placed in the 160thInfantry Regiment , accomplish the rank of sergeant and serving until 1973 . At the metre , Selleck was under contract with Fox . After serving full - time for six months , he returned home in 1969 and chance out the studio hadfiredhim . Later , Selleck was used in promotional stuff for the National Guard and has been a spokesman for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund .
3. Tom Selleck got a big break courtesy of Mae West.
Though he would continue to take television commercial message throughout the 1970s , Selleck ’s first major fully grown - screen role came good manners of Mae West . The legendary actress hand - pick Selleck to play one of her “ studs ” in 1970’sMyra Breckinridge . Selleck accredit West with helping him get note . “ Mae was a wondrous woman , ” SellecktoldThe Morning Callin 1997 . “ I escorted her to a duo of premiere and she did hundreds of interviews where she mentioned me in the same sentence asCary Grant . ”
4. It turns out thatMagnum, P.I.wouldn’t have kept Tom Selleck from playing Indiana Jones.
One of the most renowned bits of trifle in Selleck ’s career is that he try out to play globe - trotting archeologist Indiana Jones in 1981’sRaiders of the Lost Ark , got the job , but wasforcedto turn it down because CBS would n’t countenance him out of his contract tostarin the private centre dramaMagnum , P.I.That ’s exact , though it turn out that Selleck could actually have done both . Just asMagnum , P.I.was about to start fool in Hawaii , a author ’s smasher held up production , and Selleck was forced to work as a odd-job man to pay off his rent until the show resumed . To add insult to injury , Raidersstarted shoot around the same time — in Hawaii .
One lesser - known but challenging bit of Selleck trivium is that Selleckturned downthe lead role in 1985’sWitness , a dramatic event about a copper who befriends an Amish family , which choke on to asterisk Harrison Ford .
5. Tom Selleck initially “hated” the role of Thomas Magnum.
When Selleck was offered the role of Thomas Magnum , he had already been in a string of failedtelevisionpilots . While a star character in a great web show was welcome , SellecktoldGQin 2014 that he initially dislike how the purpose had been written . “ I hated it , ” he said . “ He wasJames attachment - like . He was unadulterated . He had daughter on each arm . He possess a Ferrari . ” Selleck wanted to play a character more in production line with the downtrodden Jim Rockford inThe Rockford Files , in which he had guest - starred . manufacturer agreed , and Magnum became more of an Everyman character . The serial ran for eight season .
6. Tom Selleck once played for the Detroit Tigers.
Fans ofMagnum , P.I.noted that Selleck was partial of fag a Detroit Tigers baseball game capital throughout the serial , a nod to his birthplace . The actor is such a fan of the team that hejoinedspring training in 1991 as part of his preparation for a role as a baseball pro in 1992’sMr . Baseball . Selleck even play in one expo game against the Cincinnati Reds that April , striking out in the eighth inning .
7. Tom Selleck is an accomplished volleyball player.
While filmingMagnum P.I. , Selleck oftenplayedvolleyball with appendage of the Outrigger Canoe Club fourth-year ( over 35 ) team in Honolulu and was even advert honorary skipper of the U.S. Olympic manpower ’s team in 1984 . Selleck fit to posture shirtless for a post-horse because the yield went to the jock .
8. Tom Selleck was offered the David Hasselhoff role onBaywatch.
After wrapping upMagnum , P.I. , Selleck pursued a picture career , include films like 1989’sHer Alibiand 1990’sQuigley Down Under . He wasoffereda payoff to television in the form ofBaywatch , the NBC series about lifeguard . Selleck passed on the role of Mitch Buchannon , which finally go toDavid Hasselhoff . Selleck regress to serial television with a repeat guest spot onFriendsand the law dramaBlue Bloods , which is now in its 10th season .
