Tom Selleck Put Hollywood On Back Burner ‘To Have A Family’ And Live On Beloved Ranch

Sep 28, 2022 by apost team

Tom Selleck is one of the nation's most beloved stars, whose mark on American culture has seasoned and aged as well as he has. With a career that has spanned decades and notable roles in films and television, Tom has become a Hollywood icon with his charm and immense talent.

From his breakthrough role in "Magnum, P.I." and his guest role in "Friends" to his recent series "Blue Bloods," audiences have loved Tom's charm for over four decades. But despite being an acclaimed actor, Tom has made his mark as a kind and humble human.

After he experienced immense success, the star opted for a quiet life away from the limelight. So the veteran actor traded in the glamorous life of the big city for a quiet one on his beautiful 65-acre ranch in Ventura, California. But he didn't turn his back on acting; rather, he continued to work but on his own terms.

Another motivation for Tom to live on his ranch was to live a quiet life with his wife, Jillie Mack, and their daughter, Hannah Selleck. In fact, Tom and his wife's story is incredibly romantic.

Already established in his career, Tom was shooting a movie on location in London when he saw Mack, an actress, in the musical "Cats." Enamored with her, Tom went to see the production multiple times before the couple went on their first date. The rest, as they say, is history.

After Hannah was born, Tom took a step back from his work as an actor to spend more time with his family. Keep reading to learn more about his and Mack's relationship and why the star decided to quit "Magnum, P.I."

Tom has been working hard on the CBS drama series “Blue Bloods” for over a decade. The show’s pilot aired in 2010 and tested well with audiences, and the show has shown no signs of stopping any time soon. While talking to People, Tom said, “I don’t think there is an endpoint." He continued, "I think there is a lot of life in the show, as long as you let your characters grow and get older.” 

Tom also admitted to feeling that he and his cast members have a “kinship” with each other. He said he loves them all, and they’re all great friends. Notably, some of his on-screen family members include Donnie Wahlberg, Will Estes and Bridget Moynahan.

“Our dinner party scenes are like a reunion of friends,” he told People. “Sometimes it’s hard for the directors to get us to concentrate. We do the work, and we do it well, but we’re also screwing around and kidding each other and catching up. What we have is truly a blessing.” 

Before he became known for his role on “Blue Bloods,” though, Tom was famous for his starring role in “Magnum, P.I.” But during an interview with Collider back in 2010, Tom admitted to having hesitated to join the cast at first, as the show was being filmed in New York City, which was far away from his ranch.

While Tom went on to become a prominent figure in the series, he left the show after a few years and took a step away from the limelight.

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After returning to the screen in the mid to late 1990s, Tom found roles that he loved to play, and since then, he's managed to find a great balance between Hollywood and his personal life. Looking back over his 50-year-long career, Tom told People he is grateful for everything he has been given, both on-screen and off. "I'm proud of my work, I still love what I do, and I have my family," said Tom. "I've been enormously fortunate."

For him, family seems to come before everything else. He said in the same interview:

"I'm a fairly private person. And I've always treasured the balance between work and time with my family. It's always about them."

Tom and his wife have been married for over three decades now, and their love story is incredibly romantic. It all began when Tom was in London in 1983 filming the movie "Lassiter" and one day attended the West End show "Cats." But rather than see it once, Tom kept going back repeatedly.

"He kept telling me how great 'Cats' was," his movie co-star at the time, Jane Seymour, said to People. "I thought it was good, but I couldn't see going back a dozen times." 

It turned out that Tom had an ulterior motive: He wanted to meet the then 25-year-old Mack, who was in the company. According to People, her London agent confirmed that the two went out for dinner, and things transpired from there. From then on, the couple began dating, and just a few years later, there were wedding bells in the air.

After getting married, the couple welcomed their first child. Tom took a step back from work after his wife gave birth to their daughter Hannah. "I quit Magnum to have a family," he said. "It took a long time to get off the train, but I try very hard to have balance, and this ranch has helped me do that."

Now that they have been married for over 30 years, the actor has some insight into what makes a marriage work, and for him, the key was working less. "It's important to nurture your marriage," Tom shared. "I think wanting time away from work has been good for that."

Another helpful piece of advice was to have clear communication with your partner, especially in regard to your children. "We don't do anything or make any decisions without consulting each other," Tom said. "And if one of us makes a decision involving Hannah, the other parent completely supports that position, even if you disagree."

Tom also goes out of his way to keep his privacy, which includes living on a ranch in Ventura, California, away from the city. Mack and Tom have been there since 1988 after Tom took a step back from acting at the height of his career. 

Living on his ranch with his loved ones has become Tom's own private paradise. "My relationships and my ranch keep me sane," he added. "I do grunt work and I make the rounds. I like watching things grow. It's a retreat."

The star doesn't take his family or his incredible career for granted. "I'm proud of my work, I still love what I do, and I have my family," Tom said. "I've been enormously fortunate."

Are you a fan of Tom Selleck? What do you think of his decision to take a step back from work to spend time with his family? Let us know, and be sure to send this along to your friends and family.