Before becoming the iconic Frank Reagan in “Blue Bloods,” Tom Selleck was already a fixture in Hollywood, known for his memorable role as the charming detective in “Magnum, P.I.,” along with appearances in “Friends,” “Three Men and a Baby,” “The Closer,” and even a stint on “The Dating Game.” Despite his successful career, Selleck experienced setbacks, including being fired from a popular TV show, an event connected to his future in “Blue Bloods” through one of the show’s executives.
Having portrayed Frank Reagan for over a decade, Selleck finds depth in his character’s internal struggles, particularly the burden of sending officers into harm’s way, a responsibility compounded by the loss of his eldest son in the line of duty. This complexity, he notes, presents a unique challenge in portraying a leader who must mask his vulnerabilities. Interestingly, Selleck’s journey to “Blue Bloods” included a brief, unreciprocated role in “Charlie’s Angels,” a dismissal he humorously attributes to Leonard Goldberg, a key figure in both series, highlighting the intertwined nature of his television career and personal anecdotes from Hollywood’s interconnected world.
