Tom Selleck is best known as an American actor and film producer. After about a decade in the entertainment industry, Selleck got his big break in 1980 when he was selected to play the lead role of private investigator Thomas Magnum in the television series Magnum, P.I. He also played the lead role in Three Men and a Baby which became the highest-grossing film of 1987.

In recent years, he is known for playing the role of NYPD Commissioner Frank Reagan in the CBS drama Blue Bloods for which he earns around $150,000 per episode. Selleck has starred in over 50 films and TV shows and is estimated to be worth $45 million. For his role in Magnum, P. I, Selleck won his first Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Drama series. He also won a People’s Choice Award for Favourite TV male performer as well as a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.

Amid his soaring career, the actor is also celebrated among the few celebrities whose marriages lasted the test of time. The story behind his successful marriage may sound fictitious but it is real. As a result, many fans are curious about what it is that has kept him and his wife together so long and how their marriage survived celebrity crashes.

How Long Has The Actor Been Married?

Its been over three decades since Thomas William Selleck, born on January 29, 1945, met his beautiful wife, Jillie Mack. Their love life went against the grain of the trending anomalies about shortlived marriages between celebrities.

Tom Selleck and Jillie Mack officially settled down as husband and wife on August 7, 1987. For someone who was popular for his role as a private investigator, Thomas Magnum, in the television series Magnum, P.I. (1980–1988), fans would expect a very elaborate wedding ceremony that will remain at the center of media gossips. But on the contrary, their marriage was quiet and secret with only a few family members around at a late-evening ceremony. Even the minister in charge of their wedding didn’t know the couple’s true identities until minutes before the service.

So what is the secret behind their successful marriage?

Many reasons have been given as to why many celebrity marriages never last long even when the stars involved looked like they had real shot at staying together for the long haul. The few who remained together had something in common – they always put their family first. Selleck and Jillie’s story is no different.

We know for a fact that Selleck’s big break was with his lead role as Thomas Magnum in Magnum, P.I. His lead role in the drama TV series saw him appear in 162 episodes and earned him several Primetime Emmy Awards. The CBS crime drama became extremely successful, ranking among the top 20 televised programs in the country for its first five years. However, the star left the long-running crime series at the peak of his popularity for one reason – to spend time with his family.

In an interview with People magazine in 2012, the actor revealed that he left the sensational show not because he was tired of his entire role in the show, but because he wanted to lead a “fuller life” which, of course, included starting a family. He took this decision after his wife gave birth to their only daughter Hannah, on December 16, 1988.

Tom Selleck and Jillie Mack share a very strong relationship because they both value each other’s opinions, and that is one other reason why they are still together as a couple. In an interview with New York Daily News in 1999, the actor revealed that his strong bond with his wife was because they hardly make any decisions or do anything without speaking to each other first.

Even while pursuing their individual careers in the entertainment industry, Tom and Jillie both tried their best to keep their privacy throughout their relationship. Selleck also has one son from his previous marriage to Jacqueline Ray – Kevin Selleck. Tom adopted Kevin while he was still married to Jacqueline, and even after their divorce, he still maintains a very close relationship with him.

The Truth Behind How Jillie Mack Met Tom Selleck

Jillie may not be as popular as her actor husband, but she did have her stint in the entertainment industry. She was an actress popular back in the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s. She appeared in an episode of Frasier titled “Police Story” and was set to play a lead female role as “Joanie” in an unsold series pilot Silverfox. Other productions you can also find her include The Wizard, The Queen’s Nose, Hooperman, ER, Fired Up and Stephen King’s Golden Tales. Tom Selleck actually saw Jillie for the first time in a London performance of “Cats.”  As an actress, Jillie made a bit of a name for herself in two episodes of Magnum P.I. as Sally Ponting. She got the role through the help of her celebrity boyfriend, Selleck. However, she never got the chance to reach the A-list celebrity status her husband has grown accustomed to.

When Selleck began to develop feelings for Jillie, he was in London filming Lassiter and he made regular appearances at the West End production of Cats. His cast and crew couldn’t figure out what kept luring him to the musical Cats. All these happened shortly after Selleck divorced his first wife, Jacqueline Ray.

After finally getting to introduce himself to Jillie, the pair scheduled a date to go for dinner. At this stage, Jillie’s contract with musical Cats was up, and she seized the opportunity to date Selleck. Shortly afterward, the two started appearing together at events, including the red carpet at the Emmys, as well as Selleck’s 1986 Hollywood Walk of Fame induction. Tom and Jillie dated for half a decade before agreeing to get hitched in secret in 1987.

Meet The Children Of The Blue Bloods Actor

As already mentioned, Tom Selleck and Jillie Mack only have one daughter named Hannah. She was born on December 16, 1988, and is said to have a strong passion for horses. She even started riding horses at the age of 4. After college, she then decided to pursue her equestrian career fully. With her father’s full support, Hannah launched a small boutique breeding stable in Hidden Valley. Hannah was raised as a normal kid – away from the limelight and while she was growing up, she never had an interest in pursuing her father’s career.

Tom Selleck’s adopted son Kevin was born in 1966. He is an actor and musician best known as the former drummer for the American rock band, Tonic. Selleck adopted Kevin on August 7, 1987, and they get along well as father and son. Thanks to his father’s influence, Kevin also had a role in the TV series Magnum, P.I. in 1980. He was also in Scream 2 of which he wrote the soundtrack for the project.