Disney Actor Makes a "Shocking" Confession About His Career & Relationship With His Wife of Nearly 40 Years

This week, a beloved Hollywood actor who has lent his talents to several Disney projects made a “shocking” confession about his career and part of his relationship with his wife of more than 37 years.

Tom Selleck’s Good Fortune in Hollywood

Best known for his roles as Thomas Magnum in the crime drama series Magnum, P.I. on the CBS network (1980 to 1988) and as Commissioner Francis “Frank” Reagan in the police drama series Blue Bloods (2010-present), actor Tom Selleck has enjoyed a successful career in Hollywood for decades.

Selleck’s long-standing career in Hollywood spans more than five decades, cementing his status as one of the industry’s most beloved and enduring talents. Rising to prominence in the 1980s, Selleck captivated audiences with his charismatic presence and rugged charm, becoming an iconic figure in both film and television. It was his breakout role in Magnum, P.I., however, that earned him a Primetime Emmy Award and forever put Selleck on the proverbial map in Hollywood.

Selleck’s success on the small screen moved quickly to the silver screen, where he starred in a range of films, and his versatile acting skills and charismatic on-screen persona over the years have made him a fan favorite across generations. From action-packed thrillers to heartfelt and hilarious comedies, Selleck’s remarkable career continues to captivate audiences worldwide, making him an undeniable icon of entertainment history.

Tom Selleck and Disney

Fans of the famed actor might be surprised to learn that his career is dotted with several Disney credits as well, including lending trademark his voice to Cornelius Robinson (as an adult) in Disney’s Meet the Robinsons (2007) and embracing the role of Peter Mitchell in Three Men and a Baby (1987) from the Disney-owned Touchstone Pictures studio alongside actors Ted Danson and Steve Guttenberg.

Selleck reprised his role in sequel films to the 1987 film, and he further lent his talents to bring the character of James Rainwood to life in An Innocent Man (1989), also from Touchstone Pictures.

Selleck’s Top Priority Has Always Been His Family

Over the years, Selleck has made his family his top priority. The 79-year-old actor is married to actress Jillie Mack, whom he met in 1983 when he was filming in London, England, and she was performing in the long-running musical Cats.

Now, more than 37 years later, the 79-year-old actor and his 66-year-old wife live on a sprawling but secluded 65-acre ranch located just north of Los Angeles in Ventura, California, to which they moved shortly after the birth of their daughter, Hannah, in 1988. The ranch features a horse corral, and once upon a time, it functioned as an avocado farm.

“I’m a fairly private person,” Selleck said during an interview with People in 2020. “And I’ve always treasured the balance between work and time with my family. It’s always about them.”

But for all of his talents, good fortune, accomplishments, and his “good guy” persona in films, television series, and in real life, Selleck made a confession related to his career, his personal life, and his partnership with his wife, Jillie.

Selleck’s Shortcoming?

In an interview on Thursday, Selleck revealed that he rarely uses technology as he spoke about his new memoir, You Never Know, which debuts on May 7. But the revelation only grew from there as the beloved actor confessed that he’s never sent a single email or text message in his life.

“Occasionally, I’ve looked up my name,” Selleck explained. “That started really with the [writing of my] book, but I’ve never sent my own email. I had a secretary. I’ve never texted anybody.”

Now, Selleck says his wife Jillie is the one who sends messages on his behalf.

“I have a certain luxury where I probably couldn’t survive otherwise,” he said as he noted his appreciation for his wife of 37 years. “But I don’t know. I have a hard time writing things down, which is weird for a guy who’s pushing a book.”

“You Never Know”

The debut of Selleck’s memoir, You’ll Never Know, marks the first time the 79-year-old father of two has taken on the role of author. He says he wrote the book because he feels like it’s time to share his story.

“From the USC basketball court to a happy accident, to discovering and then embracing the work I love. It’s a long, bumpy road with some singles, some home runs, and a whole lot of strikeouts,” says Selleck. “I figure it’s time to share the ride.”

The book tells the tales of Selleck’s friendships with some of Hollywood’s most beloved and well-known actors and actresses, including Frank Sinatra, Carol Burnett, Sam Elliott, and Selleck’s mentor, actor James Garner. It also reveals how Selleck created the character Thomas Magnum as an “imperfect hero” who was loved by fans of the show.

Though he’s admittedly never sent a single email or a text message to anyone over the course of his lifetime, his decorated career in Hollywood, as well as his reputation as a devoted family man, has no doubt lent themselves to the enduring true story told in Selleck’s upcoming memoir, You’ll Never Know, which will hit bookstands on May 7.