Tom Selleck Lives a 'Low-Key' Life Now, Is a 'Good Dad' to Kids

The Late Bloomer Who Became America’s Favorite TV Dad

Tom Selleck doesn’t look like he’s 75, but he hit that age on January 29. He thinks one reason he still feels young is because he didn’t find big success until he was older. “I didn’t really make it until I was 35, with Magnum, P.I.,” he told Parade. He also said he didn’t feel like a real adult until much later in life.

That moment came when his dad died in 2001. Tom’s father worked in real estate, and his mom, Martha, passed away in 2017. “I realized there was no one left to give me fatherly advice. I had to figure things out myself.” Tom shared with GQ,

A Solid Foundation

Growing up in Southern California, Tom was thankful for parents who supported him. “I had a great dad and mom. I could spend 20 years in therapy and not blame them for anything,” he said. He feels lucky they gave him a solid start.

Tom used those lessons from his dad to play Frank Reagan, the head of a police family, on Blue Bloods. The show is now in its 10th season, and Tom is proud of what the character represents. “There aren’t a lot of good examples of dads trying to do the right thing on TV,” he told Parade. “Fathers are important.”

He’s Still a Dad, Even with an Adult Child

Even though he’s been famous for decades, Tom says he knows what really matters. “As good as Hollywood has been to me, life is about more important things,” he said to Beliefnet.

For Tom, nothing is more important than his family. He married his wife Jillie in 1987, and they have a daughter, Hannah, who is 31. Tom says he and Jillie have grown even closer over the years. “Our love has gotten deeper,” he shared with GQ. “It just keeps getting better. We’ve become real partners.”

Hannah works with horses on a farm. Tom is happy he still gets to spend time with her. “You never stop being a dad, even when your kids are grown,” he told Parade. A friend of the family said, “Tom is close with Hannah and a good dad. They ride horses together, and she’s a wonderful young woman.”

Keeping It Low-Key at 75

For his 75th birthday, Tom only wanted a small gathering with his loved ones. “He feels he’s at a point where he just wants his family and close friends around,” the insider said. “He’s a low-key kind of guy.”

Even though Blue Bloods films in New York City and Tom lives in California, he’s made it work. Because he’s not in every scene, he can fly back and forth and spend time with his family. This arrangement has worked for 10 years, and he plans to keep going. “As long as the show is doing well and the network wants it, Tom will keep playing Frank Reagan,” the insider said.

Reflecting on His Life with No Regrets

These days, Tom is also writing his autobiography. As he looks back on his life, he says he’s proud of how he’s handled things. “People say they don’t want regrets. I really don’t have any,” he told GQ. “I’ve had tough times, but it makes you appreciate the good stuff even more.”

He’s never been interested in fame or money. “Fame doesn’t last; popularity is luck; money can disappear,” he said. “The only thing that really matters is your character.”

And even at 75, Tom still wants to keep improving. “Most of us aren’t as good as we think we are,” he said. “But we can always work to be better.”