A Hollywood dream that fell apart
Before the fame, there was Jacqueline Ray—a model and actress who married a then-unknown Tom Selleck on May 15, 1971. He later adopted her son, Kevin (born 1966), and for a decade they tried to build a life while he chased roles that never quite landed.
Then came Magnum, P.I.. The breakthrough arrived in 1980, with filming based in Hawai‘i—thousands of miles from the life they’d started in California. That distance, combined with a new level of public attention, changed everything.
Fame, distance, and the separation
Selleck’s star rose fast. But contrary to easy tabloid storylines, he’s said the separation from Ray predated the Magnum whirlwind; by March 1982, he was on his first PEOPLE cover, separated but not yet divorced and candid about how fame made even simple dating complicated. The divorce was finalized in 1982.
Bottom line: a career finally took off—but at the cost of a marriage that began long before the Ferrari, the mustache lore, and the Friday-night ratings.
“The one that still stings”
Selleck has rarely gone into detail about that breakup, but he’s been open about the emotional weight of playing men whose private lives are messy—especially Jesse Stone, the divorced small-town police chief he’s portrayed across nine TV films. He’s said he had to play Jesse when he first read the material, and interviews over the years describe the character as “hung up on his ex-wife,” something that clearly resonated.
(Note: Some outlets quote Selleck calling the split “the worst thing that ever happened to me,” but those quotes trace back to tabloids rather than primary interviews.)
Finding his footing again—on a ranch, and in a different kind of marriage
By 1987, Selleck married Jillie Mack in a small, private ceremony near Lake Tahoe—a day he later recalled nearly went sideways when they forgot the marriage license, rescued only by a very helpful reverend. They soon settled on a working ranch in Ventura County, intentionally dialing back the spotlight. Their daughter, Hannah, was born in 1988.
What he says keeps him grounded now: “My relationships and my ranch keep me sane.”
What the first marriage left behind
- Dates that frame the story: Married 1971; divorced 1982.
- Family ties that lasted: He adopted Kevin during that first marriage and has remained a father to him, alongside daughter Hannah with Jillie Mack.
- Work that mirrors life: Selleck’s Jesse Stone films repeatedly circle heartbreak, distance, and trying to build a life after both.
Quick FAQ
Who was Tom Selleck’s first wife?
Jacqueline Ray, a model and actress. They married in 1971 and divorced in 1982.
Did Tom Selleck adopt Jacqueline Ray’s son?
Yes. He adopted Kevin (born 1966) during their marriage.
When did he marry Jillie Mack—and are they still together?
They married on August 7, 1987, in a private ceremony near Lake Tahoe, later moving to a ranch in Ventura County, CA; they’ve kept a low-key family life ever since.
What made Magnum, P.I. so disruptive to his life?
The show filmed in Hawai‘i for most of the 1980s; the distance and pace of a hit series reshaped his personal life during and after the separation.