magnum p.i.

12/11/1980 - 9/12/1988
CBS 60 minutes
Color - 164 episodes
Created by:
Donald P. Bellisario and Glen A. Larson

Tom Selleck
As Thomas Magnum, P.I.

Intro to Magnum P.I.

John Hillerman
As Jonathan Quayle Higgins III

Magnum P.I. Cast

Tom Selleck as Thomas Sullivan Magnum III
John Hillerman as Jonathan Quayle Higgins III
Roger E. Mosley as Theodore 'TC' Calvin
Larry Manetti as Orville 'Rick' Wright

Also:
Orson Welles (voice) as Robin Masters (1980-1985)
Gillian Dobb as Agatha Chumley
Kwan Hi Lim as Police Lt. Yoshi Tanaka
Jeff MacKay as Lt. 'Mac' MacReynolds, USN
Kathleen Lloyd as Assistant District Attorney Carol Baldwin
Jean Bruce Scott as Lt. Maggie Poole USN
Elisha Cook Jr. as Ice Pick

Magnum P.I. Theme

Mike Post and Pete Carpenter

Magnum P.I. Trivia - Robin's Nest

Yes, the estate really exists! On Kalania'ole Highway (Road 72) at Waimanalo Beach. Although the interiors were all shot in a studio, the exteriors - main house, guest house, tennis court - they are all there. The tidal pool is real too. It was originally built to nuture sea turtles. Though the estate is privately owned by Mrs. Anderson, the beach can be reached by simply walking there.

Magnum P.I. Tidbits

Thomas Magnum (Tom Selleck) lived on Robin's Nest, the estate of acclaimed writer Robin Masters, who was never seen and only heard. Ostensibly to provide security, Magnum lived in the guest house and got to drive the red Ferrari 308 GTS. He was a Private Investigator, not a P.I., as he liked to remind people.

This was a constant annoyance to the major domo of the estate, the very proper Jonathan Quayle Higgins III (John Hillerman). Higgins had been a Sergeant Major in Her Majesty's Army. He was forever working on his "memoirs." Magnum's very casual approach to life was frustrating to the conservative Higgins, who was often heard to exclaim "Oh My God." But although there was much sparring, the audience always knew there was also a lot of respect between the men.

Two more lived at Robin's Nest. Apollo and Zeus, Higgins' magnificent Dobermans, who he always referred to as "The Lads." (Higgins was always instructing, "Apollo! Zeus! Patrol!")

Tom Selleck, Larry Manetti, Roger Mosely

Tom Selleck, Larry Manetti, Roger Mosely

Larry Manetti, Tom Selleck, Roger E. Mosely
As Rick, Magnum and TC
Magnum, an Anapolis graduate, was a Viet Nam vet who left the Navy to become a private investigator. Two of his old Navy buddies lived in Hawaii as well. Orville "Rick" Wright (Larry Manetti) was the manager of the exclusive King Kamehameha Club, where Higgins was a board member. Rick had some connections with the mob as he was close to a big hood named "Ice Pick."

The other war buddy was Theodore "TC" Calvin (Roger E. Mosely). TC owned the Island Hoppers helicopter service. Magnum was always putting the touch on TC for free use of his chopper. TC always referred to Higgins as "Higgy Baby".

Magnum P.I. Trivia

Did you know that John Hillerman is a Texan? Born in Denison, TX in 1932 and attended the University of Texas at Austin.

Tom Selleck
As Thomas Magnum, P.I.

Tom Selleck and John Hillerman

John Hillerman and Tom Selleck

Magnum P.I. Trivia

Magnum often wore a Detroit Tigers baseball cap. It was explained that his Grandfather made him a big fan. Actually, Tom Selleck is from Detroit.

Tom Selleck and Ferrari 308 GTSActually, 3 models were used:1979 308 GTS, 1981 308 GTSi, 1984 308 GTS QV . They had to be modified for the very tall Selleck. Padding was removed from the seats so he would sit lower. The seat was bolted as far away from the steering wheel as possible to provide more room. And think about it, you rarely saw Magnum driving with the top on.

Tom Selleck and John Hillerman
With Apollo and Zeus, "The Lads"

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