Tom Selleck gives a rare interview on fame, family and why he quit Magnum P.I.
(CNN) — Tom Selleck was one of the hottest stars of the 1980s when he suddenly quit his hit show, Magnum P.I.
The fame got to be a bit much, he recalled recently.
"I quit Magnum, not because I didn't like it or I was tired of it," Selleck told People magazine. "I was tired from it. And I wanted a three-dimensional life because I didn't have one."
American actor Tom Selleck as he appears in the TV series 'Magnum P.I.', circa 1985. Getty
The 75-year-old actor has opened up in a rare interview about life on his Ventura, California, ranch and the rigours of being a celebrity.
Selleck first rose to fame on the crime drama, which ran on CBS from 1980 to 1988.
A self-professed "fairly private person," Selleck wasn't a huge fan of the Hollywood lifestyle.
"I knew intellectually what it would mean in terms of being a public person, but until you've lived it, there's no way to understand it," he told People. "I had a feeling of, 'I don't think I'm cut out for this.'"
Tom Selleck CNN
Rather it's his family that Selleck treasures: his wife of 33 years, Jillie; their 31-year-old daughter Hannah; and Kevin, his 54-year-old son with first wife Jacqueline Ray.
"My relationships and my ranch keep me sane," Selleck said.
Not that he's done in the industry.
Selleck stars in another CBS drama, Blue Bloods, which is now in its 10th season.
"I'm proud of my work, I still love what I do, and I have my family," Selleck said. "I've been enormously fortunate."
Meanwhile, Selleck also opened up about about joining the cast of Friends for a series reboot.
Courteney Cox and Tom Selleck Twitter
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In an interview with People, the veteran actor said he has many happy memories from being on the show.
"It was a great place to work," he told People. "The actors were grateful for the opportunity and they were all as good as you can get."
Selleck played Richard on the show, an ophthalmologist and family friend of the Gellar parents before he fell in love with Monica.
