Tom Selleck, the star of CBS’s Blue Bloods, reveals intriguing details about his iconic mustache in a recent cover story with PEOPLE. At 79, Selleck reflects on his long career and his new memoir, You Never Know, set to be released this spring.
In the interview, Selleck shares that he almost shaved off his trademark mustache for his role as police commissioner Frank Reagan on Blue Bloods. “At the time, they had him as the New York City police chief,” Selleck explains. “That’s not the boss in New York, the way it’s structured.” Selleck had initially proposed removing his mustache, believing it might not fit the role. However, CBS rejected the idea, and Selleck’s mustache stayed put.
Selleck’s facial hair has been a defining feature throughout his career, from his Emmy-winning role in Magnum, P.I. to the popular film Three Men and a Baby. Nevertheless, he did part ways with his mustache for the 1997 film In & Out, where director Frank Oz requested its removal. “Oz had his own plans for my character’s look,” Selleck recalls. “He said, ‘Would you trim your mustache a little?’ and then, ‘Would you shave it all off?’ I said, ‘Sure.’”
In addition to discussing his mustache, Selleck’s memoir, which took four years to complete, delves into his unexpected journey in acting. “It is really the story of an accidental career,” he says, reflecting on his early days in commercials and The Dating Game. Despite the memoir’s focus on his failures and challenges, Selleck finds the experience of writing it to be deeply rewarding.
You Never Know will be available on May 7 and is currently available for preorder. For more insights into Selleck’s career and life, check out this week’s PEOPLE magazine.
