  thomas william "tom" selleck (born january 29, 1945) is an american actor and film producer. he is best known for his starring role as the private investigator thomas magnum in the television series magnum, p.i. (1980 to 1988), based in hawaii. he also plays police chief jesse stone in a series of made-for-tv movies based on robert b. parker novels. since 2010, he has appeared as nypd commissioner frank reagan in the drama blue bloods on cbs-tv. selleck has appeared in more than fifty film and television roles since his initial success with magnum, p.i., including a co-starring role in the highest-grossing movie of 1987, three men and a baby. he also held top billing in quigley down under, mr. baseball, and lassiter, to name a few. selleck has also appeared as dr. richard burke on friends, where he played the on-again, off-again love-interest of monica geller (courteney cox). he played a.j. cooper on the tv series las vegas. ==early life== selleck was born in detroit, michigan, the son of martha s. (nÃ©e jagger),  a housewife, and robert dean selleck (d. 2001), who was an executive and real estate investor.{{cite book|url=http://books.google.ca/books?id=un4jaqaaiaaj&q=%22george+samuel+and+nellie+louise+(fife)+s.;+m.+martha+jagger.+%22&dq=%22george+samuel+and+nellie+louise+(fife)+s.;+m.+martha+jagger.+%22&hl=en |title=
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