In a heartwarming revelation, Tom Selleck shared his enduring love for his wife, Jillie Mack, after 36 years of marriage. Away from Hollywood’s glare, their morning ritual at their ranch showcases Tom as a romantic.
As Tom grows older, his love for his wife deepens, and he cherishes his family more while finding a perfect balance between them and his fulfilling career.
Early Life and First Marriage
Tom Selleck is a phenomenal actor best known for his breakout role as Thomas Magnum in the television series “Magnum P.I.” The actor is also a family man who has been married twice. He is now in a long-lasting marriage with his wife, Jillie Mack. Before Jillie, Tom was married to Jacqueline Ray. He and his ex-wife tied the knot in 1971, but in 1979, after close to a decade in marriage, they separated. For a while, they couldn’t figure out their next step, but they worked out an agreement to live separately.
The movie star and Jacqueline remained close after their separation. However, Tom was worried about being away from Kevin Selleck, his wife’s son from a previous marriage, whom he ended up adopting. Eventually, in 1982, Tom and Jacqueline divorced and were both legally single. The actor was devastated by the end of his first marriage. “It’s one of the great sorrows of my life that we can’t be together—I’d always planned to be married for the rest of my life,” he lamented.
Meeting Jillie Mack
Nevertheless, Tom didn’t give up on marriage or finding the love of his life entirely. And as luck would have it, he met Jillie in 1984 when he was in London starring in a caper film. The actor had gone to see his friend Brian Blessed, who was acting in “Cats,” an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. While backstage, Tom saw several actors dressed in whiskers, face paint, and furry tails.
He spotted Jillie looking fabulous in a leotard, but it took him a few more visits to “Cats” before he called the actress on a theater phone. This call wasn’t smooth, as Tom went on rumbling until Jillie asked him, “Do you want to meet for a cocktail?”
Jillie later admitted that she didn’t know who Tom was as her television had been stolen three months before they met. Three years later, in 1987, the lovebirds got married in a small chapel in Lake Tahoe. Their wedding in this secret location was so private that a month went by before the press found out that they’d tied the knot. Tom revealed that they wanted to exchange vows with dignity, hence the secrecy.
The actor isn’t a fan of fame and all the things that come with it, including a lack of privacy and dealing with crowds. He recalled that he once told his agent, “I don’t know whether I can do this unless I find a way to do it on my terms.”
Life on the Ranch
Tom settled with his wife on his ranch in Ventura County, California. The ranch, a restored 1910 hunting lodge, is on 65 acres of land and is an ideal escape from Hollywood for the couple. In the prime of his “Magnum P.I.” stardom, Tom dedicated himself to grueling work hours, often putting in 90 hours a week and filling every break with movie projects.
The actor took a step back from his successful acting career in 1988 when Jillie Mack gave birth to their daughter Hannah. “I quit Magnum to have a family. It took a long time to get off the train, but I try very hard to have balance, and this ranch has helped me do that,” confessed Tom.
Tom attributed the longevity of his and Jillie’s marriage to their Spanish colonial ranch house, complete with a swimming pool, stables, and 20 acres of avocado trees. The two engage in independent activities, so in the morning, they head to different sides of the ranch and run into each other at midday. Sometimes, Tom will spot Jillie wearing shorts and running shoes as she speedwalks with one of their five dogs, and he will happily greet her with his nickname for her, “Macksy!”
Cherishing Family and Career
The couple’s differences also bring them together as Tom is the quiet one while Jillie is jovial and talkative. “I don’t know what our secret is, but I’m happy,” gushed Tom. Still, Tom said if there were a secret to their union, it would be nurturing their marriage. Time away from work has helped them do exactly that.
Living on their ranch also ensured their daughter Hannah Selleck grew up and matured with the country lifestyle. “We both thought it was the best environment for her to grow up,” Jillie said about Hannah, who went to college and pursued a career as an equestrian.
Jillie and Tom’s ranch is their magic place, where they have everything they need as they grow a variety of fruits and vegetables. They have a pond and orchards where they grow avocados. Jillie and Tom also have each other here. The actor always wakes up early before his wife and puts on the tea kettle so that when she gets up, her tea is hot. “I think I’m pretty romantic,” enthused Tom.
Tom cherishes Jillie, whom he says is his wife and friend, and that she lights up every room she gets into. The movie star, who turned 79 on January 29, 2024, has been with his wife for 40 years, married for 36, and are still deeply in love. When Tom was asked if love changes as a man ages, he answered, “Yes. Well, I don’t know ‘as a man ages’—I’ve only aged once. I think love has gotten deeper.
I have a wonderful wife.” Tom Selleck values the private life he and his wife live away from Hollywood. He also treasures the balance he has created between work and time with family and admits that he adores his family.
Still, the actor is proud of his work as he continues to love what he does. He considers himself immensely fortunate as his ranch and relationships keep him sane.
