What roles did Tom Selleck play Frank Reagan?

If you know a little about Selleck's past, remember that he served in the California National Guard (160th Infantry Regiment) after receiving a draft order for Vietnam in the late 1960s. He was under contract with 20th Century Fox for an acting program, while he did not have much to do.

His military experience lasted until 1973 and brought a whole new sensitivity to understand what leadership meant. You can see how he drew on his military background for Reagan through his character of being a former Marine Corps lieutenant during the Vietnam War. While Reagan has much more military honors than Selleck has ever received, the same reference time in Vietnam gives compelling parallels.

After his military experience, Selleck took some time to get to work as an actor, but he later managed to win roles evoking courage, sacrifice and former military training.

It took seven years and three failed television pilots to find his first big role in Thomas Magnum.

How did Thomas Magnum look like Frank Reagan?

Those of you who were alive when the original Magnum P.I. broadcast will remember the image of Selleck, originally iconic. When we first saw Magnum on our television screens in 1980, we discovered that he was a former member of the Navy Intelligence and SEAL team who was retiring from his military role to become a private investigator.

One could almost draw a fictitious line from the 80s era of Magnum to later become New York Police Commissioner. Despite everything, Reagan is the most heroic of Selleck's characters on television. The commissioner was not only a lieutenant of the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, but he had also bravely rescued aid during the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Another side of the sacrifices Reagan has made is that he seems to want to be alone in his private life after the death of his cancer wife.

Although he was a remarkable character, Selleck played in the past with other roles with similar exploits and similar relational sacrifices.

Playing Eisenhower helped Selleck learn more about leadership

According to a recent interview with TV Insider by Selleck, the role played by General Dwight Eisenhower during his D-Day role helped to understand leadership above any other figure.

Few players have attempted to play Eisenhower with such depth, especially during the landing invasion. Aside from Selleck not resembling Eisenhower perfectly, he captured his essence and gave a remarkable performance. This led him to understand the importance of sacrifice and to be a ringmaster for something greater.

You can certainly see the calm of his portrait of Eisenhower in Frank Reagan.

The same goes for the role of a police chief in "Jesse Stone" movies.

Some might say Jesse Stone the films were sort of a series when you consider that nine TV movies have been produced to date. Selleck may not have completely completed his role since he played the role just four years ago.

He made some of these films while he was then in Blue bloodgiving him a glimpse of what life is like in a large police department.

In the end, Selleck's legacy will be to play the most honorable cops ever on television. In many ways, it's a better legacy than having a long stream of credits in romantic comedies on the big screen.