Tom Selleck pays tribute to his 'Magnum, P.I.' costar John Hillerman
The actor honors the grand side of "The Great Hildini."

It's been a week since Magnum, P.I. actor John Hillerman passed away at 84, and now his costar Tom Selleck has drafted a touching tribute for Hollywood Reporter that honors his friendship with the actor who played Higgins.
In his memorial post, Selleck offers a behind-the-scenes peek at Hillerman, who could always be caught on set with a can of Fresca in one hand and a long cigarette holder in the other. He even reveals the nickname they had for Hillerman, "The Great Hildini." But our favorite part was a nod to Hillerman's dynamic acting talents as Selleck remembers:
"As Higgins, he could make people laugh as well as cry — many times in the same scene. That takes a skill that is not often understood."
In the full post, Selleck also has a laugh of his own, recalling how Hillerman's fake British accent fooled everyone. Selleck wrote, "My wife's from England. I would go around London in a cab, and they'd ask, "Where's the Brit, John Hillerman, from on your show?" and I'd tell them he was from Denison, Texas."
You can read the full tribute post here.
The television icon leaves behind a vast legacy. READ MORE Image: The Everett Collection He will forever be known as the Caped Crusader. READ MORE Image: AP Photo Beloved for both his role as Gomer Pyle and his stunning baritone voice, the Andy Griffith Show star passed away at 87. READ MORE Image: The Everett Collection The Oscar-winner was 89. READ MORE Image: AP Photo / Lennox McLendon The actress who was Della Street passed away at the age of 94. READ MORE The hit gospel singer was the first black woman to host a talk show on TV. READ MORE As Keith Partridge on The Partridge Family, the young actor became a teen heartthrob and true pop sensation. READ MORE The legendary comedian passed away at the age of 90. READ MORE The actor will be forever remembered for his tough-guy television role. READ MORE The Emmy-winning actor was 89. READ MORE Image: The Everett Collection The singer-guitarist was 81. READ MORE Image: The Everett Collection The comedy legend began his TV career in the earliest days of the medium, with Dean Martin on The Martin and Lewis Show, and raised millions in his MDA Telethons. He passed away on August 20 at the age of 91. READ MORE Image: AP Photo / Jean-Jacques Levy The actress best known as Joanie Cunningham died at 56. READ MORE Image: AP Photo / Wally Fong The actor known as Captain Apollo passed away with his son at his side. READ MORE Image: The Everett Collection A Batman villain and one of the richest actresses in history, this socialite sold Mar-a-Lago to Trump. READ MORE The iconic game-show guru passed away at 87. READ MORE From Perry Mason to Kill Bill, few actors have been so effortlessly cool. READ MORE Image: The Everett Collection The actor best known as Jeff Spencer on the hip P.I. series 77 Sunset Strip died at the age of 84. READ MORE The actor passed away at 91 after a long and varied career. READ MORE Image: The Everett Collection The popular TV judge passed away at the age of 97. READ MORE Image: AP Photo The pioneering Latina actress passed away at 92. READ MORE Image: The Everett Collection A personal friend of Lucille Ball, the TCM host passed away 84. READ MORE Image: AP Photo The actor nearly replaced Leonard Nimoy as Spock. Learn the fascinating story of this character actor. READ MORE Albright was best-known for her role as Edie Hart on the television series Peter Gunn. READ MORE Image: The Everett Collection The actress and dancer, pictured on the far right, passed away at 69. READ MORE Image: The Saturday Evening Post The Emmy-winner died at the age of 69. READ MORE The actor best known as Higgins passed away at 84. READ MORE Image: The Everett Collection The actor took his stage name from the Old West outlaw John Wesley Hardin. READ MORE Image: The Everett Collection The former NFL star, painter and character actor passed away at the age of 78. READ MORE For four decades, from 1964 until 2004, Hansen appeared on General Hospital. READ MORE Image: The Everett Collection The 99-year-old had voiced dozens of your favorite cartoons characters. READ MORE Image: AP Photo / George Birch Ron and Clint Howard's dad also appeared in several episodes of The Andy Griffith Show with his two children. READ MORE The "Memphis Mafia" member wrote hit pop songs and appeared in dozens of episodes of The Wild Wild West. READ MORE Before his most famous role, Cygan was a regular cast member on the short-lived Bob Newhart sitcom Bob. READ MORE Image: The Everett Collection Former game show host Hall died after a long illness at age 96. Image: AP Photo The actor also starred in 'Mr. Terrific' and provided voices for G.I. Joe and Transformers. READ MORE Image: The Everett Collection The child star appeared in 21 Our Gang shorts. Just three original Little Rascals performers are still alive. READ MORE The Scottish-born actress broke onto the scene in the '60s in Jerry Lewis comedies and beach movies. READ MORE Image: American International Rosemary Clooney's eldest son gave us great characters in 'NCIS: Los Angeles,' 'Twin Peaks' and 'RoboCop.' READ MORE The fascinating actor known for playing German officers in film and on television passed away at 91. READ MORE Image: The Everett Collection She was the Bookworm's henchwoman — and much more. READ MORE Image: The Everett Collection Lansbury also created the Bill Bixby series The Magician. READ MORE Image: AP Photo / Charles Harrity The notable television director worked on everything from The Andy Griffith Show to Knight Rider. READ MORE Image: AP Photo The singing soap opera star also appeared on Wagon Train and Battlestar Galactica. READ MORE Image: The Everett Collection The actress passed away at the age of 69. READ MORE The cowboy also played a villainous creature in Swamp Thing. READ MORE The Twilight Zone and Curb Your Enthusiasm actor was 92. READ MORE The Canadian also played a judge on Law & Order series for 13 years. READ MORE Image: The Everett Collection Her showbiz career spanned more than 80 years, but we remember her best as Sally Rogers on The Dick Van Dyke Show. READ MORE Image: The Everett CollectionPeople we have lost in 2017
Mary Tyler Moore
ADAM WEST, TV'S BELOVED BATMAN
Jim Nabors
MARTIN LANDAU, STAR OF 'MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE' AND 'SPACE: 1999'
BARBARA HALE OF 'PERRY MASON'
DELLA REESE, STAR OF 'TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL'
David Cassidy
Don Rickles
Mike Connors, star of 'Mannix'
ROBERT GUILLAUME OF 'BENSON' AND 'SOAP'
GLEN CAMPBELL, THE COUNTRY LEGEND, RHINESTONE COWBOY AND VARIETY SHOW HOST
Jerry Lewis
ERIN MORAN OF 'HAPPY DAYS' AND 'JOANIE LOVES CHACHI'
RICHARD HATCH of 'BATTLESTAR GALACTICA'
DINA MERRILL, THE BILLIONAIRE HEIRESS WHO PLAYED BATMAN VILLAIN CALAMITY JAN
Chuck Barris, host of 'The Gong Show'
MICHAEL PARKS OF 'THEN CAME BRONSON' AND 'TWIN PEAKS'
Roger Smith of '77 Sunset Strip'
RICHARD ANDERSON OF 'THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN,' 'PERRY MASON' AND 'THE FUGITIVE'
JUDGE JOSEPH WAPNER OF 'THE PEOPLE'S COURT'
ELENA VERDUGO OF 'MARCUS WELBY, M.D.'
FILM HISTORIAN ROBERT OSBORNE
LAWRENCE MONTAIGNE OF 'STAR TREK'
LOLA ALBRIGHT OF 'PETER GUNN'
CHELSEA BROWN OF 'ROWAN & MARTIN'S LAUGH-IN'
R.I.P. JAY THOMAS OF 'CHEERS,' 'MORK & MINDY' AND 'MURPHY BROWN'
John Hillerman of 'Magnum, P.I.'
TY HARDIN, STAR OF THE TV WESTERN 'BRONCO'
BERNIE CASEY OF 'BRIAN'S SONG', STAR TREK AND THE FIRST BLACK FAMILY DRAMA ON TV
PETER HANSEN OF 'GENERAL HOSPITAL' AND 'GOMER PYLE, U.S.M.C.'
JUNE FORAY, THE VOICE OF ROCKY THE FLYING SQUIRREL
RANCE HOWARD, ACTOR AND FATHER OF RON HOWARD
RED WEST, THE ELVIS PRESLEY BODYGUARD WHO PLAYED THE PERFECT TV TOUGH GUY
JOHN CYGAN OF 'THE COMMISH' AND 'BOB'
Monty Hall of 'Let's Make a Deal'
Dick Gautier, Hymie the Robot from 'Get Smart'
LEONARD LANDY, THE RED-HAIRED, FRECKLE-FACED MEMBER OF THE LITTLE RASCALS
QUINN O'HARA OF 'THE GHOST IN THE INVISIBLE BIKINI'
MIGUEL FERRER, SON OF JOSÉ FERRER AND ROSEMARY CLOONEY
CURT LOWENS, HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR, WAR HERO AND 'HOGAN'S HEROES' ACTOR
Francine York, 'Batman' actress and 1960s star
BRUCE LANSBURY, BROTHER OF ANGELA, PRODUCER OF 'WONDER WOMAN' AND 'WILD WILD WEST'
JEFFREY HAYDEN, DIRECTOR OF ALL OF OUR FAVORITE TV EPISODES
ANNE JEFFREYS OF 'TOPPER,' 'DICK TRACY' AND 'GENERAL HOSPITAL'
ELIZABETH BAUR OF 'IRONSIDE' AND 'LANCER'
BEN BATES, JAMES ARNESS' LONGTIME STUNTMAN AND FORMER MARLBORO MAN
SHELLEY BERMAN, GRAMMY-WINNING COMEDIAN AND EMMY-NOMINATED TELEVISION VETERAN
HARVEY ATKIN, THE MUSTACHIOED ACTOR OF 'CAGNEY & LACEY'
Rose Marie
0 Comments
