Tom Selleck, 70, returns to another familiar role when he makes his ninth outing as police detective Jesse Stone in a new Hallmark Channel movie, Jesse Stone: Lost in Paradise, which premieres Oct. 18.
What makes Jesse Stone so popular?
Jesse is a rather noble character; he often does the wrong thing for the right reason. People just root for him. It’s his flaws in the face of a lot of adversity that make people respond.
Jesse’s dog, Reggie, is a recurring character. Are you a dog person?
Absolutely. We have five. They have a great life because we have 60 acres. We have a German shepherd, an English cocker and three Cavalier King Charles spaniels.
Audiences love how each episode of Blue Bloods features a family-dinner scene.
When I was younger, we had family dinners. There are people who had that and don’t have that anymore that look at it nostalgically. There are people who never had it that wish they had it, and there are people who still have it. For all those people, it is very grounding.
Loyalty is a word that comes up in connection to you.
I’ve always considered that important. When I screen-tested for Raiders of the Lost Ark and it conflicted with Magnum, P.I., I looked up my contract [and turned down the movie role]. I owed a certain loyalty to people who had risked hiring me for Magnum. Even if you’re not rewarded for that, you feel a little better when you look at yourself in the mirror.
See Previously Unpublished Pictures of Diana Dancing With Tom Selleck and Clint Eastwood
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