Tom Selleck is not gay. However, in the late 1980s, a different kind of attention was drawn to him after a tabloid published a report claiming he was gay.
Although he outrightly rebuffed the claims and tried to set the records straight, many questions still surround Tom Selleck’s sexuality. Read on for more on the famed actor’s sexuality and romantic life.
Is Tom Selleck Gay?
No, Tom Selleck is not gay. Although the doubts about his sexuality have lingered on for too long, several indisputable facts are clear indicators of his heterosexuality.
Tom Selleck is currently married to his wife of 37 years, Jillie Mack, with whom he has a biological daughter. Besides that, he was previously married to famous actress Jacqueline, and adopted her son.
The fact that Selleck has been married twice to two different women, one of whom he has a child with, is enough evidence that he is as straight as he claims to be.
Here is Why People Think Tom Selleck is Gay
Just about the time that Tom got his big break as a Hollywood actor, his young career was nearly burnt down to the ground after rumors of him being homosexual spread across the internet. The rumors were originated by a group of gay activists who were calling out celebrities who were reportedly gay.
They anonymously printed placards with the photos of several celebrities they claimed were gay and pasted them all over New York City. Sadly, Tom was one of the celebrities who were caught in this scandal. Gay rumors about him were further popularized after a tabloid magazine called him out for being gay.
On July 3, 1991, The Globe published an article titled “‘Gay’ Stars Stop Traffic” to out alleged gay celebrities. The article featured photos of Tom and other celebrities who appeared on the placards posted anonymously, with the caption “Absolutely Queer” under most of them. Coming from a magazine with a circulation of over 1.2 million, it was only a matter of time before “‘Gay’ Stars Stop Traffic” went viral. And this fueled even more doubts about Selleck’s sexuality.
Did Tom Selleck sue The Globe?
Yes, Tom Selleck sued the Globe for depicting him as homosexual. After publishing “‘Gay’ Stars Stop Traffic”, the actor contacted the supermarket tabloid, asking them to pull down the misleading article. However, The Globe called his bluff and claimed that the stories contained in the article were factual. Selleck then took his displeasure with the magazine a step further by suing them for libel.
In the suit, which was claimed to have been worth $20 million, Selleck presented a 16-page complaint against The Globe, claiming that their disparaging article was meant to hurt him and his family relationships. In addition, he also asked for unspecified damages for the hurt and embarrassment that the whole saga had caused him and his family.
Months after the complaint was laid, The Globe opted to settle the case out of court, compensating the actor with a presumably generous amount. In addition, they pulled down the article and tendered a public apology to Tom Selleck.
How Tom Selleck Faired with The Anti-gay Attack Against Him
After his issue with The Globe was put to rest, Tom Selleck was again faced with another bout of attacks. Because of how vehemently he refused to be misrepresented as gay, he was accused of being against the gay community.
Reacting to these claims, Tom reiterated that he was simply defending his identity and that could not be read as him being anti-gay. To further drive home this point, the amazing actor took up a role in the 1987 movie, In and Out, where he played the character of a gay reporter.
After much ado, Selleck was finally able to put all rumors about him being gay to rest with the release of the movie which shows how passionately he defended his gay role.
An Insight into Tom Selleck’s Marriage with Jillie Mack
Tom Selleck is currently married to his wife, Jillie Mack. The couple has been married for 54 years now, and their union is blessed with a daughter. Tom first met his wife in London, while filming for a movie.
Jillie, who was a 25-year-old high-energy dancer at the time, caught Tom’s attention after he spotted her playing the character Rumpleteazer in an on-stage performance of the musical titled Cats. A mutual interest between the two led to a couple of dates and at the end of her contract, Jillie moved in with Tom in Hawaii, while he was filming Magnum P.I.
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Jillie Mack Became Tom Selleck’s Wife in 1987
Soon after, the couple became inseparable, and in 1987, they officially tied the knot at a chapel in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Not willing to publicize their wedding, the couple got wedded under the aliases Tom Jenkins and Suzie Mark. The minister was oblivious of their true identity and the only traces of the wedding were Polaroid snapshots.
The following year, the couple welcomed their first child, a daughter named Hannah Selleck, who was born on 16 December 1988 and is currently 35 years old. More than three decades down the line, the couple are still very much in love with each other.
How many times has Tom Selleck Been Married?
Tom Selleck has been married twice so far. Before he met his current wife, he was previously married to popular veteran movie star and model, Jacqueline Ray. They got married in May 1971 after dating for a year. However, their marriage only lasted for 11 years and they finalized their divorce procedures in 1982.
How Many Children Does Tom Selleck Have?
Tom Selleck has two children; his stepson Kevin and his daughter Hannah. In the years that he was married to his first wife, Tom officially adopted Kevin Selleck, Jacqueline Ray’s son from a past relationship. And several decades after he parted ways with his first wife, Tom never annulled his adoption of her son, and has still maintained his fatherly role to him.