„You Have to Call Him”. Frank Sinatra Had One Condition to Play in Magnum P.I. TV Series

As a fan who grew up in the 80s, I can vividly recall the excitement that surrounded Magnum P.I., and the iconic figure of Thomas Magnum, portrayed by none other than Tom Selleck. But what truly made it stand out was the unexpected guest appearances, especially from legends like Frank Sinatra.


In the 1980s, Magnum P.I., featuring Tom Selleck, was a smash hit, and it attracted not only viewers but also big-name stars who desired to contribute to its production. One such star was Frank Sinatra, who presented an unusual condition for his appearance on the show, despite his own enthusiasm for being part of it. The concept of his involvement was intriguing enough that everyone agreed to cater to his demands.

In an interview with CBS, Selleck mentioned that Sinatra expressed admiration for the TV show “Magnum P.I.” and even suggested he wanted to be part of it, sharing this desire with his co-star Larry Manetti.

Larry approaches me and shares, “Frank is keen on participating in the show, but he prefers being invited personally, so you need to reach out to him.” He also mentioned that he wants to start right away. So, I told Sinatra, “It seems we’ll have to compose something for you. What would you like to perform?” To which he replied, “Doesn’t matter much to me, just make sure there’s an opportunity for me to dish out some punches.

And so, it transpired that Sinatra made an appearance in the seventeenth episode of the seventh season on Magnum P.I., portraying retired police sergeant Michael Doheny. This marked his final acting role, a choice that allowed him to indulge in a scene where he could physically confront someone – a request he had expressed. The allure of a renowned figure like Sinatra served as additional evidence of the immense popularity that the show featuring Selleck enjoyed during its run, thereby further boosting Sinatra’s own celebrity status.

The actor demonstrated even more clearly his dedication to the project and those working on it, going as far as to secretly outwit the executives at CBS, in order to ensure everyone involved was appropriately compensated for their efforts.

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2024-10-07 22:31