Why is ‘Tom Selleck dead’ trending?
ACTOR Tom Selleck gained widespread fame thanks to Magnum, P.I. and his recurring role in the 90s sitcom Friends.
With Selleck being a household name, he has been subject to multiple death hoaxes throughout the years.
Who is Tom Selleck?
Born on January 29, 1945, in Detroit, Michigan, Tom Selleck is an American actor and producer.
He studied at the University of Southern California, where he played for the USC Trojans basketball team as well as the baseball team.
He dropped out of college during his senior year and studied acting at the Beverly Hills Playhouse instead.
Prior to forging an acting career, Selleck served in the Vietnam War.
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He was part of the 160th Infantry Regiment of the California Army National Guard between 1967 and 1973.
After serving, he began taking on small roles in films and starring in commercials.
It wasn't until 1980 that he got his big break when he was cast as Thomas Magnum in Magnum, P.I.
The show lasted until 1988 and earned him five Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. He won it in 1985.
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Selleck would go on to star in various films, including notable roles in Three Men and a Little Lady, Quigley Down Under, and Mr. Baseball.
In the 1990s, he had a recurring role in Friends, in which he starred as Richard Burke, Courteney Cox's Monica Geller's older boyfriend.
He's also had prominent roles in television in recent years, including the NBC drama Las Vegas, the police procedural Blue Bloods, and the legal drama Boston Legal.
Why is 'Tom Selleck dead' trending?
Tom Selleck has fallen victim to various death hoaxes through the years, with the latest one being in November 2023.
The rumors reportedly stemmed from a Facebook page that announced his death.
"At about 11 a.m. ET on Friday (November 10, 2023), our beloved actor Tom Selleck passed away," the page read. "
"Tom Selleck was born on January 29, 1945 in Detroit. He will be missed but not forgotten. Please show your sympathy and condolences by commenting on and liking this page.”
His representatives were quick to squash the speculations, noting in a statement: "He joins the long list of celebrities who have been victimized by this hoax. He's still alive and well, stop believing what you see on the Internet."
What have fans said about the hoax?
Fans who initially believed the hoax took to social media to share their sentiments.
One wrote: "R.I.P. Tom Selleck. We lost another hero."
But there were also many who caught on to the fact that it was all just a rumor.
"Tom Selleck is not dead why does Facebook keep allowing this lying s*** to be posted," wrote one user.
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"SAD NEWS...STOP reporting Tom Selleck is dead he is not. Worse than a cheap rag tabloid," said another.
"Tom selleck is not dead stop telling lies on this site!!!" penned one exasperated fan.