Tom Selleck fought hard against taking on the role that has defined his career. “It was written by Glen Larson,” Selleck explained, “who’s a good guy, but wasn’t my kind of writer.” Garner told him that he’d “never have more power than you do right now,” to get the script the way he wanted it. Selleck won a Primetime Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award for the role, which turned him into a major Hollywood leading man of the 1980s. Selleck said that if there hadn’t been major changes made to Magnum, he would have left the role behind as soon as possible.