MagnumFan wrote:He obviously had great acting chops, to be a 48 year old Texan portraying a 60 year old upper class British veteran and aristocrat. Why didn't Hillerman have the lead, or at least a major supporting role in any major picture?
Hi MagnumFan,
There are only so many lead roles to go around. And a short, toupee wearing, average looking Texan isn't going to score the romantic lead and bag Julia Roberts. A roue he ain't.
99% of actors have to work second jobs and hope to get one acting gig a year, just ask the staff at any Manhattan bar/cafe.
However a really good character actor can have a much longer career than most stars, making a lot of moolah. Harry Morgan,Vito Scotti, Albert Salmi, Ben Johnson, Leo Gordon, as soon as you see their faces you may not know their names, but you have seen them scores of times on tv reruns.
John Hillerman has had a pretty good career, struck gold with Magnum against all the odds, maybe he wanted to enjoy his wife(?) and family and take a early retirement.
Reminds me of that wealthy widow who had no family after her husband died, so she paid for a permanent berth on the Queen Elizabeth and it's sister ocean liners. She lives on them full time, every need taken care of, first class medical facilities on board, constant flow of new people to meet and places to see.
Not my cup of tea, but maybe the leisure life is best for her and Hillerman.
I wish he had kept acting, I have been a fan of his since he nailed his part in Ellery Queen in 1975.