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| John Hillerman played Jonathan Quayle Higgins, the foil for private investigator Thomas Magnum, for eight seasons on "Magnum P.I." Source: www.picsofcelebrities.com (may be subject to copywright) |
“Magnum PI” was one of the most popular detective shows of the 1980s,
and a big part of that was Jonathan Quayle Higgins, the major domo of the
estate private investigator Thomas Magnum lived on.
Higgins was not so much Magnum’s boss, as his overseer, foil,
babysitter, and eventually – friend.
One of his trademarks was the three-word phrase he exclaimed when
Magnum vexed him: “Oh – my – god!”
Last year, John Hillerman passed away. His death, and the re-boot of
“Magnum P.I.” in September, have brought back great memories of the actor, who
may have played a British role, but was actually a Texan with a long career.
The years before
The first time I saw John Hillerman was when he played Betty White’s
husband on her short-lived series “The Betty White Show”. He appeared as her
one-time husband for 14 episodes. I don’t remember much, other than he did not
have an English accent. He also played Mr. Conners, one of two of Ann Romano’s
bosses at the ad agency she worked at on “One Day at a Time”, from 1976 to
1980. Again, I recalled no English accent.
Major domo
The first time I ever saw anything about “Magnum PI” was a commercial
in the summer of 1980 on Channel 13 CFCN. There was this guy in a Hawaiian
shirt, struggling to get his key to open a locked Ferrari with two Dobermans
bearing down on him. Of course that guy was Thomas Sullivan Magnum.
The premise was simple. He was a private investigator who lived on the
estate of Robin Masters, an internationally renowned author with holdings all
over the world. Magnum served as Robin’s head of security on the estate, and
lived in the estate’s guesthouse. The estate was overseen by Jonathan Quayle
Higgins, Robin’s major domo, played by John Hillerman.
The Ferrari belonged to Robin Masters, but Magnum could use it, under
Higgins’ watchful eye. Higgins was also the master of those two Dobermans, Zeus
and Apollo, and he delighted in watching them torment Magnum. In fact, he did
not seem that thrilled at having Magnum around at all.
That would change.
It’s complicated
The relationship between Higgins and Magnum evolved over time. As the
seasons wore on, the usual comedic moments that would earn an “Oh my god!” were
supplemented. There were episodes where Magnum, or one of his friends, was in
trouble and Higgins helped out. There were episodes where Higgins was in
trouble, and Magnum helped him.
They had a lot more in common than it first appeared. Magnum had
served in special forces in Vietnam, while Higgins had served in a similar role
for MI-5 in the Second World War.
One of the enduring mysteries, that was never really laid to rest, was
the possibility that Higgins was Robin Masters. That would have put things in a
different light.
Memorable moments
As the years wore on, there were episodes that focused on Higgins.
None were more interesting, or funny, as the ones featuring his half brothers.
You see Higgins’ father, also a military man, had dalliances all over the
world. The first by-product of one of those affairs was Elmo Ziller, Higgins’
half brother from Texas. It was the only time in the series we got to hear what
John Hillerman actually sounded like. Later, we met Father Paddy McGuinness, a
half brother who was an Irish priest, and even a Spanish half-brother named Don
Luis Mongueo. There is also reference to another brother, Soo Ling, but he is
never seen.
There was also a cross-over episode with “Murder, She Wrote”, where
Higgins tried to romance mystery writer Jessica Fletcher, a cross-over episode
with “Simon and Simon”, that guest starred Morgan Fairchild, and much more.
For his efforts, Hillerman was nominated for an Emmy for best supporting
actor in a drama series for the role in 1984, 1985, 1986, and finally winning
in 1987. He won a Golden Globe for the role in 1982, and was nominated again in
1983, 1985, 1987, and 1988.
Not good English
It is simply amazing that John Hillerman is not English. He spent a
lot of time and effort learning that particular brand of British accent, and
for that he should be commended. It was quite the performance he turned in as
retired British military when he was actually a kid from Texas.
The years after
Hillerman would also do the standard turn in a variety of guest roles on
weekly TV shows, most notably as the villain Monocle in the pilot for “Tales of
the Gold Monkey” in 1982. He would later on play the grandfather on the sitcom
“The Hogan Family” in 1990 for a season.
Parting thoughts
When “Magnum PI” re-booted a few months ago, it is perhaps fitting
that one major change was made.
Thomas Magnum is back, along with his friends Rick and TC, and
Lieutenant Tanaka, his some-time nemesis on the Honolulu PD. He is still
getting into trouble, and still sticking up for the under dog.
However, now, Higgins is a female, Juliet Higgins played by Perdita
Weeks.
Whether intentional or not, no one really could re-create or update
the role of Jonathan Quayle Higgins. He was one of a kind.
I am glad they didn’t even try.
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