The most dashing TV detectives of the ’80s – where are they now?

Magnum P.I. was a hit crime show in the ’80s set in Hawaii. Its lead was Tom Selleck. The actor, who is known for his bushy mustache, starred as private investigator Thomas Magnum. Magnum P.I. was on air for eight years and is still thought of as a beloved cop drama.

Decades later, Tom, 81, is still acting. He just announced his return to TV after a two-year hiatus. The Blue Bloods actor is set to join an untitled Apple TV show alongside Elizabeth Banks, Ted Danson, Rob Delaney, and Katey Sagal. Outside of acting, Tom spends his time with his wife of almost 40 years, Jillie Mack. The actor is also a father of two – his adopted son Kevin, who he shares with his first wife Jacqueline Ray, and his daughter Hannah, who he shares with Jillie.

Don Johnson, 76, was launched into stardom when he starred as undercover cop Sonny Crockett. At 35-years-old, he landed the role on Miami Vice and quickly became a fixture of Hollywood. After the show wrapped in 1989, Don went on to have a successful career. He starred in another cop drama, Nash Bridges, for several years before appearing in critically loved films Django Unchained and Knives Out. Most recently, Don starred in Doctor Odyssey alongside Joshua Jackson.

In his personal life, Don’s been married five times to four different women, including actress Melanie Griffith. The actor is a proud father of five children, including actress Dakota Johnson, who he shares with Melanie.

Before he was James Bond, Pierce Brosnan was Remington Steele. The Irish actor starred as a mysterious detective in the cop drama alongside Stephanie Zimbalist. Remington Steele was on air for five seasons before he landed the coveted role of James Bond.

These days, Pierce is a Hollywood A-lister. He recently starred in the movie adaptation of the book The Thursday Murder Club and ‘s set to appear in the upcoming action thriller Extraction 3 alongside Chris Hemsworth. While the Mamma Mia actor has lived on his Malibu compound with his wife Keely Shaye Smith and his five children for 26 years, Pierce recently revealed they plan to make their home on the Hawaiian Island of Kauai their permanent base.

As charismatic patrol officer Bobby Hill, Michael Warren became one of Hill Street Blues‘ most beloved characters. A regular across the entire seven-season run, Bobby’s complicated relationship with public defender Renko created some of the series’ most memorable storylines.

Before acting, Michael was a professional basketball player – and after Hill Street Blues he continued appearing on TV in shows such as Soul Food. He retired from acting in 2019 and in later years, Michael, 80, shifted toward public speaking and advocacy.

Dennis Farina starred as Lt. Mike Torello in Crime Story, which only aired for two seasons but left a lasting impression on the genre. The show followed the detective’s pursuit of an organized crime unit from Chicago to Las Vegas. After the show wrapped in 1988, Dennis went on to star in seasons 15 and 16 of Law & Order.

In 2013, Dennis died from a pulmonary embolism when he was 69. The actor is survived by his sons, Dennis Jr., Michael, and Joseph.

Paul Michael Glaser brought Detective David Starsky to life between 1975 and 1979 in one of the decade’s best-loved detective dramas opposite David Soul‘s Kenneth ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson. But Paul isn’t just beloved as the famous detective, his other notable ’70s roles include Fiddler on the Roof (1971), The Great Houdini (1976) and Butterflies are Free (1972).

Paul hasn’t acted on screen since appearing in Ray Donovan, which wrapped in 2019. When asked if he retired from acting, Paul, 83, told The Hollywood Reporter in 2019: “People ask me, ‘What’s your favorite: acting, directing or writing?’ My answer: What life occurs. It’s what happens. You never know when something will cross your path. I try to stay open to everything.”

While he may be best known for his turn as Captain James T. Kirk in the Star Trek franchise, William Shatner got his start as police officer T.J. Hooker. The series began airing in 1982 on ABC and ran for five seasons (switching to CBS for its final season) until 1986, with 91 episodes in total released, and now, a cinematic revival.

The beloved actor is now 95 and co-hosts a wellness and longevity podcast, No Time But Now, with his daughter Melanie Shatner Gretsch. William has faced health issues in recent years. In 2023, William was diagnosed with stage 4 malignant melanoma that had spread to his lungs and brain. His diagnosis came a year after Melanie was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer