Magnum P.I. Star Dead After Car Crash
One of the stars of the classic detective show Magnum P.I. has sadly passed away after a tragic automobile accident.
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Roger E Mosley, best known for his memorable role as “T.C.” Calvin on the 1980s hit series Magnum P.I., has passed away at the age of 83. Mosley died on Sunday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles from injuries he sustained in a car accident in nearby Lynwood three days earlier, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Mosley’s daughter Ch-a confirmed his passing in a post on Facebook and paid loving tribute to her father. In a later post, she thanked all the fans who responded to her announcement, saying “The outpouring of love and respect for my dad…is phenomenal. I’m reading everyone’s posts and smiling.”
Mosley starred in all 158 episodes of the long-running CBS series across eight seasons alongside Tom Selleck’s character of Thomas Magnum, a Vietnam Veteran who became a private investigator in Hawaii. Roger E Mosley and Larry Manetti (playing Rick Wright) were Magnum’s buddies in Vietnam, who each came to live in Hawaii as well. T.C. ran a helicopter tour guide service, and Rick managed a club. However, whenever Magnum needed help in an investigation, T.C. and Rick were there, with T.C.’s helicopter coming in handy to bail Magnum out of trouble.
Selleck, who is not on social media, has yet to comment on the passing of Mosley. John Hillerman, who played Higgins on the classic show, passed away in 2017. Mosley’s TV kids, however, did speak out on his passing. Shavar Ross (Diff’rent Strokes, Family Matters), who played his son Bryant on the series, said that Roger E Mosley “Was like family. I was honored to play his son.” He also offered prayers and condolences to his family, friends, and fans. Martina Stringer, who played T.C.’s daughter Melody in the series, also paid tribute via Twitter. “What an amazing man…R.I.P pop pop,” she wrote.
Tom Selleck himself recommended Roger E Mosley for the role of T.C., having worked with him in the 1973 film Terminal Island. Mosley did not expect the series would last and took the job to keep busy between film roles. It ended up lasting eight years until the series finale in 1988. Mosely was actually a licensed helicopter pilot, just like his character, but was not allowed to actually fly a chopper in the series.
Born in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, Mosley studied acting until he was hired by Universal. Before his star-making turn on Magnum, P.I., Roger E Mosley had a long career in television and film, beginning in 1971 with a small role in an episode of Longstreet. His TV appearances included episodes of Sanford & Son, Night Gallery, Kojack, and The Rockford Files. His movie appearances included a role as blues legend Huddie Ledbetter in Leadbelly (1976), and a number of 1970s blaxploitation films, including The Mack (1973), Hit Man (1972), Sweet Jesus, Preacherman (1973), and Darktown Strutters (1975). In 1977, he played Sonny Liston in The Greatest, a biographical film in which Muhammad Ali played himself. His other film appearances include McQ with John Wayne and Semi-Tough.
In the 1990s and 2000s, he appeared on more TV shows, including Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper and Walker: Texas Ranger. By 2010, Roger E Mosley had largely retired from acting, coming back to Hollywood briefly for two appearances in episodes of the Magnum P.I. reboot in 2019 and 2021. He is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Toni Laudermick, and three children.
