Flashback: Angela Lansbury Guest-Starred on “Magnum P.I.” in Epic Crossover With “Murder, She Wrote”

The world lost a true legend on Tuesday, when the Hollywood star Dame Angela Lansbury passed away at the age of 96. As we mourn this devastating loss, we’re taking time to remember one of the most fun moments of her career, which was the crossover episodes of her hit show Murder, She Wrote with Tom Selleck’s equally popular Magnum P.I. show in the ’80s. 

Magnum, She Wrote…Angela Lansbury and Tom Selleck in 1986. 📺 pic.twitter.com/kZWAGn0Lbu

— Groovy History (@GroovyHistory) August 16, 2019

‘Murder, She Wrote’ And ‘Magnum P.I.’ Crossover

The two crossover episodes aired in November of 1986, which each show getting one of the episodes. In the Magnum P.I. episode “Novel Connection,” which aired on November 19 of that year, Lansbury’s character of Jessica Fletcher helped Magnum (Selleck) investigate an attempt on the life of Higgins (John Hillerman) and some of his guests.

This episode was continued the next week in the Murder, She Wrote episode titled “Magnum On Ice,” in which Jessica tried to prove Magnum innocent of some brutal murders. Check out a fun mashup of clips from this episode in the video below!

This crossover occurred in season 3 of Murder, She Wrote — for which Lansbury won the Golden Globe  for Best Actress in a Television Drama. She would ultimately take home four Golden Globes during the 12 years that the crime drama series was on the air. While Lansbury was nominated for 18 Emmy Awards for her work on Murder, She Wrote and other television appearances, she shockingly never won once!

Related:  ‘Murder She Wrote’ And ‘ Beauty And The Beast’ Actress Dame Angela Lansbury Dead At 96

Angela Lansbury starred with Tom Selleck’s Magnum PI twice – once on each of their shows (amazing) – but which ep should we watch tonight in Ang’s honour? pic.twitter.com/5WIoy7IWTX

— Chris Chapman (@ChrisChapman81) October 12, 2022

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Selleck Quits ‘Magnum P.I.’

While this crossover happened early in the run of Murder, She Wrote, it came towards the end of Magnum P.I.‘s run, which was already in its seventh season. The show would come to an end two years later in 1988, when Selleck decided to take a step back from Hollywood so that he could spend more time on his ranch with his family.

“I quit ‘Magnum,’ not because I didn’t like it or I was tired of it,” Selleck told People Magazine in 2020. “I was tired from it. And I wanted a three-dimensional life because I didn’t have one.”

Describing himself as a “fairly private person,” Selleck added, “I’ve always treasured the balance between work and time with my family. It’s always about them.”

Happy Birthday to Tom Selleck and his formidable mustache! Murder, She Wrote & Magnum, P.I. crossover is a

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