John Hillerman, a renowned actor, is best recognized for his portrayal of the refined and urbane Englishman Jonathan Quayle Higgins III, VC, in the popular television series Magnum, P.I. (1980). Hillerman's ancestry is a mix of French, German, and Austrian, and he was raised in a small Texas town.
He attended a Catholic high school and later majored in journalism at the University of Texas. Before pursuing his acting career, Hillerman served in the Air Force from 1953 to 1957, stationed at Ft. Worth. During his time in the Air Force, he landed a role in a community theatre production of "Death of a Salesman" and discovered his passion for acting.
Hillerman's photographic memory proved to be a significant asset, allowing him to learn his lines quickly. He could memorize a page of dialogue in just a minute. However, he faced the challenge of his Texas accent, which he worked to overcome by studying elocution under the guidance of voice coach Fanny Bradshaw.
After his military service, Hillerman moved to New York, where he spent a year trying to lose his drawl. He lived a modest lifestyle, taking up residence in a lower East Side tenement and surviving on homemade turkey soup. Despite the difficulties, Hillerman continued to work on his craft, performing on stage for fifteen years before deciding to take a chance and head to Hollywood.
His breakthrough role came when he was cast in Peter Bogdanovich's The Last Picture Show (1971). He went on to appear in several notable films, including Blazing Saddles (1974) and Chinatown (1974),which solidified his reputation as a talented character actor.
Hillerman's first recurring television role was as Simon Brimmer in the TV series Ellery Queen (1975). He is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Jonathan Quayle Higgins III in Magnum, P.I., which remains his favorite and most iconic role.
