So long, Higgins

[Minnie]

Jonathan Hillerman has passed away.

LOS ANGELES—John Hillerman, who played stuffed-shirt Higgins to Tom Selleck’s freewheeling detective Thomas Magnum in the 1980s TV series Magnum, P.I. has died, his nephew said Thursday. Hillerman was 84.

Hillerman, who had been in declining health, died Thursday of natural causes at his home in Houston, nephew Chris Tritico said.

Besides playing manager of the Hawaiian estate that Magnum used as home base, Hillerman was known for his 1970s roles as arrogant radio show detective Simon Brimmer on the Ellery Queen series and the difficult boss on the sitcom One Day at a Time.

When Hillerman decided to retire about 17 years ago, the actor born in Denison, Texas, returned to his native state and was content leaving Hollywood behind, said his nephew. He remembered his uncle, an Air Force veteran, fondly.

“He had an outstanding sense of humour and was one of the most well-read people I ever met. You couldn’t play Scrabble with him,” Tritico said.

[bluejays]

I loved the show as a 10 year old, watching reruns with my baby sitter in the early 90's. Seemed like a nice guy.

[direwolf]

Loved that show when I was a kid.

[Dion]

[Puppet Guy]