Why T.C. From Magnum P.I. Looks So Familiar

The "Magnum P.I." reboot probably won't have the same impact on popular culture as the original series had back in the day. The '80s series lasted for eight years and was one of the most popular shows of its era. The updated "Magnum P.I." was canceled by CBS earlier this year, having lasted only four seasons on the air.

Starring Jay Hernandez as Thomas Magnum, the reboot follows a former Navy SEAL who embarks on a career as a private investigator in Hawaii after stepping away from the military. Elsewhere, Stephen C. Hill plays Theodore "T.C." Calvin, a former Marine and pilot who runs helicopter tours on the aforementioned island. Whenever trouble is afoot, the pair team up and save the day.

"Magnum P.I." has been Hill's most notable role to date. Prior to landing the gig on the action series, however, he appeared on other shows that most connoisseurs of television will be familiar with. With that in mind, let's take a look at the actor's greatest hits.

In Hollywood, the road to the top begins with guest roles on police procedural shows. It's a rite of passage of sorts as there are many A-list actors who graced "Law & Order: SVU" before they became household names. Stephen Hill is no different, and he's one of the performers who's appeared on the series more than once.

Per IMDb, Hill had guest starred on two episodes of NBC's long-running crime series. The first one, titled "Possessed," aired in 2011 and saw the actor play a hospital guard. It was nothing more than a cameo appearance, but he must have made an impression on the show's creators as they brought him back.

The actor's second outing on "Law & Order: SVU" came seven years later when he was hired for Season 19's episode "Chasing Demons" episode, which saw his role upgraded. In this one, he played a handyman named Glanville, who raises the suspicion of the show's detectives after his fishing knife goes missing.

Netflix produces lots of content, so it's easy to overlook or forget about some of the original movies and series that have graced the streaming platform throughout the years. "Maniac," a darkly comedic sci-series starring Jonah Hill and Emma Stone, is one underrated Netflix gem that deserves a spot on your watchlist.

While Stone and Hill are the stars of the show, Stephen Hill does appear in eight episodes as a test subject known as 7. He's part of a pharmaceutical trial that aims to determine whether pills can replace cognitive-behavioral treatments for people experiencing psychological trauma. His character doesn't receive much dialogue, but he can be found in several scenes towering over the other subjects due to his impressive height. He also shares some sound advice at times, such as informing one of his fellow subjects to "stay out of [their] cat's uterus" while they eat dinner.

While Hill's role was that of a bit-part character, the project saw him mix it up with some of Hollywood's biggest stars. Plus, he got to be part of a series that defies classification due to its sheer originality. 

The original "Magnum P.I." turned Tom Selleck into a household name. Therefore, it's only fitting that one of the stars of the reboot series appeared in an episode of Selleck's current hit show. Stephen Hill is one of many actors you forgot showed up on "Blue Bloods," but he did get to share some screen time with the show's main event players.

Hill can be found in Season 6's "Stomping Grounds" episode, which revolves around Frank (Selleck) dealing with an old friend who shot a mugger. Another storyline sees Baez (Marisa Ramirez) hunting down the criminal who killed her friend 25 years ago. Hill's character, Detective Ted Foster, assists Baez and Danny (Donnie Wahlberg) at a crime scene and tells them all about the neighborhood.

The Foster character only shows up for a couple of minutes, but he provides his fellow investigators with helpful information that allows them to proceed with their investigation.