Jacquelin Ray was too beautiful for ordinary life. Tall, pretty, and charismatic, it was only a matter of time before the doors of modeling and acting opened up for her. She also got married to one of Hollywood’s royalty; Tom Sellek.
That was before she lost it all, and went to prison for 18 years!
Here’s what happened…
Jacquelin Ray’s Profile at a Glance
Here’s everything we know about the ex-model, actress, and ex-wife of Tom Sellek: Jacqueline Ray.
| Name | Jacqueline Mary Ray |
| Date of Birth | January 26, 1945 |
| Age (in 2024) | 79 years old |
| Place of Birth | Burbank, California, US |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 5’7” |
| Weight | 121 lb |
| Body measurements | 36-24-26 in |
| Hair Color | Blonde |
| Eye color | Blue |
| Marital Status | Divorced three times |
| Spouses | Tom Shepard, Tom Selleck, Clarence Barry Witmer |
| Children | Kevin Selleck and Umeko Ray |
| Known for | Model, actress, Tom Selleck’s ex-wife, convicted and jailed celebrity |
| Net worth | $5 million |
Jacqueline Ray’s Early Life
Jacqueline Ray was born Jacqueline Mary Ray on January 26, 1945 (79 years at the time of writing), in Burbank, California.
As usual, once we hear California, we can already predict a famous person in the making. Burbank, known for its proximity to Hollywood, was an ideal setting for someone destined to be part of the entertainment industry.
We couldn’t gather much about her educational background since specific details about her education are scarce. It was in the 1950s… after all.
However, it’s common for people in her field to have some exposure to performing arts during their formative years. So we’ll assume that’s what she had.
Jacqueline Ray’s Career Beginnings
Jacqueline’s career started in modeling, appearing in commercials and print ads. She didn’t achieve much until her first acting debut in the late 1960s when she landed a role in In Like Flint (1967).
It wasn’t a significant role, but it did expose her face to the media, especially since she quickly switched from modeling to acting and felt like a natural. Following Flint, she appeared in these productions:
- Marcus Welby M.D. (1973) (the series itself lasted from 1969 to 1976)
These minor or side roles slowly but indeed created her career as an actress until she starred in Magnum, P.I., a series that aired from 1981 to 1983. She starred alongside her then-husband, Tom Selleck. Now that we have mentioned Selleck let’s get to their meeting.
Jacqueline Ray’s Marriage from Tom Selleck
Jacqueline Ray and Tom Selleck‘s love story began in the early 1970s; both were kicking up their career in the entertainment industry. They met in 1970, and their connection blossomed quickly. After dating for about a year, they tied the knot on May 15, 1971.
At the time, Tom was gaining fame for his role in Magnum, P.I., which would later become a defining part of his career.
Note that, at this time, Ray already had a son named Kevin S. Shepard from her previous marriage to Tom Shepard. They married in 1964 when she was just 19 years old and had Kevin in 1966. However, their relationship faced challenges, and they divorced in July 1968.
When he married her in 1971, Tom Selleck was Ray’s second husband. Once married, Tom adopted Jacqueline’s son from her first marriage, changing his name from Kevin S. Shepard to Kevin Selleck.
The Beginning of the End
Tom’s role as Thomas Magnum in the hit television series Magnum, P.I. catapulted him into the spotlight. Suddenly, he was not just a working actor; he was a household name adored by everyone.
The attention he received was overwhelming, and while it brought him success, it also created an emotional distance between him and Jacqueline.
Jacqueline had her career as a model and actress, but as Tom’s fame grew, she became increasingly overshadowed.
Reports suggest that she began to feel neglected and insecure. The late-night shoots, promotional events, and fan interactions left little time for the couple to connect. Jacqueline often felt like she was living in Tom’s shadow.
In interviews later, Tom reflected on this period, acknowledging that the demands of fame were exhausting. He described how everything he did was scrutinized and photographed, making it hard to maintain personal relationships.
The Decision to Separate
After years of struggling with a strenuous relationship, the couple reached a breaking point. On August 10, 1982, Tom filed for divorce after 11 years of marriage. It was a painful decision for both of them; Tom later described the divorce as “one of the greatest sorrows” of his life.
He had hoped for a lifelong partnership with Jacqueline but realized their paths had diverged too far. Fortunately, despite their separation, there remained a sense of mutual respect between them.
In later years, Jacqueline spoke candidly about the complexities of marrying someone so famous. She acknowledged that while there were beautiful memories from their time together, the pressures of Hollywood and fame created a challenging environment to sustain a marriage.
Jacqueline’s Life After the Divorce
With the divorce behind her, Jacqueline focused on her career and raising her son, Kevin. She continued to act, taking roles in various TV shows and movies. She appeared in the following TV shows:
In 1992, Jacqueline married for the third time and had a daughter with her new husband, Umeko Ray. The marriage didn’t last long and ended in divorce like the preceding times.
Unfortunately, the daughter’s marriage went sour, and Jacqueline saw her daughter and grandchildren badly abused.
Committing a Crime, In Reality
It seems that Jacqueline was much too affected by all the drama she performed on the big screen that she eventually took tragedy to the real world.
Having had enough of her son-in-law’s transgression and violence, Jacquelin hired a hitman to take out the real-life villain. In her mind, she thought she could get away with murder. She called her daughter’s husband into the house and told the criminal to finish him off.
The hitman did what he was told, shot the son-in-law, and disposed of the body in a ditch. The police found out, and Jacquelin was taken in for investigation and trial.
During the court hearings, various people pleaded with the judge and jury to be more lenient with Jacqueline. The actress herself explained that her daughter’s husband was a real threat to his wife and children. This didn’t sway the judge, though; in 2014, Ray was sentenced to 18 years.
Where Is Jacqueline Ray?
Jacqueline Ray, Tom Sellek’s ex-wife, is still in prison, as her 18-year sentence should end in 2032. The actress is currently 79 years old, which means that at the time of her release, she should be 89 years old.
Would anyone still remember Jacqueline Ray after eight more years of being away? Probably not, but there’s a lot to learn from her life story. It’s a pretty tragic ending to a life that started so well.
