Magnum Mania!

Does anyone know anything about the circumstances of Jeff MacKay's death? I can't find much online.

As an aside, I always liked his characters and thought he was a great "foil" for Magnum. I sometimes wish he had been a regular character on the show instead of just recurring. If Magnum were done today where tv serials have a lot of sub-plots that carry over episode after episode, I think "Mac" or Jim Bonnick would have been great as the necessary but unsavory go-to guy for Magnum similar to the "Barry" character in Burn Notice (but less flamboyant, of course).

In the unlikely event they ever re-up Magnum, original cast or otherwise, I hope they make the recurring characters more intertwined with the rest of the show.

According to Wikipedia and other sources, it was liver failure.

In interviews, MacKay was (self admittedly) a guy who liked to have a good time, and unfortunately he must not have been able to shake it as the years passed.

In Aloha Magnum (I believe), Larry Manetti accounts for some of the goings on during Black Sheep Squadron.. A lot of guys seemed to have liked the booze. Larry had mentioned that he had a talking to, and eased up a bit prior to Magnum. John Larroquette a short while later (for good), and he's been sober ever since. I think Robert Conrad had some struggles too.

Really a bit sad and tragic. I liked him in most of his roles (save Jim Bonnick.. But Mac was great)

Doc Ibold wrote:According to Wikipedia and other sources, it was liver failure.
In interviews, MacKay was (self admittedly) a guy who liked to have a good time, and unfortunately he must not have been able to shake it as the years passed.
In Aloha Magnum (I believe), Larry Manetti accounts for some of the goings on during Black Sheep Squadron.. A lot of guys seemed to have liked the booze. Larry had mentioned that he had a talking to, and eased up a bit prior to Magnum. John Larroquette a short while later (for good), and he's been sober ever since. I think Robert Conrad had some struggles too.
Really a bit sad and tragic. I liked him in most of his roles (save Jim Bonnick.. But Mac was great)

Hi Doctor,
I am sorry to hear about McKay's problems. He was one of those actors such as Dick Van Dyke who, no matter the role, projected warmth and that one liked right off. He was so spot on as Mac, to the point I wonder if the role was written for him.
I wish Selleck would write a biography already, its surprising he hasnt done so already as agents are always looking for more income streams. We then might have the inside dope about Mac etc.

MagnumsGMTMaster wrote:Does anyone know anything about the circumstances of Jeff MacKay's death? I can't find much online.

As an aside, I always liked his characters and thought he was a great "foil" for Magnum. I sometimes wish he had been a regular character on the show instead of just recurring. If Magnum were done today where tv serials have a lot of sub-plots that carry over episode after episode, I think "Mac" or Jim Bonnick would have been great as the necessary but unsavory go-to guy for Magnum similar to the "Barry" character in Burn Notice (but less flamboyant, of course).

In the unlikely event they ever re-up Magnum, original cast or otherwise, I hope they make the recurring characters more intertwined with the rest of the show.

JJ actually started a thread back in '08 where we were sending him well wishes while he was waiting on a liver transplant.

viewtopic.php?f=12&t=885&hilit=jeff+mackay