Jonathan Higgins
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Quayle Higgins III is a fictional character
in the 1980s television series, Magnum, P.I.
portrayed by actor John Hillerman
. Hillerman won an Emmy for the role in 1987.
The character of Higgins appeared in three other television shows: Quantum Leap in 1991, Simon & Simon
in 1982, and Murder, She Wrote
in 1986.
. Brimmer was an arrogant and self-assured character who used these personality traits as a foil
to Ellery Queen (Jim Hutton
). Hillerman says playing a snob comes easy to him.
The show introduced a half brother to Higgins on two occasions. Each time the half brother was portrayed by Hillerman. The first was a Texan, and the second an Irish Priest. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
described the appearance of the Irish Priest half brother as a "gimmick".
The character served in both the Korean War
and the Indochina War (assisting the French), New Guinea, India and Kenya, among others. Higgins carried the discipline of his military background into his civilian life.
The character holds a 1947 doctorate in mathematics from Cambridge University. This was revealed when he told a pregnant woman (correctly, though misleadingly) that he was "a doctor". He owns two highly trained Dobermann
pinschers, Zeus and Apollo (A.K.A. "The Lads").
The character Higgins is the Majordomo for Robin Masters' beachfront estate on Oahu
, which is commonly referred to as Robin's Nest. After Orson Welles
(who voiced Robin Masters) died, Thomas Magnum
, a private investigator
/Head of Security for Robin's Nest, began thinking Higgins was Robin Masters. It later became a running gag
in the series after Thomas told his friends Theodore "T.C." Calvin, and Orville "Rick" Wright about his idea. In the final episode of the series, Higgins says to Magnum that he really is Robin Masters. However, despite having told him this at the beginning of the episode, Higgins tells Magnum at Rick's wedding that he lied.
. Higgins has been described as representing "the pomposity, elitism, and stuffiness of the Old Guard (literally and figuratively)". John Hillerman has stated that "Higgins in any situation thinks he's the only sane character there, and everyone else is stark raving mad".
In one episode, a Jewish rabbi recounts an encounter with a young Higgins. He describes how in 1946 Higgins refused a standing order to fire on Jewish refugees trying to reach Palestine. When asked how he could disobey, Higgins replied "I was obeying a higher law that does not permit me to shoot unarmed refugees looking for a home."
Higgins is often known for his tendencies to ramble when someone asked him a question. He usually manages to relate it usually to a story in either Korea or World War II
but sometimes other events; in one episode, when he is being robbed by people in costumes he says, "I believe I've been in a situation much like this...actually, no, this is a first...but I read about something like this once."
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
in the 1980s television series, Magnum, P.I.
Magnum, P.I.
Magnum, P.I. is an American television series starring Tom Selleck as Thomas Magnum, a private investigator living on Oahu, Hawaii. The series ran from 1980 to 1988 in first-run broadcast on the American CBS television network....
portrayed by actor John Hillerman
John Hillerman
John Benedict Hillerman is an American actor, known for his starring role on the television show Magnum, P.I.-Early life:...
. Hillerman won an Emmy for the role in 1987.
The character of Higgins appeared in three other television shows: Quantum Leap in 1991, Simon & Simon
Simon & Simon
Simon & Simon is an American detective television series starring Gerald McRaney and Jameson Parker.-History:The original 1978 pilot called Pirate's Key was set in Florida...
in 1982, and Murder, She Wrote
Murder, She Wrote
Murder, She Wrote is an American television mystery series starring Angela Lansbury as mystery writer and amateur detective Jessica Fletcher. The series aired for 12 seasons from 1984 to 1996 on the CBS network, with 264 episodes transmitted. It was followed by four TV films and a spin-off series,...
in 1986.
John Hillerman and Simon Brimmer
Although Jonathan Higgins presents as English, John Hillerman was born in Texas and served in the US Air Force. He practiced his English accent in onstage productions in Ohio before taking the accent to Hollywood. The character we know as Jonathan Higgins began life as Simon Brimmer on TV productions of Ellery Queen; which were the 1975 TV movie Ellery Queen: Too Many Suspects and the 1975-76 TV series Ellery QueenEllery Queen (TV series)
Ellery Queen is an American television detective mystery series that ran for one season from 1975 to 1976 on NBC. It starred Jim Hutton as Ellery Queen, and David Wayne as his father, Inspector Richard Queen...
. Brimmer was an arrogant and self-assured character who used these personality traits as a foil
Foil (literature)
In fiction, a foil is a character who contrasts with another character in order to highlight particular qualities of another character....
to Ellery Queen (Jim Hutton
Jim Hutton
Dana James Hutton , usually credited as Jim Hutton, was an American actor in film and television probably best remembered for his role as Ellery Queen in the 1970s TV series of the same name.-Early life and career:...
). Hillerman says playing a snob comes easy to him.
Fictional character biography
The character Higgins was born in England, probably between 1918-1920.The show introduced a half brother to Higgins on two occasions. Each time the half brother was portrayed by Hillerman. The first was a Texan, and the second an Irish Priest. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, also known simply as the "PG," is the largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.-Early history:...
described the appearance of the Irish Priest half brother as a "gimmick".
The character served in both the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
and the Indochina War (assisting the French), New Guinea, India and Kenya, among others. Higgins carried the discipline of his military background into his civilian life.
The character holds a 1947 doctorate in mathematics from Cambridge University. This was revealed when he told a pregnant woman (correctly, though misleadingly) that he was "a doctor". He owns two highly trained Dobermann
Dobermann
The Doberman Pinscher or simply Doberman, is a breed of domestic dog originally developed around 1890 by Karl Friedrich Louis Dobermann. Doberman Pinschers are among the most common of pet breeds, and the breed is well known as an intelligent, alert, and loyal companion dog...
pinschers, Zeus and Apollo (A.K.A. "The Lads").
The character Higgins is the Majordomo for Robin Masters' beachfront estate on Oahu
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
, which is commonly referred to as Robin's Nest. After Orson Welles
Orson Welles
George Orson Welles , best known as Orson Welles, was an American film director, actor, theatre director, screenwriter, and producer, who worked extensively in film, theatre, television and radio...
(who voiced Robin Masters) died, Thomas Magnum
Thomas Magnum
Thomas Sullivan Magnum IV was the main character and namesake of the popular American television series, Magnum, P.I.. Magnum was portrayed by Tom Selleck.-Early life:...
, a private investigator
Private investigator
A private investigator , private detective or inquiry agent, is a person who can be hired by individuals or groups to undertake investigatory law services. Private detectives/investigators often work for attorneys in civil cases. Many work for insurance companies to investigate suspicious claims...
/Head of Security for Robin's Nest, began thinking Higgins was Robin Masters. It later became a running gag
Running gag
A running gag, or running joke, is a literary device that takes the form of an amusing joke or a comical reference and appears repeatedly throughout a work of literature or other form of storytelling....
in the series after Thomas told his friends Theodore "T.C." Calvin, and Orville "Rick" Wright about his idea. In the final episode of the series, Higgins says to Magnum that he really is Robin Masters. However, despite having told him this at the beginning of the episode, Higgins tells Magnum at Rick's wedding that he lied.
Character
Higgins plays Magnum's foilFoil (literature)
In fiction, a foil is a character who contrasts with another character in order to highlight particular qualities of another character....
. Higgins has been described as representing "the pomposity, elitism, and stuffiness of the Old Guard (literally and figuratively)". John Hillerman has stated that "Higgins in any situation thinks he's the only sane character there, and everyone else is stark raving mad".
In one episode, a Jewish rabbi recounts an encounter with a young Higgins. He describes how in 1946 Higgins refused a standing order to fire on Jewish refugees trying to reach Palestine. When asked how he could disobey, Higgins replied "I was obeying a higher law that does not permit me to shoot unarmed refugees looking for a home."
Higgins is often known for his tendencies to ramble when someone asked him a question. He usually manages to relate it usually to a story in either Korea or World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
but sometimes other events; in one episode, when he is being robbed by people in costumes he says, "I believe I've been in a situation much like this...actually, no, this is a first...but I read about something like this once."