Jonathan Higgins

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Magnum P.I. character

Jonathan Quayle Higgins III
Height:	5'6"
Jobs Held:	Major-Domo for Robin's Nest
Portrayed by:	John Hillerman
Seasons	1-8

Jonathan Quayle Higgins III, was a character in the 1980s television series, Magnum P.I. portrayed by actor John Hillerman. 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/security guard 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.

Known facts about Higgins:

He was once a Sergeant Major in the British Army.
He was present at the bridging of the River Kwai during WWII, which he claims was "nothing like the movie".
He attended the Nuremberg Trials. ("Never Again… Never Again" from season 1)
He is the heir to a Scottish peerage.
He is a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the UK's highest award for bravery in battle.
He has three half-brothers, all played by John Hillerman:
- Father Paddy McGuiness, who is a Catholic priest in Ireland.
- Elmo Ziller, a Texan rodeo owner.
- Don Luis Mongueo, an heir to the throne of Costa De Rosa in South America.
He has a sister, "married and living in Sussex with four monstrous children." (ep. 1.10)
He is referred to as "Punky" by his war buddies. (ep 3.7)
He holds a doctorate in mathematics from Cambridge University.
He owns two highly trained Dobermann pinschers, Zeus and Apollo (A.K.A. "The Lads").

Higgins is often known for his tendencies to ramble when someone asked him a question. He always manages to relate it usually to a story in either Korea or World War II, but sometimes other events. In the pilot episode it is found he had a conjoined twin, separated at birth.^[1]

He is fond of Byron and Shelley, which suggests a hidden romantic streak.

Higgins's trademark epithet is the slowly building "Oh...my...GOD!"

Higgins is loosely based on James Bond creator Ian Fleming:

Both were born into distinguished families of Scottish descent
Both left Sandhurst, the British officers academy, before graduation
Both served in the British military during World War II with careers focused on intelligence and special operations
Both retired to tropical estates after retiring from military service
Both (if rumors are to be believed) wrote a series of lurid adventure novels loosely based on their own experiences

In addition, in 1946 Higgins refused a direct order to fire on Jewish refugees trying to reach Palestine. This episode ("Torah, Torah, Torah" from season 5) resembles an experience of Patrick Dalzel-Job, reportedly one of the inspirations for James Bond, who refused an order to stop evacuation of Norwegian civilians as that country was being overtaken by the German army near the beginning of WWII.