Jonathan Higgins

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.^[1]

The character of Higgins appeared in two other television shows: Simon & Simon in 1982, and Murder, She Wrote in 1986. In addition, a 1991 episode of Quantum Leap included a Magnum P.I. fan watching a scene with Higgins in it.^[2]

John Hillerman and Simon Brimmer

Although the character is English, the actor playing him, John Hillerman, was born in Texas and served in the US Air Force. Hillerman practiced the 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 Queen. Brimmer was an arrogant and self-assured character who used these personality traits as a foil to Ellery Queen (Jim Hutton).^[3] Hillerman says playing a snob comes easy to him.^[4]

Fictional character biography

The character Higgins was born probably between 1904-1920.^[5] In the Episode "Echoes of the Mind" he reveals that he is the second son of the Duke of Perth and Baron of Perth in his own right, though the rarely uses the title. He went to school at Eton College and Sandhurst Military College, but was sent down from the latter. He volunteered for the army, but declined to take an officer's commission.

The show introduced a half brother to Higgins on three occasions. Each time the half brother was portrayed by Hillerman. The first was a Texan, Elmo Ziller. The second an Irish Priest, Figgy Pudding McGuinness. The third was Don Luis Mongueo.

The character served for 37 years in the British military in the Second World War, the Indochina War (assisting the French), New Guinea, India, and Kenya, among others.^[5] Higgins carried the discipline of his military background into his civilian life.^[6] Higgins earned the rank of sergeant major in the British Army.^{[citation needed]} It is occasionally hinted that he either had contacts with, or was a former member of the British Secret Service.

The character holds a 1947 doctorate in mathematics from Cambridge University.^[5] This is revealed when he tells a pregnant woman (correctly, though misleadingly) that he is “a doctor”.^[7] He owns two highly trained Doberman Pinschers, Zeus and Apollo (whom he refers to as "The Lads").

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, the show's writers decided to have Thomas Magnum, a private investigator and Head of Security for Robin's Nest, began suspecting 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 tells Magnum that he really is Robin Masters. However, Higgins later recants at Rick's wedding.

Character

Higgins plays Magnum's foil.^[8] Higgins has been described as representing "the pomposity, elitism, and stuffiness of the Old Guard (literally and figuratively)".^[9] John Hillerman has stated that "Higgins in any situation thinks he's the only sane character there, and everyone else is stark raving mad".^[10]

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."^[11]

Higgins is known for his tendency to ramble when someone asks him a question. He usually manages to relate it 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 costume 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."^{[citation needed]}

Murder, She Wrote Crossover

Higgins is revealed to be a fan of Jessica Fletcher in the crossover episode with Murder, she Wrote and helped her free Magnum from prison in the Murder, She Wrote episode.

References

Further reading

• Heroes, Monsters & Messiahs, Page 220 by Elizabeth Hirschman - 2000
• Harry and Wally's Favorite TV shows, pages 307-307 by Harry Castleman and Walter J. Podrazik - 1989
• "Jonathan Higgins Celebrity". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2011-05-30. 
• "Master Of The Snide Aside". South Florida: Sun Sentinel. July 22, 1985. Retrieved 2011-06-01. "I didn`t expect a cranky, middle-aged man to become so popular." 
• Thighs and Whiskers: The Fascination of 'Magnum, pi'  Screen (1985) 26(2): 42-59, Oxford University Press, "Finally, Magnum's bantering adversary, the overwhelmingly British Jonathan Higgins, veers between obsessive propriety and excessive gallantry, his suave sophistication and urbanity acting as a foil to Magnum's all-American naturalness, ease and spontaneity."
• Flander, Judy (April 28, 1983). "Higgins' Second 'half-brother' appears on 'Magnum P.I.'". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 15. Retrieved 2013-05-12. "The gimmick on the final season episode of "Magnum, P.I." is the sudden appearance of still another "half-brother" for Higgins...who again plays a double role."