Jonathan Higgins

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). Hillerman says playing a snob comes easily to him.

Fictional character biography

The character Higgins was born sometime in the year 1920. 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 he 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. His Regiment is the Yorkshire Regiment and he was awarded the Victoria Cross medal.

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 was an Irish Priest, Father Paddy McGuinness. The third was Don Luis Mongueo. A fourth named Soo Ling is mentioned but never seen.

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. Higgins carried the discipline of his military background into his civilian life. Higgins earned the rank of sergeant major in the British Army., and was in MI6 of the British Secret Service.

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

Higgins is well versed in combat techniques and both armed and unarmed combat. He expresses fondness for older British army weaponry such as the Sten gun and the Sterling SMG. However he is more than capable of using modern weaponry such as the MP5. However he does not make a habit of carrying a gun all the time like Magnum does but there is a small collection of weaponry (mostly pistols and shotguns) at the estate for him and Magnum to use as needed. Occasional episodes show Higgins utilizing less common weapons, such as a 19th century brass cannon and a samurai sword.

In regard to his personal life-Higgins once was nearly engaged to be married; years later his old flame visits him in Hawaii.

Higgins is the caretaker 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, begin to suspect Higgins was Robin Masters. It later became a long 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. This left a cliffhanger and 27 years later, still no one knows if Higgins is the mysterious and eccentric Robin Masters.

Character

Higgins plays Magnum's foil. 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 person around while everyone else is raving mad." Despite this, all four main protagonists formed close friendships, although there were the constant squabbles.

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 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."

Crossover with Murder, She Wrote

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 "Magnum On Ice". "Magnum On Ice" is the conclusion of the Magnum P.I. episode "Novel Connection" which had a crossover with Murder, She Wrote.