For fourteen seasons, the Reagan family served as the moral and dramatic epicenter of CBS’s Blue Bloods. More than just a police procedural, the show was a multi-generational exploration of integrity, ethics, and faith, all anchored by the weekly Sunday Dinner—a tradition that bound police commissioners, detectives, patrol cops, and prosecutors together.
With the flagship series concluded and the new spin-off, Boston Blue, starring Donnie Wahlberg as Detective Danny Reagan, now firmly establishing itself, it’s the perfect time to review the family guide. Danny’s move from New York to Boston tests the limits of the Reagan dynasty, but his character remains defined by the legacy he left behind. Understanding the roles, relationships, and tragedies that shaped the original family is essential to appreciating the ongoing drama in Boston Blue.
Here is a comprehensive guide to the core members of the Reagan family, the positions they hold in the criminal justice system, and their connection to the new Boston-based universe.
👨💼 The Patriarchs: The Command Structure
The family legacy begins and ends with the two most senior figures, both former Police Commissioners.
Henry Reagan (Len Cariou)
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Role: Retired Police Commissioner, the patriarch of the family.
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Legacy: Henry started the modern Reagan dynasty in the NYPD, rising from a beat cop to the top job. He is the font of wisdom, delivering sage, often surprising, advice during the Sunday Dinners. He instills the code of honor and faith that guides the entire family. His wife, Betty, is deceased.
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Connection to Boston Blue: Henry remains an off-screen voice of guidance, occasionally calling Danny or Sean to offer advice. His expectations for integrity continue to influence Danny’s choices in Boston.
Frank Reagan (Tom Selleck)
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Role: New York City Police Commissioner (PC).
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Legacy: Frank is the unshakeable current face of the family’s dedication to service. He manages the political, ethical, and moral crises of the NYPD, often struggling to balance his professional duty with his paternal love for his children. He is a widower; his wife, Mary, is deceased.
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Connection to Boston Blue: Frank appears in the spin-off, primarily via video calls, serving as both a concerned father and a professional consultant when Danny’s Boston cases involve inter-state or NYPD jurisdictions. His approval (or disapproval) still carries immense weight with Danny.
🚨 Frank’s Children: The Pillars of Justice
Frank and Mary had four children, all of whom entered the criminal justice system in different, but equally challenging, roles.
Danny Reagan (Donnie Wahlberg)
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Role: Formerly an NYPD Detective 1st Grade; now transferred to the Boston Special Task Force (the lead character of Boston Blue).
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Legacy: The impulsive, hot-headed investigator. A former Marine, Danny’s methods are often reckless, but his dedication to victims is absolute. He is a widower; his wife, Linda (an ER nurse), was killed off-screen.
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Connection to Boston Blue: Danny’s move to Boston is the catalyst for the spin-off. He brings his NYPD investigative style to the Boston streets and struggles to maintain his authority over the young adult son who moved with him.
Erin Reagan (Bridget Moynahan)
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Role: New York County Assistant District Attorney (ADA).
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Legacy: The family lawyer and prosecutor. Erin is the only one of Frank’s children not in uniform, but she represents the legal arm of the justice system. Her storylines often focus on the tension between the letter of the law and her family’s police ethics. She is divorced and mother to Nicky.
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Connection to Boston Blue: Erin has made guest appearances, often when Danny needs her legal expertise on jurisdictional issues or when a case connects organized crime between New York and Boston.
Jamie Reagan (Will Estes)
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Role: NYPD Sergeant (formerly a patrol officer).
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Legacy: The Harvard Law graduate who chose the beat. Jamie represents integrity and adherence to the rule book. He is the voice of regulation, often clashing with Danny’s impulsive methods. He is married to his former partner, Eddie Janko.
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Connection to Boston Blue: Jamie and Eddie have appeared in crossover episodes, providing a direct personal connection to Danny and Sean, reminding them of the stability and routine of their New York life.
Joe Reagan (deceased)
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Role: Former NYPD Detective with the Warrants Squad.
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Legacy: Though killed in the line of duty before the start of Blue Bloods, Joe’s death looms large, serving as a constant reminder of the ultimate sacrifice and the reason behind the Reagan family’s caution and vigilance. He is the emotional ghost that drives the family’s dedication.
🧒 The New Generation: The Future of the Family
The third generation is now coming of age, with two members permanently defining the trajectory of Boston Blue.
Sean Reagan (Mika Amonsen, previously Andrew Terraciano)
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Role: Boston Police Department Patrol Officer (main cast member of Boston Blue).
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Legacy: Danny’s youngest son. In Boston Blue, Sean has followed the family legacy, moving to Boston for his police career (due to an NYPD hiring freeze). He is now the fifth generation of Reagans in uniform.
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Connection to Boston Blue: Sean is a central figure in the spin-off. His attempts to establish his own identity and independence as a rookie cop—even demanding his father move out of their shared apartment—provide the core personal drama for Danny. He is partnered with Jonah Silver, linking him directly to the new Boston-based Silver family (the city’s equivalent of the Reagans).
Jack Reagan (Tony Terraciano)
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Role: Danny’s older son.
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Legacy: Less involved in policing than his brother, Jack’s story often focused on his college career and a path outside of law enforcement.
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Connection to Boston Blue: Jack is currently living in New York or out of state. He is mentioned but is not a core crossover character, representing the part of Danny’s family that has remained in New York.
Joe Hill (Will Hochman)
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Role: NYPD Detective (Frank’s grandson via his late son, Joe Reagan).
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Legacy: The latecomer to the family, his existence was discovered in later seasons of Blue Bloods. He is a talented, ethical cop who embodies his father’s dedication.
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Connection to Boston Blue: Joe Hill has not yet made an appearance but remains a key potential crossover asset, especially if Danny needs assistance on a complex New York/Boston joint operation involving a detective outside of his immediate family circle.
🔑 The Boston Blue Equation
The shift to Boston Blue is more than a change of scenery; it’s a test of the Reagan family’s resilience at a distance. Danny’s new life is defined by the Silver family—a Boston law enforcement dynasty led by a District Attorney and a Police Superintendent—who are the Boston Blue equivalents of the Reagans.
By bringing Danny and Sean to Boston and using Frank and Erin for strategic guest appearances, the spin-off maintains the essential connective tissue of service, family, and Sunday Dinner ethics, proving that the Reagan legacy is not limited to the five boroughs. It is a powerful, uncompromising tradition that travels wherever a Reagan answers the call to duty.
