The announcement of the Blue Bloods spin-off, Boston Blue, which focuses on Danny Reagan (Donnie Wahlberg) and introduces the new Silver family, has naturally prompted a wave of nostalgia for the family that started it all. For over a decade, the Reagan family of the NYPD and District Attorney’s office has been the gold standard for television’s law enforcement dramas.
Before the Silver family takes the mantle in Boston, it’s essential to remember the core, original cast of characters that defined the multi-generational Blue Bloods legacy in New York City. The show’s success was built on the backbone of these founding members, whose complex relationships at the Sunday dinner table became the show’s enduring signature.
The Patriarch and the Elder Statesman: The Foundation
The very idea of Blue Bloods is centered on the generational history of the Reagans in New York law enforcement, a history personified by its two leading men.
Frank Reagan (Tom Selleck)
The Current Police Commissioner and Patriarch. Frank Reagan, portrayed by television icon Tom Selleck, is the emotional and professional center of the show. As the New York City Police Commissioner, Frank represents the delicate balance between his duty to the city and his loyalty to his family. His storylines often revolve around high-stakes ethical dilemmas, forcing him to navigate the political pressures of his office while protecting his children from the consequences of their dangerous jobs.
Original Family Role: The ultimate authority figure. Frank’s deceased wife, Mary, is the oft-mentioned family matriarch, but Frank is the quiet force who keeps the family from tearing itself apart.
Henry Reagan (Len Cariou)
The Retired Commissioner and Grandfather. The family’s legacy is rooted in the wisdom of Henry Reagan, played by veteran actor Len Cariou. A former NYPD Police Commissioner himself, Henry serves as the sage elder, often offering Frank counsel—sometimes requested, sometimes not—rooted in decades of street experience and family history. He is the keeper of the family’s conscience and history, a role that makes him an essential presence at every Sunday dinner.
Original Family Role: The link to the past. Henry ensures the new generation honors the sacrifices made to build the Reagan dynasty.
The Middle Generation: The Commissioner’s Children
Frank and his late wife Mary had four children, though the audience only ever met three of them at the start of the series. Each child represents a different facet of the criminal justice system.
Danny Reagan (Donnie Wahlberg)
The Detective. Donnie Wahlberg’s Detective Danny Reagan is the eldest surviving son and arguably the show’s most impulsive character. As a Detective First Grade, Danny’s methods are often criticized by his sister, the prosecutor, and sometimes even by his Commissioner father. A former Marine and Iraq War veteran, Danny operates with a volatile, ‘ends justify the means’ style that generates much of the show’s weekly conflict.
Original Family Role: The loose cannon. Danny’s personal and professional life provides the dramatic thrust for many storylines, often putting him at odds with the rest of the family’s code of conduct.
Erin Reagan (Bridget Moynahan)
The Assistant District Attorney. The only daughter, Bridget Moynahan’s Erin Reagan, brings the legal and judicial perspective to the family, working as an Assistant District Attorney for the New York County District Attorney’s Office. Erin provides a crucial foil to her brothers’ police work, debating the line between justice and the letter of the law. Her struggle often centers on balancing her professional drive with her commitment to the Reagan name.
Original Family Role: The legal voice. Erin is the family member who holds the cops’ feet to the fire, ensuring that their actions can stand up in a courtroom.
Jamie Reagan (Will Estes)
The Rookie Officer. Will Estes’s Jamie Reagan was introduced as the family’s young idealist. A Harvard Law graduate who famously turned down a high-paying job to become a beat cop, Jamie represented the idea of starting from the bottom and earning the badge. He began the series as a young patrol officer, following in the footsteps of his deceased older brother. His growth from rookie to Sergeant, and his romance with his partner, Eddie Janko (Vanessa Ray), became a major long-running plot line.
Original Family Role: The new hope. Jamie embodies the possibility of a new, untainted generation carrying on the legacy.
The Missing Link and the Extended Dinner Table
While the five main cast members (Frank, Henry, Danny, Erin, and Jamie) formed the unwavering core, the Reagan family dinner table was originally rounded out by essential secondary characters.
Linda Reagan (Amy Carlson)
Danny’s Wife and Family Anchor. Before her controversial exit, Linda Reagan (Amy Carlson) was a beloved mainstay. As a non-cop, her role as an E.R. Nurse provided a window into the human toll of the Reagans’ dangerous line of work. She was Danny’s conscience, the mother to his sons, and the much-needed voice of the civilian world at the family dinners. Her departure after Season 7 left the most profound void in the original family structure.
Nicky Reagan-Boyle (Sami Gayle)
Erin’s Daughter. Sami Gayle played Nicky Reagan-Boyle, Erin’s daughter and the only female of the Reagan grandchildren introduced early in the series. Nicky’s presence provided the generational perspective of a young adult, often questioning the old-school beliefs of her grandfather and great-grandfather. Her eventual move to San Francisco in Season 10 mirrored her character’s desire to step out from under the heavy shadow of the Reagan legacy.
Jack and Sean Reagan (Tony and Andrew Terraciano)
Danny and Linda’s Sons. The two sons of Danny and Linda, Jack and Sean, were present from the very beginning, ensuring that the next generation of potential “Blue Bloods” was literally seated at the dinner table. Their coming-of-age stories—from grade school boys to young men navigating career choices—helped ground the family in the realities of raising children in New York.
The Missing Brother: Joe Reagan
The original structure of the show is built upon the ghost of Joe Reagan, Frank’s second-eldest son and an NYPD detective who was murdered in the line of duty before the events of the series premiere. Joe’s death—and the subsequent cover-up by a corrupt police faction known as the Blue Templar—is the catalyst that pushes Jamie to join the force and is an emotional scar on the entire family. Joe remains an integral, though unseen, member of the original Reagan family.
A Legacy of Justice Before the Silver Family
The impending focus on the Silver family in the Boston Blue spin-off marks a significant shift, introducing a new dynasty of law enforcement alongside Danny Reagan. However, the original Reagan family of New York, a group defined by their unwavering loyalty, professional clashes, and the ritual of the Sunday dinner, will always be the blueprint for the franchise.
The original cast—Tom Selleck, Donnie Wahlberg, Bridget Moynahan, Will Estes, and Len Cariou, along with Amy Carlson, Sami Gayle, and the Terraciano brothers—created a television dynasty that successfully explored the difficult intersection of duty, family, and justice. Their compelling dynamic is the legacy that Boston Blue will now build upon.
