For over a decade, Tom Selleck has embodied the stoic, principled, and deeply devoted Commissioner Frank Reagan on Blue Bloods. As the series gears up for its final episodes, Selleck has been candid about the profound impact the role, and the cast, has had on him. His reflections reveal not just the dedication of a television legend, but the genuine emotional connection he feels for a character and a “family” that became central to his life.
The Bittersweet End of an Era
The news of Blue Bloods concluding after its 14th season has been met with a mix of sadness and reflection from Selleck. He’s often expressed a degree of “frustration” that a show so consistently successful was taken for granted by the network, especially given its strong ratings.
“My frustration is the show was always taken for granted because it performed from the get-go,” Selleck shared, acknowledging the show’s consistent strength.
However, beyond the business side, the emotional weight of saying goodbye is palpable. The final days of filming, particularly the last iconic family dinner scene – which was also the very first scene he shot 15 years prior – were deeply moving.
“We were shooting for hours and all of a sudden, they said ‘Well, that was the last shot,'” Selleck recounted. The set, usually bustling, fell silent. “Nobody made speeches. It seemed like something needed to be said.”
In that moment, Selleck took it upon himself to read “Love Is Not All,” a poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay, which brought many of his co-stars, including Donnie Wahlberg, to tears. “There was crying and there was an enormous amount of hugs,” he recalled.
The Unbreakable Bond with His On-Screen Family
What truly moves Tom Selleck, even more than the character of Frank Reagan, is the genuine bond he forged with his fellow actors. “The family of actors is as close as the Reagan family and the characters that they play,” he emphasized. “There isn’t a single one of them who didn’t want to come back.”
He takes pride in the atmosphere he helped cultivate on set, fostering a rare sense of camaraderie. “You set a tone early, and I’m proud to say I had something to do with that,” he stated. This respect and mutual affection among the cast members—Donnie Wahlberg, Bridget Moynahan, Will Estes, and Len Cariou—is something Selleck cherishes deeply.
Bridget Moynahan revealed a particularly touching moment: “One of the most beautiful things on that last day for me… was when Tom, who had already wrapped his final scene, came into work nonetheless when it was time for her and her on-screen brother Donnie Wahlberg to film their own final scene. We were behind a monitor… I had my arm around Tom, and he was holding onto my hands the way my dad did.”
A Legend’s Enduring Dedication
Tom Selleck’s portrayal of Frank Reagan has been a masterclass in nuanced acting, showcasing a police commissioner who is both a strong leader and a vulnerable family man. His commitment to the role remained unwavering, even after 13+ years.
“I’ve always believed that the commitment an actor makes should appear to be, ‘Here goes nothing!’ Make it look like ‘Here goes nothing.’ But it’s really ‘Here goes everything’,” Selleck mused. He admitted that he “would’ve thought that if I did a show for 15 years, the danger would be to get comfortable… It never happens.”
As the final curtains close on Blue Bloods, Tom Selleck’s legacy as Frank Reagan will undoubtedly endure. But perhaps the most touching aspect of this farewell is his heartfelt acknowledgement of the “family” he gained, both on and off screen—a testament to the deep human connections forged through years of shared dedication and storytelling.
