Donnie Wahlberg, Tom Selleck, Bridget Moynahan, and more reflect on their favorite Blue Bloods memories

Tom Selleck (Frank Reagan)

My favorite Blue Bloods memory: I think it was just really the continuity. I mean, there's a million moments, but it was that constant kind of cumulative effect the show had on all of us. That is my fondest memory. I know that doesn't fit in a little box, but it wasn't like a light bulb went off one day and I said, oh, this is the best moment. There were so many. I think that I looked forward to working with Frank Reagan's universe and Abigail, Greg, and Robert. That had its own ritual. And we had our family dinners, and anytime I had a scene with Len, too. Donnie always said, "Guaranteed, the audience will be entertained if you'd put two members of the Reagan family together in any scene," and those were two in particular, regardless of whatever plot we were doing and we were working in.

What I'll miss the most: On an ensemble like this, you could go three, four weeks and never see some of your fellow actors. It's just work on different days and all on Blue Bloods every eight days, which is how long it took to do an episode, you were all going to get together at that family dinner table. And that's what I think I'll miss most. I knew we all could kind of do our work in the family dinner scenes, but also kind of catch up with each other and it really cemented the relationship and was, I think, the key to the show and the show's success.

Donny Wahlberg (Danny Reagan)

My favorite Blue Bloods memory: Directing an episode was really incredible for me. I think that experience, while I was prepared to direct it, also really let me into the other side of television. I got to sit in with the writers and to sit in with all the different departments and see the show from a different perspective than what an actor typically views it from, and that was very eye-opening. It taught me a lot and it gave an even greater appreciation for a lot of what the other departments do on the show.

That first dinner scene is always something that's going to stand out for me, too. It really was a test for all of us because it was the first scene we ever did together. So we're supposed to be this family that's been together all of our lives and most of us didn't know each other. Fortunately, I knew Bridget really well, and my biggest conflict as Danny Reagan in the scene was with her, so we were prepared to do that. But no one's prepared to sit there and yell across the table at some other person while Tom Selleck is sitting at the head of the table scowling at you. We had to all jump right into the deep end and just let go and not hold anything back in that first dinner scene. We had to be as if we had always been a family, and in committing so hard right out of the gate, I think it set the tone for us. In hindsight, had that dinner scene not been first, I don't know where the show goes. I don't know that it has the same result or journey.

What I'll miss the most: Being on set with our crew. It was so fun to go to work. We had long days, oftentimes in horrible weather, and we just really supported each other and laughed and had as much fun as we can within the confines of the set or the confines of the city. New York was an amazing place to shoot —super challenging for the crew — and they always rose to the occasion no matter what the situation, and I will miss them a lot.

The camera could be rolling on a scene. They say "Cut." I start speaking to a camera operator and learn that his mom is in the hospital and struggling, or the sound guy's son is leaving for college and it's going to be the first time he's alone in his house and he's heartbroken. He's not going to see his son for a few years. There's so many things that we experience off-camera with the crew and with the cast as well, but for me, I think the crew is really the part that's going to be the hardest for me. Those relationships and those bonds, they're eternal, but the proximity and the going to work together every day is not, and I'm going to miss it. I already do.

Bridget Moynahan (Erin Reagan)

What I'll miss the most: I will miss all the bonds and memories created with coworkers and cast members on Blue Bloods. I will always be grateful for the time we spent together on our creative journey and the opportunity it provided for me personally and professionally (directing). I think Blue Bloods will be missed deeply on set and on air.

Len Cariou (Henry Reagan)

My favorite Blue Bloods memory: It’s almost impossible to pick one, but some of my most treasured moments were the one-on-one scenes that we would have outside of the dinner table in the house with the kids and with Frank. Those one-on-ones where they would come to me and ask for advice or the ones where I would pontificate a bit with Frank about the job.

What I'll miss the most: Well, of course I'll miss the moments with Tom, Donnie, Will, Andrew, Bridget, and Vanessa. But I think the other thing that I'll miss will be the writers and Kevin Wade and Santiago Quinones — those people that I saw every week for the last 14 years and I don't see them anymore. That's a vacancy in my mind and in my day-to-day.

Vanessa Ray (Eddie Janko)

My favorite Blue Bloods memory: I’ll forever treasure the first time I got to work with Tom. Our call times worked out that we were the only two in the hair and makeup trailer getting ready. He presumably could sense that I was nervous, so he got me working. I had NO LINES and no stage direction in the script, but being the pro he is, he talked through each beat of the scene with me. First teaching, and then drilling me on the correct way to stand at attention and salute (the whole hair and makeup team joyfully participated in this part). When Tom walked on set he announced, "Vanessa and I have been working on a little something we’d like to show you…" I thought "WHAT!?! HE KNOWS MY NAME, EVEN?!?" It is still one of my most treasured scenes, the moment Frank addresses Eddie in the morning line up and asks, "Janko, where’s your flashlight?"

What I'll miss the most: Simply, I will miss everything. And Will, I miss getting to have a scheduled play date with my friend every week.

Marisa Ramirez (Maria Baez)

My favorite Blue Bloods memory: My most treasured memories are all of the days we laughed together until we cried. We just had the most genuine love of being at work with everyone.

What I'll miss the most: There are so many things I will miss about my Blue Bloods family that it is really hard to just have one answer. I will miss every single person that was on set everyday. I will miss the energy and heartbeat of New York.  I will miss my friends and all the joy that completely changed my life. It’s really hard to not be sad and nostalgic. It was all a blessing.

Will Hochman (Joe Hill)

My favorite Blue Bloods memory: When I was still new on the show, we filmed a two-part season finale for season 11. Grown men running around a Long Island farm playing cops and robbers until the sun went down. It was so fun, a kind of professional summer camp. At one point, I remember crouching behind a tractor, heart pounding, knees muddied, full of adrenaline. Nearby, Donnie was rolling under a car to get a better view of the bad guy on the roof. Sparks exploded off of roaring trucks. And the camera operators followed it all. I smiled as I thought: "Sheesh, we get to do this. This is our job."

What I'll miss the most: I will certainly miss filming family dinner together. Those rare and rarified moments when the cast gathered around the table. The sense of presence and teamwork. The belonging and camaraderie. The shared purpose. The jokes between takes. The storytelling magic with Tom Selleck, Len Cariou, Donnie Wahlberg, Bridget Moynahan, Will Estes, Vanessa Ray, Andrew Terraciano. The crew. The directors. It was the best.

Gregory Jbara (Garrett Moore)

My favorite Blue Bloods memory: Falling in love with Greenpoint, Brooklyn, where the Blue Bloods sound stages were located when I was "COVID sequestered" in an apartment for an entire season in NYC and prohibited from my usual two-episode commute home to my family in Los Angeles. If ever I am privileged to move back east, Greenpoint will be my home, with Edy’s Grocer and Frankel’s Deli a daily requirement.

What I'll miss the most: The privilege of working with each and every member of the Blue Bloods family for 14 years.

Abigail Hawk (Abigail Baker)

My favorite Blue Bloods memory: When I showed up to family dinner! Oh. Wait. Honestly, anytime we got to hang with the real men and women in blue — whether it was a DEA Gala or the NAPO TOP COPS Awards in D.C. during Police Week, or when members of the department would visit us on set. I really cherish those connections. 

What I'll miss the most: Knowing the ins and outs of everyone’s lives: the nitty gritty and small potatoes; the highlights and lowlights; the first day of school pics and graduation pics and videos of college kids’ baseball plays… the community and camaraderie we created was so very special. When I arrived on set, I was home.

Robert Clohessy (Sid Gormley)

My favorite Blue Bloods memory: Being friends with Abigail!

What I'll miss the most: Having a job for 14 years and really loving going to work.