“Donnie Wahlberg Reflects on Meeting Tom Selleck as a ‘Father Figure’ on BLUE BLOODS”
When CBS cast Donnie Wahlberg as Danny Reagan in Blue Bloods, he was amazed that he would play the son of Tom Selleck’s character.
“I was thrilled when I got hired, especially since Selleck was a fan of Band of Brothers and was excited to work with me,” Wahlberg shared on the “Brotherly Love” podcast. “But then I walked into the room and realized he’s 6’4” and I’m only about 5’11”. I thought, ‘How am I supposed to be his son?’”
Wahlberg has spoken before about the genuine father-son bond he shares with Selleck.
“Tom Selleck, I call him Dad,” Wahlberg told Fox News. “Initially, it threw him off a bit during the first season or two, but now it’s become a natural part of our relationship.”
Wahlberg noted that now Selleck often calls him “son,” saying, “He’ll greet me with, ‘Hey, son, how are you today?’ It’s like we’ve become a real family. It will be tough not seeing him every day, but I’m sure we’ll stay in touch.”
Despite the noticeable height difference and their differing appearances, Wahlberg was initially uncertain about the casting.
“I walked in and saw Selleck with his thick hair and bushy eyebrows, and I thought, ‘How am I supposed to be this guy’s son?’” Wahlberg recalled. “I was convinced they might fire me.”
His concerns eased when he met Len Cariou, who plays his grandfather on the show.
“When I met Cariou, who’s shorter than me and has a similar hairline, I thought, ‘Okay, I’ve got some of those genes. I’m good,’” Wahlberg said.
Wahlberg was also surprised when the show gained popularity after the pilot.
“I was on a New Kids on the Block reunion cruise when I got the news that the show was picked up,” he explained. “It was originally called Reagan’s Law, and I’d been told it probably wouldn’t get picked up. So I was just enjoying my time on the cruise. But then, in the middle of the ocean, my agent called and told me I needed to get to New York immediately because Blue Bloods had been picked up. I said, ‘As soon as this boat docks, I’m on the first plane to New York!’”
On January 29, Wahlberg and the rest of the cast celebrated Selleck’s 79th birthday. Reflecting their close relationship, Wahlberg posted, “Happy Birthday to my dear friend and TV dad – the one and only – Tom Selleck! Love you, Dad.”
