Tom Selleck Reflects on 15 Years of Blue Bloods and the Heartfelt Farewell Message to Cast After Final Dinner Scene
Tom Selleck Reflects on 15 Years of Blue Bloods, Final Family Dinner, and Emotional Farewells
“We had this family of actors who all actually liked each other, which never happens in television. So it was an enormous blessing.”
The Reagan family has officially wrapped up their final family dinner. After 14 highly successful seasons on CBS, Blue Bloods has come to an end, and the cast is still processing the bittersweet goodbye — including Tom Selleck, who spent 15 years portraying Frank Reagan, the New York City Police Chief and patriarch of the Reagan family. As the series finale airs, Selleck opened up about the emotional journey of working on the show and what it felt like to bring Frank’s story to a close.
How does it feel to be finished with Blue Bloods after 14 years?
TOM SELLECK: “Well, it doesn’t go away that quickly. We finished shooting our last episode in July, but it’s only now airing, so it still feels very present. There’s a lot of adjusting to do, especially for a show that had as much success as we did. What made it unique is that everyone wanted to come back. That’s something you don’t always get in television, so it’ll take time to get used to the idea that it’s over.”
What was your experience like filming the final episode?
“The last day of filming was chaotic. It had a lot of the Blue Bloods cast members involved, but there wasn’t much time to reflect on it. The real emotional moment came the day before when we shot the last family dinner scene. That was the true end for me. After about six or seven hours of shooting, we suddenly had to wrap up, and it got quiet. No one made speeches at first, but it felt like something needed to be said. I ended up reading a poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay, ‘Love is Not All.’ That led to a conversation that lasted for hours, with some tears, hugs, and heartfelt goodbyes. No one wanted it to end.”
Was there a moment when you knew you had to leave and let go?
“I went back to L.A. but felt that I needed to be in New York when the show wrapped. So I flew back for the final shoot. Watching them film the last scene was emotional. We loved the show, and it was such a blessing for 15 years. We became a family — not just the Reagan family on-screen, but also the group of actors. It’s rare for people to actually like each other in this business, and we truly did. I’ll always look back on that as a special gift.”
What has been the hardest part of the show ending?
“The hardest part right now is that this time of year, I would be filming Blue Bloods episodes. I miss that. The thing that really tugs at me is the relationships we built. It’s like a high school graduation. You tell each other you’ll keep in touch, but life gets in the way. It happens in movies too. But with Blue Bloods, we had 15 years of connection, and that’s hard to let go. It’s a bigger adjustment, and it’s not easy to just walk away from that kind of bond.”
How do you feel you have changed or evolved as an actor over the course of this series?
“All the work you do over the years changes you, hopefully broadening your perspective and skill set as an actor. I always believed that an actor’s commitment should look effortless, but it’s actually everything you’ve got. When I started, I thought I might get bored after 15 years, but I never did. I continued to learn about Frank Reagan and found new layers to explore. I’m proud to say no one in this cast ever phoned in a performance. The writers helped us evolve the characters, and that kept it fresh. 15 years is a long time, and you do change physically and emotionally. All those experiences will be part of my toolbox as I move forward. I’m not done working yet.”
What do you hope people take away from Blue Bloods ending?
“My biggest goal is that people recognize we went out on a high note — the show didn’t feel tired, it didn’t feel like it was running on fumes. It ended with the same energy and passion that it started with. Why CBS decided to end it is still a mystery to me, but we certainly didn’t run out of stories or enthusiasm. We gave it everything we had.”
As Tom Selleck reflects on a remarkable journey with Blue Bloods, it’s clear that the show’s legacy — both on-screen and off — will resonate for years to come. The love, camaraderie, and respect between the cast and crew have made it an experience few shows can match. For Selleck, the Reagan family may be done for now, but the memories and friendships forged over 15 years will continue to shape his life and career.
