Tom Selleck on His Role in ‘Blue Bloods’: ‘If You’re Playing an NYPD Cop, You’re Playing a Hero’

Frank Reagan, Tom Selleck’s character on the CBS drama ‘Blue Bloods,’ commands respect as the tough-as-nails patriarch of a police family.

And in a recent panel interview at the Paley Center for Media, Tom revealed to ‘Closer’ that he receives that same respect when filming on the streets of NYC.

“My favorite reaction is getting salutes from real cops,” Tom, 69, confessed to the magazine. “I find it quite touching, because if you’re playing an NYPD cop, you’re playing a hero.”

For Tom, there’s no better place to film the show’s fifth season than in the heart of the Big Apple. “New York City is a central character on the show,” he explained. “I love this role. It’s certainly one of my favorites!”