“Tom Selleck’s Stand-In Reflects on the Final Season of ‘Blue Bloods'”
Tarrytown resident Stephen Medwid, a longtime sportswriter who pivoted to acting, found himself in a career-changing moment in 2010. Desperate for work, Medwid received a phone call from Central Casting that seemed straight out of a TV sitcom: he was being considered as a stand-in for Tom Selleck on a new CBS show called Blue Bloods. Selleck plays NYC Police Commissioner Frank Reagan on the series.
Though Medwid had experience as a stand-in on shows like Law & Order and various films, the prospect of working with Selleck was both nerve-wracking and exciting. At 6 feet 3 inches and 250 pounds, Medwid was slightly smaller than Selleck but felt he had a shot. Initially, he didn’t land the job—the stand-in for the pilot episode was chosen instead. However, Medwid was brought in to help map out the first episode with director Ralph Hemecker.
In the fall of 2010, Central Casting reached out again, this time offering Medwid a chance to replace the initial stand-in and work as both a stand-in and a photo-double for Selleck. “There were four of us auditioning in the city,” Medwid recalled. “Everyone else was taller than me, and my 2-day-old mustache wasn’t helping.” Despite the competition, Medwid was selected, grew out his mustache, and soon learned to embody Selleck’s iconic presence.
Fourteen seasons later, Medwid remains with Blue Bloods, but the CBS drama is now nearing its end. The show will conclude after the second half of its final season airs this fall, following the first half that began in February. Medwid will continue working on set until mid-June.
The end of the series is a tough reality for Medwid, who has grown close to the cast and crew over the years. “After 14 years, the cast and crew have become like family,” he said. Despite his attachment to the show, Medwid won’t miss the long commute to Broadway Stages in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. At 65, he drives a 1999 Subaru Forester with 236,000 miles, often used for shoots in less glamorous areas. “I tell my mechanic, just keep it running through June,” Medwid added with a chuckle.
