Blue Bloods' 10 Best Characters, Ranked

MovieStillsDB Published Aug 15, 2026, 7:15 PM EDT Cher Thompson is a Senior Staff Writer at Screen Rant, where she covers everything from explosive reality TV moments to cast interviews about the twists and turns of scripted dramas. With a background in creative writing, marketing, and teaching, Cher knows how to spot both the storytelling genius and the guilty pleasures in pop culture. Her work blends wit with insight, making readers feel like they’re chatting with a friend who just happens to know way too much about TV. Sign in to your ScreenRant account As one of CBS' most beloved shows of the last decade, Blue Bloods was one of the best police procedurals on network TV during its run and succeeded in large part because of its characters. Following the Reagan family, who have a long history with the NYPD, the series focuses on the New York Police Department Commissioner and his family, primarily his children as they advance in their own careers. Intertwining the work of a police procedural with a family drama, the Reagan family's Sunday dinners are massive parts of the series, bringing the rather large ensemble cast together weekly. With such a large family tree for the Reagan's and a huge cast of people who aren't involved in the family directly, Blue Bloods has a massive cast to contend with. While there were some characters, particularly the Reagan family patriarch and his eldest children, who find themselves grounding the series, other characters were helpful in moving the plot forward from week-to-week or season-to-season. As Blue Bloods moved through its 14-season run, the series continually saw the Reagan family welcoming new members in, and the cast shifting to make room for more core characters in the show's continually interesting stories. 10 Joe Hill Played by Will Hochman Although Joe Hill (Will Hotchman) doesn't come into play until later on in Blue Bloods' run, the character is one of the most compelling of the series. Introduced during Blue Bloods season 10's finale, Joe is the previously unknown son of the late Joe Reagan, Frank (Tom Selleck) and Mary Margaret Reagan's deceased son. Joe being a member of the Regan family is a huge shock, but as Frank's grandson, he's able to be accepted into the fold fairly quickly. An NYPD detective who has a reputation for being wildly ambitious and highly skilled, Joe's clearly a Reagan at heart. 9 Sean Reagan Played by Andrew Terraciano A member of the Reagan family that the viewers of Blue Bloods got to watch grow up over the course of the series, Sean Reagan (Andrew Terraciano) was introduced as a child in the show's pilot, but got to mature as the series went on. The son of Danny (Donnie Wahlberg) and Linda Reagan (Amy Carlson), Sean stands out for the way he offers an outside perspective. As a young adult who's navigating major life changes, he's not part of the group of Reagan's law enforcement, which means he can often substitute in as the viewer's entry point for stories. 8 Sid Gromley Played by Robert Clohessy As one of the most trusted advisors to NYPD commissioner Frank, Lt. Sid Gormley (Robert Clohessy) played a massive role in Frank's overall decision making. Sid was known for supervising, whether it was working with Frank to oversee things around the NYPD or beforehand, managing the detectives at One Police Plaza. With years of experience, Sid had a practical sense of what to do in most situations, which prepared him for everything that Blue Bloods could throw at him. A no-nonsense approach to his work and unwavering sense of loyalty to the Reagan family, Sid was a trusted, hardworking confidante. 7 Erin Reagan Boyle Played by Bridget Moynahan The only daughter in the Reagan family, Erin Reagan Boyle (Bridget Moynahan) chose not to follow the direct path of the rest of the family, instead becoming a lawyer. As the longtime prosecutor in the Manhattan District Attorney's office, Erin is a hard worker who has risen through the ranks throughout her time on Blue Bloods, eventually becoming the Bureau Chief. Dedicated and prepared to push back against behavior that isn't lawful, Erin does find herself at odds with her family when it comes to her work. Even so, she's one of the most intelligent, compassionate, and determined Reagan kids. 6 Linda Reagan Played by Amy Carlson As the wife of Danny and mother to Sean and Jack (Tony Terraciano), Linda Reagan (Amy Carlson) has a lot on her plate outside of her job as a nurse, which already demands much of her attention throughout Blue Bloods' run. Balancing her own job with her husband's and their family's lives, Linda's ability to find a work-life balance is a major part of her story on screen. Grounding the series emotionally and questioning her husband's level of support, Linda became a fan-favorite on Blue Bloods over the years, and her warmth was missed after her character's tragic off-screen death. 5 Maria Baez Played by Marisa Ramirez Detective Maria Baez (Marisa Ramirez) is Danny's longtime partner on Blue Bloods, and the pair's working relationship is a fascinating one. An intense and capable detective, Baez is a steady influence who doesn't let her emotions bleed into her work, which can be great for Danny, who sometimes doesn't have the ability to keep his cool. A balance of toughness, intelligence, and empathy make Baez a great character, one who shares strong chemistry with her on-screen partner. Proving herself while maintaining her identity, Baez is a great part of the larger Blue Bloods cast outside of the Reagan family tree. 4 Anthony Abetemarco Played by Steve Schirripa An investigator for the District Attorney's office, Anthony Abetemarco (Steve Schirripa) is a huge part of Erin's story on Blue Bloods. As one of her closest professional confidantes, Anthony is a former NYPD officer who uses his experience to help Erin build her cases and navigate investigations. With great practical instincts that work well with Erin's legal abilities and expertise, Anthony has a great working relationships with the longtime lawyer. Adding a layer of humor to Blue Bloods that many of the Reagan family relationships themselves can't, Anthony's an important part of the series. The pair's friendship is a fan-favorite. 3 Jamie Reagan Played by Will Estes As one of the younger members of the Reagan family, Jamie Reagan (Will Estes) has an interesting path to the family business. While Jamie went to Harvard to study law, he foregoes the path of becoming an attorney and instead chooses to become a police officer. As he advances through the NYPD throughout the series, Jamie makes a difference in the way he works on cases, using his law background for a different style of good. As one of the show's best characters, Jamie is more of an idealist than the rest of his family, which shows in his relationships. 2 Frank Reagan Played by Tom Selleck MovieStillsDB Police commissioner Frank Reagan is both the family patriarch on Blue Bloods, despite his father being a part of the series, and the longtime leader of the NYPD. A former Marine, Frank's life as a veteran and then an officer make him one of the most principled men on the series. A commanding character who has his own sense of humor and moral code, Frank balances public expectations with his own sense of justice, making him one of the best characters in the show's run. A memorable and wise performance from Selleck, Frank Reagan is the heart of Blue Bloods. 1 Danny Reagan Played by Donnie Wahlberg Credit: CBS via MovieStillsDB As Frank and Mary Margaret's eldest son, Danny Reagan has spent the majority of his life looking out for others, and his time as one of the NYPD's most effective detectives make that abundantly clear. Throughout his run, Danny threw himself into investigations that would push the boundaries of what was acceptable for a detective, but his behavior made sense to him as he tried to resolve a case. Danny's dedication made him one of the most enduring detectives in the NYPD, and his commitment transferred to his family, too. From Blue Bloods to Boston Blue, Danny's a beloved character. Release Date 2010 - 2024-00-00 Network CBS Directors David Barrett, Ralph Hemecker, Alex Zakrzewski, Robert Harmon, John Behring, Alex Chapple, Jackeline Tejada, Douglas Aarniokoski, Eric Laneuville, Michael Pressman, John Polson, Heather Cappiello, Félix Enríquez Alcalá, Jennifer Opresnick, Peter Werner, Donald E. Thorin Jr., Frederick King Keller, Bridget Moynahan, Dean White, Deran Sarafian, James Whitmore Jr., Martha Mitchell, Rachel Feldman, Robert Duncan McNeill Cast Donnie Wahlberg Danny Reagan Writers Siobhan Byrne O'Connor, Brian Burns, Kevin Wade, Robin Green, Kevin Riley, Jack Ciapciak, Thomas Kelly, Diana Son, Van B. Nguyen, Dawn DeNoon, Willie Reale, Bryan Goluboff, Julie Hébert, Mark Rosner, Vanessa Rojas, David Black, Ed Zuckerman, Gwendolyn M. Parker, Ken Sanzel, Seth Pearlman, Amanda Green, Ben Cummings, Orson Cummings, James Nuciforo