Blue Bloods Patriarch to Guest-Star in Spinoff Boston Blue

Donnie Wahlberg reveals another Reagan family member will appear in the upcoming CBS series

Jan. 28, 2026 at 11:47am

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Donnie Wahlberg has confirmed that Len Cariou, who played retired police commissioner Henry Reagan on the long-running CBS drama Blue Bloods, will make a guest appearance in the show's spinoff series Boston Blue. Wahlberg also teased the return of other Blue Bloods fan favorites, including Marisa Ramirez's Det. Maria Baez and Bridget Moynahan's Erin Reagan.

Why it matters

The return of familiar Blue Bloods characters in the spinoff Boston Blue will help draw in loyal viewers of the original series and build anticipation for the new show. Bringing back beloved characters like Henry Reagan, Maria Baez, and Erin Reagan will create a sense of continuity and familiarity for fans.

The details

During a Television Critics Association panel, Wahlberg revealed that Len Cariou, who played the Reagan family patriarch Henry Reagan on Blue Bloods, will make his first appearance on Boston Blue in April. Wahlberg also teased the return of Marisa Ramirez's Det. Maria Baez and Bridget Moynahan's Erin Reagan, both of whom previously appeared in the Boston Blue pilot episode. The actor hinted at drama between Danny Reagan, played by Wahlberg, and the returning characters, noting that Danny's decision to join the Boston Police Department will "affect everyone."

  • Len Cariou's guest appearance on Boston Blue is scheduled for April.
  • Marisa Ramirez's Det. Maria Baez and Bridget Moynahan's Erin Reagan previously appeared in the Boston Blue pilot episode.

The players

Donnie Wahlberg

An actor who plays Danny Reagan on Blue Bloods and is set to reprise the role in the spinoff series Boston Blue.

Len Cariou

An actor who played the retired police commissioner Henry Reagan, the patriarch of the Reagan family, on the long-running CBS drama Blue Bloods.

Marisa Ramirez

An actress who played Det. Maria Baez, Danny Reagan's longtime partner and love interest, on Blue Bloods.

Bridget Moynahan

An actress who played Erin Reagan, Danny Reagan's sister, on Blue Bloods.

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What they’re saying

“Grandpa Reagan's going to be showing up, and Erin's going to show up again.”

— Donnie Wahlberg, Actor (TVLine)

“I think there are layers to all this still, right? So there is, of course, Maria, and I think they're figuring things out. I'm not going to reveal too much... I will just tell you that it's not resolved, and she will be back in the coming episodes.”

— Donnie Wahlberg, Actor (TVLine)

What’s next

Len Cariou's guest appearance on Boston Blue is scheduled for April.

The takeaway

The return of beloved Blue Bloods characters in the spinoff series Boston Blue will help draw in loyal viewers of the original show and build anticipation for the new series. Bringing back familiar faces like Henry Reagan, Maria Baez, and Erin Reagan will create a sense of continuity and familiarity for fans.