Blue Bloods’ Len Cariou Says It Was ‘Tough’ to Film His Final Episode as Henry Reagan

After playing Henry Reagan on Blue Bloods for 14 seasons, saying goodbye to the character has been “tough” for Len Cariou.

The longtime actor reflected on what it was like to come to the realization that season 14 would be the show’s last and the end for his beloved character.

“It was tough because it happened to be at the wrap party of the launch of the last eight,” Len, 85, told TV Insider of waving goodbye to the character and his costars in an interview published on November 1. “It was around my birthday, so I had a birthday cake for me at the party, so it was special.”

Blue Bloods finished filming its final season in June, but the cast has reunited multiple times since then to promote the show’s last few episodes.

Len also revealed to the outlet that the last scene he filmed on the set of Blue Bloods was “at a funeral.” He explained that the cast “had just kind of gotten used to the fact that we had said our goodbyes, if you will, with not a lot of emotional times together.”

Fan theories have been swirling about which Blue Bloods character might not make it out of the series finale alive. And while the final episode of the show has vowed to be an emotional one, the cast has all promised to stay in touch.

Bridget Moynahan, who plays Erin Reagan, said that she would not be opposed to doing a reunion with her Blue Bloods castmates on screen at some point in the future.

“Yeah, why not,” she told TVLine Spotlight on November 8. “But I mean we can’t have that many years [away]!”

When asked why the show was ending after seeing such success on CBS for 14 years, she expressed confusion.

“I don’t quite understand it … But it is what it is,” she replied.

“I mean, we have incredible ratings … and there’s a loyal fanbase that would make the time on a Friday night to sit down and watch it, or make time over the weekend,” Bridget continued. “There’s a younger generation coming in and appreciating the great stories, but also the good values,” she noted. Speaking to the void Blue Bloods will leave, “You’re hard pressed to find those values in stories on television right now.”

As for what to expect from the show’s series finale, which will air in December, Bridget said there might be some mixed reactions.

“I think that fans will feel somewhat satisfied … but then you’re going to want more,” she explained. “There are these nuggets where people are going to be like, ‘Yes!!!’ And then the show’s over. It’s going to be bittersweet in some ways.”

Len voiced a similar point while speaking with TV Insider, saying the show’s cancellation “doesn’t make any sense” to him.

“We’re still, I think, the best-watched show on Friday nights, even though we’re canceled,” he noted.

Blue Bloods airs on Fridays at 10 p.m. ET on CBS.