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.

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“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!”