Summary

  • Amy Carlson's departure from Blue Bloods between Season 7 and Season 8 was unexpected and controversial, leaving fans disappointed by the unceremonious send-off.
  • Linda Reagan's off-screen death makes it nearly impossible for Amy Carlson to return in future seasons, unless it occurs as a flashback or dream sequence.
  • Amy Carlson's contract expired after Season 7, and she chose not to renew it, leaving it unlikely that she will return before Blue Bloods ends later this year.

Amy Carlson's abrupt departure from Blue Bloods in the Season 8 premiere was a major shock to fans of the long-running CBS series. Carlson played Linda Reagan, a registered nurse and supportive wife of Detective Daniel "Danny" Reagan. She was an integral part of the Blue Bloods cast since the first season and became a series regular in the second. Because of her longevity in the series, the revelation that her character had died in a helicopter accident was surprising, to say the least.

On Blue Bloods, Linda Reagan's death was unexpected and upsetting, leaving fans extremely disappointed by the unceremonious send-off. As a result, Amy Carlson's departure proved to be quite controversial with viewers. The producers of Blue Bloods decided to have Linda's death happen off-screen, so viewers didn't get to say goodbye. In addition, killing the character off made it impossible for Amy Carlson to return in future seasons. So, why did Amy Carlson leave Blue Bloods, and what really happened to Linda?

Updated on January 5, 2024 by Jordan Iacobucci: Blue Bloods is set to return for a fourteenth and final season on February 16, 2024. While much of the main cast will be returning for the show's finale, Blue Bloods has said goodbye to several popular characters in its years on the air. Among these is Amy Carlson's Linda Reagan, who audiences still can't forgive producers for killing off between Season 7 and Season 8. Moreover, with the series finale rapidly approaching, it seems unlikely that audiences will ever see Linda Reagan again.

Who Was Linda Reagan On Blue Bloods?

Amy Carlson as Linda Reagan on Blue Bloods
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Linda Reagan was the wife of Detective Danny Reagan and the mother of Jack and Sean Reagan. She was an emergency room nurse at St. Victor's Hospital in New York City. The role Linda played in Blue Bloods was essential, because she was the only adult member of the Reagan family who didn't have a career in law enforcement. She would often voice her opinions openly during the Reagan family dinners on Sunday nights, which was a staple of Blue Bloods' early seasons and remains a vital part of the show's heart.

  • Linda Reagan makes her first appearance in the series premiere of Blue Bloods, which aired in 2010.
  • Linda Reagan makes her final appearance in the Season 7 finale of Blue Bloods, which aired in 2017.
  • In total, Amy Carlson appears as Linda Reagan in 155 episodes of Blue Bloods.

Although Linda was not directly involved with law enforcement like the other members of her family, her job at St. Victor's would often intersect with Danny's police work. In the Season 5 finale of Blue Bloods, Linda treated a patient who was a witness to the shooting of NYPD Assistant Chief Donald Kent. She got caught in the crossfire when her patient was assassinated. Although Linda made a full recovery, she had to meet with a therapist to deal with the post-traumatic stress caused by the incident.

What Happened to Linda on Blue Bloods?

Linda Reagan and Danny Reagan stand side by side and look upset in Blue Bloods.
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The Season 8 premiere showed Danny contemplating retiring from the police force because he blamed himself for Linda's death in a medevac helicopter crash that happened between seasons. With the support of his family and longtime partner, Maria Baez, he ultimately decided to stay on the job. Season 9, Episode 1, "Playing with Fire," implied that the crash may not have been an accident but had instead been caused by a Mexican drug cartel.

Even several years after Linda's untimely death, the character is still mentioned periodically, and her memory still plays a significant part in Danny's life. While some Blue Bloods fans have hoped that Danny would move on with Baez — since they have a chemistry similar to Bradford and Chen on The Rookie — showrunner Kevin Wade shot down the idea in a TV Insider interview last year.

Why Did Amy Carlson Leave Blue Bloods?

Amy Carlson as Blue Blood's Linda Reagan smiling in front of flowered drapes
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Characters are killed off TV series for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, it’s to provide narrative impact, like Lauren German’s departure from Chicago Fire. Sometimes, it has to do with behind-the-scenes factors. In the case of Amy Carlson, her Blue Bloods contract expired after Season 7, and she chose not to renew it (though she did not give a specific reason why).

Carlson explained to Deadline that she was not invited back for the Season 8 premiere to wrap up Linda's storyline. She voiced her disappointment with how her character was killed, saying, "I feel badly that she dies the way she dies. I did not know they would do that. I was surprised. I wouldn't have done that." Despite her reservations about how her character exited the show, Carlson also said in the Deadline interview that she would be open to returning in a flashback, but that hasn't happened yet.

What Has Amy Carlson Done Since Leaving Blue Bloods?

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After Amy Carlson's tragic departure from Blue Bloods, the actress has continued to appear in a variety of different television series. Most notably, the actress appeared as a guest on series like The Village (in which she played Julie Tucker), The Society (wherein she portrayed the character Amanda Pressman), and FBI: Most Wanted (in which she portrayed Jackie Ward). She has also made appearances in several films since leaving Blue Bloods, including Sunny Daze, The Incoherents, and, most recently, Know Fear.

  • According to the International Movie Database, Amy Carlson has 48 acting credits for her work in film and television.
  • Amy Carlson's highest-rated project on Rotten Tomatoes is 2017's Landline, with a Freshness Rating of 74%. She portrays Carla in the film.
  • Amy Carlson's lowest-rated project on Rotten Tomatoes is 2007's Anamorph, with a Freshness Rating of 27%. She portrays Alexandra Fredericks in the film.

Despite her viable resume, Amy Carlson's last credit is from 2021, leaving audiences unsure of when they may see the actress's next projects. Nevertheless, some remain hopeful that she may still return to Blue Bloods before its finale. Jennifer Esposito, who had left the series years prior, returned for the Season 13 finale, suggesting that anything is possible for the upcoming fourteenth season. With CBS shows experiencing a lot of casting turnover and bringing back familiar faces, such as Marg Helgenberger as Catherine Willows in CSI: Vegas, Carlson still has a chance to return to Blue Bloods someday soon.

Blue Bloods is available to stream on Paramount+ and Hulu. The series will return for its fourteenth and final season on February 16, 2024.

Blue Bloods TV Show Poster
Blue Bloods
TV-14
Drama
Crime
Release Date
September 24, 2010
Cast
Tom Selleck , Donnie Wahlberg , Bridget Moynahan , Will Estes
Main Genre
Crime
Seasons
13