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 decided to have Linda’s death happen off-screen, so viewers didn’t get to say goodbye in the saddest episode of Blue Bloods. 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 April 10, 2024 by Katie Doll: 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?
Linda Was the Wife of Danny Reagan and an Emergency Room Nurse at St. Victor’s Hospital
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.
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 Died in a Helicopter Crash in Between Season 7 and 8
In the Season 7 finale, Danny’s home was destroyed in a fire, but thankfully, every member of the family survived and was unhurt. But later in a therapy session in the Season 8 premiere, it’s revealed that Linda died off-screen in between seasons due to another tragedy. Danny was contemplating retiring from the police force because he blamed himself for Linda’s death in a medevac helicopter crash. She was airlifting a patient during the crash, which the therapist noted was at least an honorable way for Linda to go out. 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 Departed the Series After Her Contract Expired
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. This may be a greater possibility now that Blue Bloods is ending with Season 14.
What Has Amy Carlson Done Since Leaving Blue Bloods?
Carlson Has Been in a Number of Recurring Roles Since Her Departure from Blue Bloods
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. Before Blue Bloods, Carlson was known for her roles on the daytime soap opera Another World, the NBC drama Third Watch, and the procedural Law & Order: Trial by Jury.
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 returned for the Season 13 finale, despite leaving the series years prior, which suggested 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 before the series finale.