Are Blue Bloods' Tom Selleck and Donnie Wahlberg Friends in Real Life?

The TV series has made family a priority since its inception, as everything revolves around the Reagans. The eldest, Commissioner Frank Reagan, is portrayed by Hollywood heavyweight Tom Selleck.

Meanwhile, Donnie Wahlberg and Will Estes contend as brothers serving on the NYPD. Then, there is the sister – Erin Reagan (Bridget Moynahan) – who works in the DA's office.

Needless to say, Blue Bloods has always put family first. It's a show about solving crime and pursuing justice, yet it also tackles many of the issues that ordinary families, like the Reagans, encounter.

There are sibling rivalries and feuds, but at the end of the day, the Reagans manage to come together because they all bleed blue.

Thus, it's not surprising that the cast of Blue Bloods is nearly as close off-screen as they are when working together in front of the camera. In fact, Donnie Wahlberg revealed to Entertainment Tonight that he regards his co-star Tom Selleck as both a mentor and father.

In the candid interview produced shortly before the death of his own mother, Alma, Wahlberg was adamant that working with Selleck is an absolute pleasure.

"I call him dad now, and he calls me son," Wahlberg admitted when discussing how the relationship has grown on and off camera.

Wahlberg explained that the two actors have become so comfortable and close working on Blue Bloods that they often embrace in a hug.

Furthermore, they don't mind hurling around words like 'father' and 'son' because they truly regard their working relationship in that manner.

Their bond has become that inseparable and helps explain why Blue Bloods has evolved into one of the best shows on TV.

According to Wahlberg, getting an embrace from an actor of the caliber of Selleck is a huge deal. For this reason, he's honored to work beside such an acclaimed actor.

What's more, Selleck is not like many A-list celebrities that are infamous for being combative and impossible to work with on set. Rather, Selleck always makes time for his co-stars and is generally regarded as a "good guy."

Wahlberg refers to the former Magnum, P.I. star as a "leader" that is dedicated to the craft of acting.

"[Tom] is a very experienced, very smart guy," Wahlberg added when gushing about his co-star.

Surprisingly, he also revealed that he wouldn't have joined the cast if not for Selleck. The 53-year-old actor confessed that Selleck reminds him of his own father which was part of the draw to joining Blue Bloods.

Donnie, who is one of nine children, can relate to a big family and managing the sibling squabbles. Consequently, transitioning into the role of Detective Danny Reagan was effortless, especially with the assistance of a co-star like Selleck.

"They don't make shows that focus on families like this anymore," he concluded.