Donnie Wahlberg Calls Tom Selleck “Dad” — And He Means It

Donnie Wahlberg and Tom Selleck may play father and son on Blue Bloods, but their off-screen relationship has become just as close. Wahlberg now calls Selleck “Dad”—and the story behind it will melt your heart.

They Play Father and Son on TV—But That Bond Is Real Now

Since Blue Bloods began in 2010, fans have loved watching the Reagan family fight crime and share dinners together. But behind the scenes, there’s a real friendship that’s grown just as strong—between Donnie Wahlberg and Tom Selleck.

Wahlberg plays Detective Danny Reagan. Selleck plays his father, Frank, the family’s respected patriarch. And after all these years, their connection has moved beyond the show.

“He Calls Me Son”

After Wahlberg’s mom passed away, he told Entertainment Tonight that he leaned on his Blue Bloods family for support—especially Tom Selleck.

“I call him dad now, and he calls me son,” Wahlberg said, clearly emotional. “That’s how we talk to each other off-camera.”

Their relationship didn’t start out that close. Wahlberg joked that Selleck used to see him as “that music guy” and wasn’t too sure about him at first. But over time, that changed.

A Real Father Figure

Wahlberg, who comes from a big family himself, says the bond he’s built with Selleck feels genuine and lasting. And it mirrors what fans love about Blue Bloods—family, loyalty, and trust.

Selleck is known as the steady hand on set. He’s not overly affectionate, so when he gives out a hug, “it’s a big deal,” Wahlberg laughed.

But make no mistake—he’s more than just a co-star now. Wahlberg sees him as a real-life father figure.

Why This Cast Connection Means So Much

Maybe that’s why Blue Bloods still feels so grounded after so many seasons. The family dinners, the tough love, the unspoken respect—it’s all there in real life, too.

Wahlberg said something that really sums it up:
“I saw my own father in Frank Reagan. And now, I see Tom Selleck as one, too.”