Blue Bloods fans were shocked when Linda Reagan, played by Amy Carlson, died in the Season 7 finale. Linda was an important part of the show and has appeared since the first season. She became a series regular in the second season.
Linda died in a helicopter crash, and this tragedy was hard for the Reagan family as well as the fans of the show. Carlson's sudden hushed exit from the show created rumors, but she claimed that her contract was over and she was moving on to new opportunities.
While Linda died in Blue Bloods Season 7, she remains one of the most beloved characters, and fans still want to see her positivity back in the show and the Reagan family. Having appeared in almost 155 episodes, Carlson has created a unique identity for herself on the show.
Here is everything to know about Carlson's character in Blue Bloods and why did she left the show.
How did Linda Reagan die in Blue Bloods?
Linda Regan was Detective Danny Reagan's wife and had two kids on the show. She was also an emergency room nurse at St. Victor's Hospital. While she was not directly recruited into law enforcement, her character often deals with the personal difficulties of this profession.
We see Danny's home set on fire in the Season 7 finale. While everyone makes it out alive, it was shocking to discover Linda's death in the Season 8 premiere when Danny discusses it with his therapist.
It was revealed in the session that Linda died in a helicopter crash that happened during seasons 7 and 8 while she was airlifting a patient. This impersonal send-off to one of the main characters like Linda, was both shocking and sad for the fans, who suspected multiple reasons behind Carlson's sudden exit from the show.
Linda was not only an integral part of the Reagan family, but also a confident woman and a working mother. During their Sunday family dinners, she frequently voiced her concerns regarding the dangers of her family's job.
Why did actress Amy Carlson Leave Blue Bloods?
While the actress did not make any firm comments about her departure from the show, she revealed her disappointment with her character's treatment in the end. She was upset about the impersonal treatment Linda was given by killing her off-screen.
"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."
The actress also felt the fans did not get to say goodbye to one of their favorite characters in Blue Bloods.
"I could've shown the death...I guess it would've been nice for the fans to see her demise and to be a participant in it, and that was my vote for the fans."
According to her, her contract was up until Season 7, and nobody from the show contacted her about renewal for another run. This made her uncertain about her career and future on the show. She also felt that maybe it is time for her to pursue other projects.
Even after so many years since her departure, Linda remains one of the important characters on the show and is often mentioned in many scenes or in characters' memories.
Amy Carlson went on to work on projects like FBI: Most Wanted, Sunny Daze, The Incoherents, and Know Fear.
Blue Bloods Season 14 was released on February 16, 2024.
Also Read - Why did CBS greenlight a Blue Bloods spin-off while cancelling the main show?
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