‘Blue Bloods’: Sami Gayle’s Favorite Nicky Reagan Moment Involved a Broadway Legend
Blue Bloods has been a popular TV drama for 11 seasons now. Fans love the real and sometimes difficult family dynamics as much as the dramatic police work. One of the familiar faces around the Reagan family table is Nicky, the daughter of prosecutor Erin Reagan. Played by Sami Gayle, Nicky has grown up in front of viewers’ eyes, and she has plenty of fond memories of the show to look back on. Although she’s stepped back from Blue Bloods, she hasn’t left it behind entirely. And one special moment will always stay with her.
Sami Gayle started her career in theater
At 25 years old. Gayle already has an impressive resume. According to IMDb, she kicked off her acting career when she was only 12, appearing as Baby June in an off-Broadway production of Gypsy, starring Patti LuPone. When the production later moved to Broadway, Gayle joined the cast again. Her first love was the theater, and she appeared in a number of Broadway and off-Broadway productions.
Some of her live theater experience included Oohrah! and Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical. Eventually, she made her way into movies, co-starring in Detachment and Stolen. But the role that Gayle is best known for is on the TV police drama Blue Bloods. She joined the cast in 2020 after the actor who played the role in the first episode moved on, and she’s been a Reagan ever since.
What happened to Nicky Reagan?
Although Gayle appeared in season one of Blue Bloods, she didn’t become a permanent part of the cast until the second season. Considering that she was only 14 when she first appeared as a Reagan, it’s no surprise that her character has undergone many changes through the years. She’s grown from a young teen to a strong woman. Of course, at the same time, Gayle was also growing up.
According to Country Living, in season 10, Gayle had to step back from her role as Nicky. Her other acting opportunities were ramping up, and she was scrambling to keep up with her college studies. To give her more time, Nicky disappeared from Blue Bloods, although she doesn’t seem to have left the series for good.
Her favorite moment as a Reagan
Having spent so many of her formative years playing Nicky, the show obviously holds a special place in Gayle’s heart. But according to Glitter, there’s one moment that stands out among all the rest. When she was asked if she had a favorite Nicky moment, Gayle responded, “There are so many! But, one that sticks out is getting to sing with Len Cariou in Season Two. Len is such a Broadway icon. It was a dream to get to sing with him.”
Cariou plays the Reagan family patriarch Henry, and according to CBS, he has a remarkable background on Broadway, having appeared in scores of plays. Not only is he a Tony Award winner, but he’s also a member of the Theatre Hall of Fame. With Gayle’s love of theater, it’s no wonder that her duet with Cariou remains a special memory for her.
As she moves on to new opportunities, it’s connections like this that will probably keep Nicky popping in occasionally to share a Reagan Sunday dinner. Fans will be happy to see Nicky check in now and then, and Gayle seems like she’ll enjoy keeping in touch with the family that has meant so much to her.
