By Andrew Cristi
It’s amazing to think that CBS’ much-adored hit show “Blue Bloods” has been on almost a decade- especially considering how the impressive series still manages to dominate in the ratings week after week. With a dreaded time slot of Friday’s at 10PM, particularly in a time where network television has taken a hit due to streaming services, the show is nothing short of a modern marvel as it defies all expectations and continues to pack in legions of devoted viewers- not to mention very funny references on shows like “The Ranch,” and “Fuller House,” where the characters praise the powerful show and it’s loyal fan-base. Of course, with a cast consisting of action star royalty Donnie Wahlberg, the brilliant and beautiful Bridget Moynahan, and living-legend Tom Selleck, it’s no shock that the CBS series never fails to please. And while all the aforementioned actors are undeniably incredible, we can’t help but turn the spotlight over toward the younger member of the Reagan clan; Will Estes.
When asked about the phenomenal cast, the ever-humble actor is swift to praise his co-stars, particularly long-time television hero; Tom Selleck, who Estes insists never fails to deliver both in front of and behind the camera, happily stating that he’s learned a lot from the icon. And while the California native might certainly be in a master-class when it comes to the great company that surrounds him, it’s important to note that the handsome star is very much a beloved television staple in his own right- and has been for quite some time.
Having been in the business for about thirty years, Estes has an impressive resume a mile long consisting of appearances on many of television’s most classic shows, acting in everything from “Santa Barbara,” to “Full House,” to “Step By Step,” to “Baywatch,” and many, many more. On the big screen, he’s taken part in major hits such as “The Dark Knight Rises,” and “How To Make An American Quilt,” and acted alongside everyone from Harvey Keitel to Ed O’Neill, and he even starred in a Bon Jovi video with Shiri Appleby! An unsung hero of show business, Will Estes has been at it for a long time and never fails to impress critics and audiences, and win over fans.
Prior to “Blue Bloods,” the dedicated actor had starred in two critically hailed shows that were gone too soon, and way too underappreciated while they were on. On “American Dreams,” Estes took on the complicated role of JJ Pryor in a coming of age story that followed his character going from high school jock to Vietnam draftee. The series was nuanced and masterfully done, and the gifted talent conveyed the many levels of his role with both an endearing earnest nature, and a harrowing accuracy. After that, the risk-taking star went on to star as Will Malloy in “Reunion,” a brilliant show with exceptional storytelling that challenged him to explore a character over the span of twenty years, forcing him to usually fit those juxtapositions and dualities into a single episode, and again, the compelling actor excelled.
And it should come as no surprise that Estes manages to not only handle whatever acting challenge is thrown at him, but also, elevate the work. Not only has he been doing this for a very long time, but, when it comes to his process as an actor, the thoughtful star never slacks off. For his role in “The Dive From Clausen’s Pier,” the dedicated performer dove into a mountain of his own research as he prepared to play his quadriplegic character, learning every inch of the science of the injury while discussing the feelings associated with it- both emotional and physical- from those who have really suffered, and it’s precisely that devotion to his craft that makes him so instantly admirable on screen to the fans.
So, when it comes to “Blue Bloods,” Estes might have gotten blessed with the opportunity to act alongside such monumental greats, but, he’s also more than earned his seat at that family table. And while the CBS phenomenon constantly delivers powerful acting and storytelling, it also remains a source of comfort for the fans that tune in each week and have fallen in love with the Reagan’s, their good family values, and their ability not to veer from the right side of the law. As the news seems uglier every day and the media- both real and scripted- seems to highlight the negativity and bad people, the Reagans manage to remain steadfast heroes that don’t necessarily need dark sides to their personalities in order to be riveting. While the influx of anti-heroes and anti-villains in the golden age of television manage to certainly have their own artistic merits, the characters on “Blue Bloods” offer a refreshing change of pace as the show manages to put forth interesting and layered characters that audiences can still always root for in their righteousness- and much of that is a testament to the actors themselves.
Tom Selleck, Donnie Wahlberg, and Bridget Moynahan don’t just put forth likable personas in front of the camera, their humility, kindness, and strength of character in real life have also endeared fans to the famous fictional family- and Estes is certainly no different. Not only is the benevolent star committed toward protecting the environment, he is also highly dedicated toward accurately representing the real life police officers that love the show- so much so that he was glad that his character’s promotion was so prolonged in order to continue paying tribute to the uniform on screen, and he’s extremely glad that his lovable and talented co-star Vanessa Ray can continue to do so.
With his character now a sergeant and “Blue Bloods” still managing to go strong, Wingman Magazine sat down with the actor and had a conversation about his unstoppable CBS hit, his extensive career, and his love for the ocean, the animals, and the planet. Read on to see what Estes had to say!
WINGMAN: So “Blue Bloods” is now in its ninth season. How has this season been for you?
WILL ESTES: I think this is really another great season. Jamie got promoted early on, and that’s really exciting. It’s a whole new set of problems and dramas to explore. Jamie becomes the boss, and Janko comes over to the precinct as a police officer, and they’re no longer riding together as partners- that’s been a big shift. They’ve been used to really doing everything together, and now, Jamie is technically Janko’s boss, so, that offers its own set of relationship dynamic shifts and issues to play out. For me, personally, this has been a long time coming. A lot of real police officers have asked me; “When’s your guy going to get promoted?” He’s trying to be the best police officer he can be, and there are really two routes to take as a cop; you can become a detective, or you can be a boss. So, Jamie’s route was to take the sergeant’s exam and become a sergeant. It puts a person in a tough spot because they are responsible for those on the street.
WINGMAN: While Jamie being promoted makes sense, you’ve mentioned that you’re glad he hadn’t been for so long because you liked representing the uniform. Talk about the honor of playing a police officer and the fact that so many real cops respond so well to this show.
ESTES: One of my favorite things about the show is that we get to work with real police officers. A lot of them are retired and help out with the authenticity we try and create. They actually all got a kick of me showing up in the sergeant’s uniform, and that was fun. They told me; “You look like a sergeant!” And that is obviously a huge compliment. We really try and get it right. We have a show about police officers who are fallible, but also, really are heroes; that’s the show we are doing, and it’s important that we get that right and portray cops that do get it right nine times out of ten. The fact that real police officers like the show is the greatest compliment ever to us. We’re always trying to do right by the uniform and shine a spotlight on those brave men and women who risk their lives every day.
WINGMAN: You’ve likened this show to “The Sopranos” where at the heart of the story it’s a family drama, except this family is on the other side of the law. Do you think that’s why this show has maybe attracted such a large fan-base? Because at the heart they fell in love with the family, and because really right now people are looking to cheer on real heroes, rather than anti-heroes and anti-villains?
ESTES: Yes, I do. [Takes a long pause as it registers for him.] …The number one thing I hear from fans is how they love the family dinners. That’s where the characters all come together, and it resonates with people. It shows how these characters’ personal lives affect their work, and vise-versa. That’s where we see these familial relationships play out and the drama unfolds. Those scenes are the centerpiece of the show, and the heart. I do think it’s a good time right now for people to see heroes on screen, and I think it’s also important for them to see that strong family bond. It’s a tumultuous world out there, and the country is very divided and more polarized than ever- and I’m not trying to make a political statement, I’m just recognizing a fact, and I really think “Blue Bloods” serves as comfort food for the soul. It’s a show people can kick back and watch and feel as though it’s bringing back a sense of values that don’t seem to be present in our cultural dialogue today. It’s just a show, but I do hope that the country at large can find commonality and appreciate similar values, and ultimately become more unified, and if “Blue Bloods” assists in that, then I’m very proud to be on it.
WINGMAN: Of course, you have an excellent company here; Tom Selleck, Donnie Wahlberg, Bridget Moynahan- who has also been in Wingman, Len Cariou, Vanessa Ray, and many more. Talk about your great cast.
ESTES: Yes, it’s a great cast. People ask why the show is so successful, but really, you can chalk it up and say “Tom Selleck,” and that could be the final answer. He’s such a tremendous presence. He attributes more to the show than anyone could ever realize. He architects scenes in both big and small ways, and he is so clear on what the core of the show is and what’s important, and furthermore, how to deliver that message to the audience. He will ask the right questions and punctuate key elements of the scene. He’s masterful to his delivery of the character and his contribution to the show as a whole, and I try and pay attention- and I think I’ve learned a lot.
WINGMAN: You were on one of the most innovative series’ ever created; “Reunion,”– without which there would be no “This Is Us,” as far as story framing. This was such a great show and so creative. Do you think if it were on today with binge watching that the show would have been more successful?
ESTES: I don’t know. Maybe. [Laughs] I’m trying to answer your question, but I can’t get over the compliment and you bringing up that show. I mean, maybe it would have been more successful? I don’t know. I’m really just catching up on binge-watching now. My father, of all people, got me into binge-watching; particularly “Shameless.” And that’s really the first show that I actually binge-watched, so, I’m not the person to ask; I have no idea. I haven’t really caught up on a lot of the popular shows that are streaming these days.
WINGMAN: Then of course there was “American Dreams,” where you were treated with tons of great guest stars like Joey Lawrence, Virginia Madsen, Daphne Zuniga, Adina Porter, Jason Beghe, Milo Ventimiglia, Paul Wesley, Reid Scott, Kelly Clarkson, kelly Rowland, Robyn Lively, Theo Rossi, Allison williams, Vanessa Carlton, Alicia Keys, Richie Sambora, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, John Legend, Usher, Paris Hilton, Kristen Bell, Gavin DeGraw, the list goes on and on. Who was your favorite guest star, or favorite performance? Who channeled the original star the best?
ESTES: I never met a lot of the cool guest stars that came on “American Dreams” because they were in the bandstand part. I’d actually show up some of those days and pretend I had something to do just to meet some of those amazing people. But, a couple of the highlights was like when Usher came on to play Marvin Gaye. That was just so cool; to have a current legend come on and do a song in tribute to another legend? That was really the best part of the show. Jennifer Love Hewitt came on, and people really need to know what a great musical talent she is- they really do. She portrayed Nancy Sinatra and did “These Boots Are Made For Walkin’.” She was incredible. That was awesome. One of my best friends was an extra that day and got to dance with her, and he said it was just the best experience. Richie Sambora came on and played Eric Clapton- and that was just amazing. He is so fantastic. That whole element of the show was just so cool, but those are three that truly stand out for me.
WINGMAN: Speaking of Richie Sambora- you were in one of the greatest music videos ever; “It’s My Life,” by Bon Jovi, co-starring the amazing Shiri Appleby. Talk about how that got set up?
ESTES: That was one of the coolest things that could ever happen to an actor. Jon and I had worked together on a film; “U-571,” and I couldn’t believe he asked me if I wanted to do a musical video. I’ve never told this story before, but when I was younger I used to do gymnastics, and when I went to Italy to shoot that movie there were no high bars, or parallel bars, so on set I was always trying to exercise, so I was always using makeshift gymnastics sets for myself, and I was always hanging off things, or doing pull-ups, just to really keep the gymnastics alive in my body, and he would see me do it. So, the music video for “It’s My Life” called for a lot of jumping around, and he asked me if I was interested, and I remember just being like; “YEAH, of course I’ll do a Bon Jovi music video!” And the next thing I know, I’m on the set of an awesome Jon Bon Jovi video with Shiri Appleby- and she’s just incredible. And that music video was physically one of the hardest things I’ve ever done as an actor because I had to run sprints and jump off high surfaces for three twelve-hour days. I’m glad I did it when I was 21, and I’m not too sure I could handle doing it again because it was tough.
WINGMAN: You take your acting process very seriously and learned how to play a quadriplegic in detail for “The Dive From Clausen’s Pier.” Talk about the research that went into that.
ESTES: That was really one of my most fulfilling experiences as an actor in terms of research for a role. I really learned a lot about the injury that people don’t know; there are four columns to the spine that are responsible for all different things; temperature sensation, touch, pressure sensation, pain, movement, and different types of quadriplegics have different sensations left. I really got to spend a lot of time with my inspiration for the role, and he was so generous with talking about his experiences and his injury, and I had so much time to dive into that experience and the reality of what life was like for him, and I don’t think I’ve ever stopped feeling grateful, not only for his teaching me, but also for the fact that it gave me a new appreciation for my own health. That experience is tremendous, and the people who go through it are the bravest and most admirable people out there that they go on to embrace life and stay happy, and Kevin- the guy I worked with- he really was a shining example of that. I’ll be forever grateful.
WINGMAN: You’ve been in the business a long time and have worked with everyone from Winona Ryder, to Harvey Keitel. Who else would you love to work with, and what other types of roles would you love to play?
ESTES: Oh, God, there are so many. Channing Tatum is so fun and so talented. There are so many people I would love to be around and act with. I’d love to do a comedy. Kristen Bell is so funny in “The Good Place.” Ewan McGregor is one of my all-time favorites, and he was in the best musical film ever made; “Moulin Rouge.” The list really goes on and on, even extending to favorite directors as well.
WINGMAN: You are also a big time environmentalist and animal lover. How did you develop such a love for the earth and its creatures, and what are some things fans can do to help our planet?
ESTES: That’s a good question because I am a huge advocate of that. Going forward, the idea of human beings having healthy and happy lives without a healthy planet is impossible. Earth is the only planet that we know of that supports life, so we really have to protect the planet that we got, because it supports our lives. Just like how people want to take care of their homes- you want a nice house to live in, it’s the same thing. The environmental movement opened my eyes as a kid. I grew up with the ocean as my playground, surfing, and what not- it was my personal paradise, and after it rained in Los Angeles, the city really washed into the ocean and people said not to go in it. And I remember thinking what a tragedy that was that rain made the ocean into something unusable. The rain water coming down was clean- it’s healing and perfectly clean, as is marine life, but once the city washes off, it becomes pretty toxic. So, that really opened my heart to environmental protection. I would think that I couldn’t do my favorite activity in the world because people can’t help clean up the earth- and that was really sickening. So, it’s going to take big government stepping in and I believe in supporting those people who want to help, and that’s one thing people can really do. And then, we can really make small contributions every day, such as turning the lights off when we leave a room, or driving an electric vehicle as they are 50% cleaner than a gas vehicle. Storyofstuff.org is a great site that teaches people about our environment, the dangers of plastics, and they have great documentaries that fans can watch. If people want to do more for the environment and find out more information, that’s such a great site.
WINGMAN: You’ve guest starred on every classic show from “Step By Step,” to “Full House,” to “The Secret World Of Alex Mack,” to “Boy Meets World,” to “Baywatch,” to “7th Heaven,” to “Diagnosis Murder,” to “Law 7 Order: SVU.” Which was your favorite?
ESTES: [Cracks up] I’m really glad I had a cup of coffee before this interview because you’ve really been on point, and you’ve brought up a lot of “Will Estes Trivia” that might otherwise have been hard to answer! Which is my favorite show? Well, I did “Lassie” when I was a kid, and that was my first big break, and I remember having so much fun riding my bike in between takes, and hanging out with people. It made for a very cool childhood. But, as far as absolute favorite? “Blue Bloods,” of course! It’s been the greatest run! “Blue Bloods” is number one!
Estes has that right as his hit CBS series continues to dominate the ratings, so, all fans can hope is that this is a ride that is nowhere close to ending any time soon! Catch “Blue Bloods” out on CBS, Friday’s at 10/9c.
Mike McCarthy