Before ‘Boston Blue,’ Ernie Hudson Appeared in ‘Blue Bloods’ in a Forgotten Role md20

Joining Hudson and Wahlberg in the buzzed-about series are Sonequa Martin-Green, Maggie Lawson, and Gloria Reuben, with the drama set to premiere on October 17, 2025. Fans of both the seasoned star and the original show may have forgotten that Hudson actually appeared in a 2018 episode of Blue Bloods as a completely different character than the one he will play in the spinoff, making a cameo in the eighth season. Let’s revisit the episode and Hudson’s role in it.

Hudson Made a Memorable Appearance in Season 8 of ‘Blue Bloods’

When it comes to performing in popular shows and franchises, it’s not uncommon for some actors to appear as different characters throughout the program’s run. However, many eagle-eyed fans are quick to notice the clever sleight of hand. For instance, Jerry Orbach appeared in the second season of Law & Order as a defense attorney, a full year before he officially joined the cast as Detective Lennie Briscoe, just as Garret Dillahunt took on double duty in Deadwood, playing both Jack McCall and Francis Wolcott in the HBO gem. Ernie Hudson is the latest star to be a repeat actor in a TV series, having first joined the Blue Bloods universe in 2018.

Hudson made a guest appearance in Season 8, Episode 13, “School of Hard Knocks“, in which he portrayed Principal Darryl Ward, who meets with Danny (Donnie Wahlberg) and Baez (Marisa Ramirez) after one of his students is shot by a rival gang member in the high school courtyard. Ward feels immense guilt when one of his teachers is subsequently assaulted by a female student as part of a gang initiation, and he takes matters into his own hands by taking several students hostage in a reckless effort to contain the problem and atone for the crimes.

Unsurprisingly, Hudson delivered a compelling performance as a man desperate to protect his school and someone who had reached his boiling point when it came to the endless gang violence plaguing his community. Principal Ward believed that the only way for the troubled teens to grasp the severity of their actions was to make them confront real fear, pulling a gun on them as a scare tactic. Thankfully, Danny was able to talk Ward down and safely arrest him before he could hurt anyone. Both Hudson’s powerful portrayal and the episode’s sensitive handling of gangs and gun violence packed quite the emotional punch.

‘Boston Blue’ Marks Hudson’s Return to the ‘Blue Bloods’ Universe

NBC

After his memorable appearance in the 2018 episode, Hudson is returning to the Blue Bloods universe in a brand-new role in the upcoming spinoff Boston Blue, in which he will portray the respected Reverend Peters. The series will follow Detective Danny Reagan (Donnie Wahlberg) as he leaves his home in New York City to take a position with the Boston Police Department, where he is partnered with Lena Silver (Sonequa Martin-Green). Like Danny, Lena comes from a prominent police family in the city and is considered a “rising star” in the BPD. The two opinionated detectives are likely to butt heads as they acclimate to their partnership.

Reverend Peters is the pastor of a historic Baptist Church in Boston and is Lena’s grandfather. Hudson is expected to be the grounding presence in the series, much like Tom Selleck’s unflappable family patriarch, Frank Reagan, was in Blue Bloods. The spinoff will also feature some intriguing new characters, including Lena’s Superintendent stepsister, Sarah Silver (Maggie Lawson), her rookie patrol cop brother, Jonah (Marcus Scribner), and her successful district attorney mother, Mae (Gloria Reuben). Bridget Moynahan is also expected to reprise her role as Erin Reagan in a guest appearance, while Mika Amonsen will be taking over as Danny’s youngest son, Sean, in the series.

When Blue Bloods was shockingly canceled in 2024, ahead of its 14th season, fans were left outraged that CBS would end the network’s staple series. A few months after its season finale in December 2024, it was announced that a spinoff was in development, focusing on Danny Reagan’s adventures in Boston, with Wahlberg also serving as executive producer. While only time will tell whether Selleck and other original cast members show up in Boston Blue, fans can reunite with the tough-as-nails detective next month. Boston Blue is set to premiere on CBS on October 17, 2025​​​​​​.