Late actor Treat Williams (Everwood, Chicago Fire) was memorialized Friday on the hit CBS drama Blue Bloods, where he portrayed Lenny Ross, the partner and best friend of New York City Police Commissioner Francis “Frank” Reagan, portrayed by Tom Selleck (Magnum P.I, Killers). According to Deadline, the tribute honored Williams as well as his character.
Williams passed away last June following a motorcycle accident. He was 76.
The actor’s last appearance on the show was during the 13th season of Blue Bloods, in which it was revealed that his character had cancer. During Friday’s tribute, the storyline unveiled that Lenny passed away from the disease.
The tribute episode featured Frank having to make the decision on whether or not to prosecute Lenny’s daughter after she was arrested for a bar fight, and Frank grappling with his loyalty to his friend. “He was my best friend. And I’m gonna honor that by doing what’s best for his daughter,” said Frank in the episode as per Deadline.
Frank then chooses to stand by his duty over his friendship and directs Lenny’s daughter, Tess, to a good defense attorney. During the final scene of the episode, the Reagan family is seen enjoying a meal together as Frank says, as Deadline notes: “Lenny Ross was my oldest friend, my closest confidant, my getaway driver. And I lost him this week. And it hurts like hell. But Lenny would hate it if we got all teary and quiet and sad, so Lenny: We’ll miss ya. And save me a seat at your table, and I’ll see ya on down the road.”
According to Deadline, as the episode ended, a tribute graphic of Selleck alongside Williams appeared with the words: “In memory of our great friend, Treat Williams 1951-2023.”