Blue Bloods’ cast is paying tribute to late co-star Treat Williams, who passed away in a motorbike accident on Monday at the age of 71.
Williams has a close friendship with Tom Selleck, who plays New York City police commissioner Frank Reagan in the enduring CBS crime thriller.
Selleck, 78, said in a statement to PEOPLE, “It has been said that we are all only passing the time and occupy our chair very short. “My friend Treat was perfectly seated in his chair and had an excellent name. He will be missed, but I won’t ever forget him. Congratulations, my friend.
Williams was praised by Bridget Moynahan, who plays Erin Reagan on the show, as a “actor’s actor” and a “absolute pleasure” to work with.
According to Moynahan, 52, “He was a role model off screen as well,” she wrote in a statement to PEOPLE. “Everyone could admire his love and commitment to his family. Folks, we lost a good one. Adieu, Treat.
Eddie Janko-Reagan’s on-screen wife Vanessa Ray expressed her admiration for Williams by posting a story about him on Instagram.
“Treat found out I was in Hair on Broadway at family dinner the first time I worked with him on @bluebloods_cbs,” Ray wrote. I introduced myself as the ‘Frank Mills’ gal. He began to sing. He understood every word. No, I didn’t. What a brilliant, kind, and lovely artist. Now take a nap, Berger.”
Williams, who portrayed Lenny Ross on Blue Bloods on a regular basis, shared a number of images from the set of the show on social media before he passed away.
In August 2021, he shared a picture with Selleck taken on the CBS drama set, which became a memorable post. It’s been a joy, Tom Selleck and #Bluebloods. He captioned the picture, “Two elderly pros.
Williams’ 15-year agent, Barry McPherson, told PEOPLE on Monday that he had passed away and called the “talented” actor “the nicest guy.”
He was an actor’s actor, according to McPherson. “Movie makers adored him. Since the late 1970s, he has served as Hollywood’s beating heart.
Williams was struck by a car on Route 30 near Dorset, Vermont on Monday while operating his motorbike close to his home in Vermont, according to Fire Chief Jacob Gribble. Investigators, according to Gribble, think the driver of a car didn’t see Williams’ motorcycle before the two crashed because the driver was turning.
The actor was taken to an Albany, New York hospital with “critical injuries” but was later declared dead. Since then, the investigation’s status has been confirmed by police.
Following the announcement of his passing, a number of Williams’ friends and co-stars, including Gregory Smith, Laura Dern, Marilu Henner, Jonathan Bennett, Sarah Drew, Melissa Gilbert, Wendell Pierce, and Kim Cattrall, paid tribute to the actor on social media.
