Tarrytown resident, stand-in for Tom Selleck on 'Blue Bloods,' reminisces on final season

Tarrytown resident Stephen Medwid, a longtime sportswriter turned actor, was desperate for work in 2010 when a phone call changed the trajectory of his career.

Out of what sounds like a TV sitcom, that's when Central Casting, who books stand-ins and background actors, called to say he was being considered as a stand-in for Tom Selleck on a new CBS show called "Blue Bloods." (Selleck plays NYC Police Commissioner Frank Reagan in the show.) Medwid, who had done some stand-in work on shows like "Law & Order" and a few movies but never for anyone of Selleck's stature, was both nervous and excited.

He also thought he had a chance. After all he's 6 feet three and 250 pounds, slightly smaller than Selleck.

But he didn't get it — the guy who worked on the pilot episode was selected instead. But not all was lost: He was called to help map out the first show with director Ralph Hemecker.

Fast forward to fall 2010 when Central Casting called again, this time telling Medwid he was being considered to replace the other guy, as both a stand-in and a photo-double for Selleck. "There were four of us and they were shooting in the city," he recalled of that audition. "Everyone else was taller than me and my 2-day-old mustache was not cutting it."

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But this time he got picked, grew out his mustache, and along the way, learned to channel his inner Selleck. Fourteen seasons later, he's still there, though the CBS show is ending for good.

The drama will wrap after the second half airs this fall (the first half of the season kicked off Feb. 16; the second half will return in October). Medwid will be on set until mid-June.

No one wants it to be over, he said. Selleck had even been pushing the network for seven additional shows but it didn't happen. After more than a decade on "Blue Bloods," the reality of its finality seems surreal and Medwid is still coming to terms with the fact that the people he's seen every day for so long will no longer be in his daily orbit. "After 14 years the cast and crew have become like family," he said.

What he won't miss, however, is the one-hour plus commute to Broadway Stages in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, where the series is filmed. The 65-year-old said he drives a 1999 Subaru Forester with 236,000 miles on it that's often used when the crew films in seedy neighborhoods. "I tell my mechanic, just keep it going through June," he said.

Behind the scenes

It's all a long way from 14 years ago, when Medwid said the first season was particularly nerve-wracking and he was still learning the ropes.

So how does it work exactly? What exactly does his job entail? First, Selleck and the actors have a private rehearsal. Next, the crew (including him) are invited to observe the marking rehearsal. "I'll take notes on when Tom stands or sits, enters or leaves the room, takes a sip of coffee, removes his coat," said Medwid. "Color tape is used to mark standing positions. While Tom is changing, I'll sit or stand for them to adjust the lighting."

Medwid said this can be very complicated and involved and it's sometimes hard to stay focused under the hot lights for extended periods of time.

"Next, we may run the scene or portions of it with the other stand-ins to assist the camera operators," he said. "Sometimes, when Tom is delayed, I'll work with the series regulars or 'dream team' like Greg Jbara, Bob Clohessy, and Abigail Hawk. Finally, I'll check that there are no wires in the way or that people are not in his eyeline. Sounds simple but it's not."

Bottom line: Selleck is No. 1 on the call sheet and it's Medwid's job to make sure there are no surprises or delays once he steps in to do a scene.

So are he and Selleck friends? "More like colleagues," he said. "It's strictly business.

"We're two ships passing. If he's on set, I'm not and vice versa. We do, however, occasionally have an extended conversation but it's rare."

Almost famous

And what about his resemblance to the famous actor? Medwid said he's definitely grown into that role.

"It's crazy. I didn't really realize how popular Tom is or how much I looked like him it until I was at a birthday party for my journalism teacher." He said. "It was a much older crowd but when all these women heard who I was, they started taking pictures with me and texting their friends."

The ticket taker at the Tarrytown Metro-North station even asked for his autograph one time. And on location, people shake his hand and think he's him. "I even freak out some of the crew on set," he said. "When I photo-double, I'm dressed exactly like Tom. Sometimes they just need a shot over my shoulder or me getting out of a police van from a distance. But if someone is preoccupied and runs into me, it takes a few seconds for them to register that it's me and not Tom.

"Regardless, I still wear a suit jacket, vest, white shirt and tie every day we're in the office."

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There are other perks including some clout with guest stars. "I'll introduce myself, welcome them to the show, and offer to read lines with them if necessary," he said. "They also don't seem to mind when I ask to take a picture with them once they're finished."

Among those he's worked with: Donnie Wahlberg, Bridget Moynahan, Will Estes, Stacy Keach, the late Treat Williams, the late Jimmy Buffet, Tony Danza and most recently Mira Sorvino. He also does stand-in for Steve Schirripa and "any tall bad guy."

He also, on occasion, has been given small speaking roles as a prison guard and last season as a bartender. He even has a recurring role as the town's repeat offender in a jail cell (he's called Otis from Mayberry). In one episode, you can see him dancing. "I got a few online comments regarding that one!" he said.

What's most exciting about the show, he added, is that every day is different.

Challenges of the job

Despite the "celebrity," working every day nine months out of the year is not without its hardships, said Medwid. While they had a rare Westchester shoot at the Yonkers courthouse — Selleck's character even drinks Yonkers Brewery beer on occasion — the commute to Brooklyn can range from one hour to two or more.

"Our average day is 10 to 14 hours," he said. "I rarely sleep past 5:30 in the morning and often don't get home until midnight." Last season he blew out his right knee and could barely walk. The irony is that he had a stand-in if there was any distance involved. (He had a partial knee replacement last April so all has been resolved.)

COVID was a particularly trying time, too, with the crew testing three times a week. They also had to wear both masks and shields and rarely came in contact with the principals. Stand-ins were required to do background and Medwid said he worked a minimum of 12 hours a day for six months.

With the end nearing, he's working on both a memoir and one-man show about his days as a sportswriter (back in the day he was a publicist for big-time promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank Boxing and wrote for all the major boxing magazines; he was also a stringer for UPI wire service.) He's also itching to return to the stage.

And, if Central Casting or anyone else in the industry is listening, he's open to shows filming in Westchester and across the river.

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Jeanne Muchnick covers food and dining. Click here for her most recent articles and follow her latest dining adventures on Instagram @jeannemuchnick or via the lohudfood newsletter. 

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: This Tarrytown actor is a stand-in for Tom Selleck on 'Blue Bloods'