# Will Estes
**Will Estes** (born William Estes Nipper, 1978) is an American actor best known for playing NYPD officer Jamie Reagan on the CBS drama *Blue Bloods* (2010–2024), a role he played opposite [Tom Selleck](https://www.edgepedia.org/tom-selleck) for the series' entire 14-season run. He began working as a child actor in the 1980s and earned three [Young Artist Award](https://www.edgepedia.org/young-artist-award) nominations for the syndicated series *The New Lassie*.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | William Estes Nipper, 1978, Los Angeles, California[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0261678/bio/) |
| Breakout child role | Will McCullough on *The New Lassie* (syndicated, 1989–1992), with three Young Artist Award nominations[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/will-estes/) • [3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/estes-will-1978) |
| Early screen work | *U-571* (2000) as Seaman Ronald "Rabbit" Parker; J.J. Pryor on *American Dreams* (NBC, 2002–05)[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/will-estes/) |
| Signature role | Jamie Reagan on *Blue Bloods* (CBS, 2010–2024), the youngest son in a family of New York police officers[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0261678/bio/) • [4](https://www.cbs.com/shows/blue_bloods/about/) |
| Film credits | *U-571* and *The Dark Knight Rises*, as Officer Simon Jansen[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0261678/bio/) |
| Recent work | Guest appearance as Jamie Reagan in *Boston Blue* Season 2, Episode 5 (2026)[5](https://www.tvinsider.com/1293634/boston-blue-season-2-jamie-reagan-return-will-estes-blue-bloods/) |
## Early life and child career
Estes was born in Los Angeles to Bill Nipper, a projectionist, and Mary Lu Nipper, an office administrator, and he attended [Santa Monica College](https://www.edgepedia.org/santa-monica-college)[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/estes-will-1978). He began acting as a child, appearing on the soap opera *Santa Barbara*, the series *Highway to Heaven*, and the 1991 feature film *Dutch*[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/will-estes/). His first prominent role came as the youthful owner of the title dog in *The New Lassie* (1989–1992), for which he received Young Artist Award nominations in 1990, 1991, and 1992[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/will-estes/) • [3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/estes-will-1978).
He was billed as "Will Nipper" until 1993, when he began using Will Estes[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/will-estes/). Through the 1990s he guested on shows popular with young audiences, including *Full House*, *Step by Step*, *Boy Meets World*, and *[The Secret World of Alex Mack](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-secret-world-of-alex-mack)*, and held regular roles on short-lived sitcoms including *Kirk* (The WB, 1995–97), *Meego* (CBS, 1997), and *Kelly Kelly* (The WB, 1998)[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/will-estes/). He also worked extensively in commercials as a child, for brands including [Kellogg's](https://www.edgepedia.org/kelloggs), Cheerios, Cap'n Crunch, Mitsubishi, Toyota, Skippy, and Hanes[3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/estes-will-1978).
## Transition to adult roles
Estes's supporting turn as Seaman Ronald "Rabbit" Parker in the submarine film *U-571* (2000) marked a step up; the same year he appeared in co-star [Jon Bon Jovi](https://www.edgepedia.org/jon-bon-jovi)'s music video for "It's My Life"[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/will-estes/). He then played J.J. Pryor, older brother of [Brittany Snow](https://www.edgepedia.org/brittany-snow)'s character, on the NBC drama *American Dreams* (2002–05), a performance that drew critical acclaim[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0261678/bio/) • [2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/will-estes/). A series-regular role as a young priest on the Fox murder mystery *Reunion* (2005) was short-lived[2](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/will-estes/). His television credits from this period also include *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit*, *The Cleaner*, *In Plain Sight*, and *Eleventh Hour*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0261678/bio/).
## Blue Bloods
In 2010 Estes returned to prime-time television with a starring role on *Blue Bloods*, playing Jamie Reagan, the youngest child in a multi-generational family of New York City police officers headed by Police Commissioner Frank Reagan (Tom Selleck)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0261678/bio/) • [4](https://www.cbs.com/shows/blue_bloods/about/). Jamie is a Harvard Law graduate who gives up a legal career to join the police force, starting as a rookie and rising to field intelligence sergeant[4](https://www.cbs.com/shows/blue_bloods/about/) • [6](https://www.tvinsider.com/gallery/blue-bloods-characters-reagan-family-tree/). In the pilot, Jamie is approached by FBI agents investigating the Blue Templar, a rogue group of NYPD officers responsible for the death of his brother Joe, a storyline that shaped his early seasons[7](https://www.tvguide.com/news/blue-bloods-estes-1023880/).
Over the run, Jamie's partnership with officer Eddie Janko developed professionally and then romantically, culminating in their marriage in the Season 9 finale[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/gallery/blue-bloods-characters-reagan-family-tree/). The series ran 14 seasons until 2024[8](https://apnews.com/article/b24a60b2de1280fea69d627cb4a90b13). Estes said the show's longevity gave him a chance to grow into the role, noting he had never done anything that lasted that long[6](https://www.tvinsider.com/gallery/blue-bloods-characters-reagan-family-tree/).
His film work during this period included a role as Officer Simon Jansen in *The Dark Knight Rises*, the final installment of [Christopher Nolan](https://www.edgepedia.org/christopher-nolan)'s Batman trilogy[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0261678/bio/).
## Boston Blue and later work
After *Blue Bloods* ended, the CBS spinoff *Boston Blue* continued the franchise, following [Donnie Wahlberg](https://www.edgepedia.org/donnie-wahlberg)'s Danny Reagan as he joins the Boston police department[8](https://apnews.com/article/b24a60b2de1280fea69d627cb4a90b13). Estes reprises Jamie Reagan in a special guest appearance in Season 2, Episode 5, reuniting the character with his brother Danny; the appearance is described as a "one-off adventure" that updates fans on Jamie's life since *Blue Bloods* ended[5](https://www.tvinsider.com/1293634/boston-blue-season-2-jamie-reagan-return-will-estes-blue-bloods/). At the end of *Blue Bloods*, Jamie and Eddie were expecting their first child, a boy named Joseph Francis Reagan, a detail referenced in the spinoff[9](https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/one-blue-bloods-character-boston-blues-mika-amonson-really-wants-return-jamie-reagan).
## Personal notes
Estes stands 5 feet 8½ inches (1.74 m) tall[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0261678/bio/). Despite the shared surname, he is not related to actor [Rob Estes](https://www.edgepedia.org/rob-estes)[10](https://alpha.creativecirclecdn.com/nmcil/files/20240109-151358-3a0713babfb6fc3418ff2fb8527d8b2b.zip~2021-06-30.pdf).
## References
1. [Will Estes – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0261678/bio/)
2. [Will Estes – Actor, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/will-estes/)
3. [Estes, Will 1978–, Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/estes-will-1978)
4. [Blue Bloods – About, CBS](https://www.cbs.com/shows/blue_bloods/about/)
5. [Jamie Reagan's 'Boston Blue' Debut, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/1293634/boston-blue-season-2-jamie-reagan-return-will-estes-blue-bloods/)
6. [Blue Bloods Characters: The Reagan Family Tree, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/gallery/blue-bloods-characters-reagan-family-tree/)
7. [Blue Bloods' Will Estes: Secret Society Twist Is Like The Godfather, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/news/blue-bloods-estes-1023880/)
8. [Donnie Wahlberg steps into the New York-Boston divide with 'Boston Blue', AP News](https://apnews.com/article/b24a60b2de1280fea69d627cb4a90b13)
9. [One Blue Bloods Character Boston Blue's Mika Amonsen Really Wants To Return, CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/one-blue-bloods-character-boston-blues-mika-amonson-really-wants-return-jamie-reagan)
10. [The Mendota Reader reader Q&A on Will and Rob Estes](https://alpha.creativecirclecdn.com/nmcil/files/20240109-151358-3a0713babfb6fc3418ff2fb8527d8b2b.zip~2021-06-30.pdf)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 2000s onward › Surnames Do to E*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license