Blue Bloods’ Marlene Lawston played Nicky Reagan-Boyle in the pilot episode of the CBS drama.
Blue Bloods’ original Nicky Reagan-Boyle star was replaced after just one episode but what became of Marlene Lawston?
In 2010, the inaugural episode of CBS’ family police drama hit the airwaves, introducing viewers to the iconic Reagan family, including Tom Selleck’s Frank Reagan and Donnie Wahlberg’s Danny Reagan.
The episode also briefly introduced Erin Reagan-Boyle’s (Bridget Moynahan) daughter Nicky, portrayed as a sensitive child unafraid to voice her opinions.
She candidly told her uncle Danny (Donnie Wahlberg) that her mom was upset with their grandfather Henry Reagan (Len Cariou) for taking his side over hers.
Henry later quipped that kidnappers would “throw Nicky back in five minutes”, prompting the young girl to storm off.
Prior to Blue Bloods, child actress Marlene Lawston had appeared in several other projects, including Flightplan, Law and Order, and Dan In Real Life.
During this time, she worked alongside some big names, including Jodie Foster in Flightplan and Steve Carell in Dan In Real Life.
However, Blue Bloods marked Lawston’s final onscreen role, ending her acting career. From the fourth episode onwards, the character of Nicky was played by Sami Gayle.
Since stepping away from the limelight, Lawston has been diligently working towards a career in a completely different field, having attended the University of Rochester’s School of Medicine and Dentistry.
Blue Bloods’ original Nicky Reagan-Boyle star Marlene Lawston was replaced by Sami Gayle from season one, episode four continues. (Image: CBS)
She’s an alumna of Colgate University, and as Looper reports, in 2020 she was awarded the prestigious NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholarship, enabling her to pursue both her Master’s degree and PhD.
Colgate University’s official site provides more insight, noting that her research is focused on genetic disorders, where she “uses stem cell models and genetic testing from families with the duplication/deletion disorders to better understand the disorders at a cellular level”.
Discussing what drives her research, Lawston revealed: “I was always interested in research that would impact health care.”
The university’s website also mentions that her own “health issues as a child” led her to “develop an appreciation for the medical system”.
