This ‘Breaking Bad’ Star Played a Dangerous ‘Blue Bloods’ Character in Season 1

'Breaking Bad', actor Mark Margolis played a very dangerous criminal on 'Blue Bloods'. This is how the character's family harmed Frank Reagan.

by Nicole Weaver

Published on March 23, 2021

2 min read

Mark Margolis played Hector Salamanca on ‘Breaking Bad’

Hector Salamanca (Mark Margolis) was a high-ranking member of the Juárez cartel and ran drugs. He targeted Walter White (Bryan Cranston) after his nephew Tuco’s death (Raymond Cruz).

Hector was disabled after having a stroke and still had a powerful hold on the other characters. He eventually meets his demise in season 4 in an iconic scene with Gustavo Fring (Giancarlo Esposito).

Margolis was later brought back for the prequel series Better Call Saul. Before Breaking Bad, Margolis played a similarly dangerous character on Blue Bloods.

This ‘Breaking Bad’ star played a dangerous ‘Blue Bloods’ character

Len Cariou as Henry Reagan and Tom Selleck as Frank Reagan on 'Blue Bloods' stand outside in their police uniforms. Frank is on the phone.

Len Cariou as Henry Reagan and Tom Selleck as Frank Reagan on ‘Blue Bloods’ | Jojo Whilden/CBS via Getty Images

The first season of Blue Bloods showed the Reagan family still healing from Joe Reagan’s death. The episode “Dedication” starts with Frank having dinner with friends. Afterward, he stands in front of a building and gets shot multiple times in a drive-by shooting.

Frank recovers in the hospital as the rest of the family scrambles to find out who did this. Fans then get to learn about Frank’s past.

Margolis played Whitey Brennan, who was a gang leader in the ‘70s. Frank was an officer, and the cops tried to arrest Whitey, but four people were killed. All of them were close to Whitney, including his wife and an infant grandson. Whitey’s sons then decided to get revenge by trying to kill Frank.

The story is actually similar to Hector’s story. Both characters have a tragic backstory, and their family members are trying to seek revenge after losing a family member. Margolis isn’t the only actor from Breaking Bad to be in the cop show.

Steven Bauer was also in both shows

Steven Bauer played Eladio Vuente on Breaking Bad. He was the leader of the Juárez Cartel. Gustavo is seen visiting him and eventually getting revenge by killing him. Bauer was in two episodes.

The actor was also in two episodes of Blue Bloods. He played Gerry Guerrero, who is a civil rights attorney who was first seen in the season 6 episode, “Rush to Judgment.” He starts the episode by being part of an anti police brutality protest. His character gets wrongly accused of rape. Jamie (Will Estes) is wrongly accused of hurting a civilian. The episode ends with Guerrero and the Reagans sort of making a truce despite being on opposite sides.

Guerrero is seen again in season 7 in “Hard Bargain.” The attorney represents a pop star named Osvaldo, who is wrongfully arrested. Frank then has to settle the matter.

So two Breaking Bad actors who played characters in the Juárez cartel were on Blue Bloods. They both gave Frank Reagan a hard time.