Donnie Wahlberg has opened up about the departure of Amy Carlson from their hit CBS cop series Blue Bloods after many seasons.

The 49-year-old actress played Linda, the wife of Danny Reagan (Donnie), since the Blue Bloods pilot. Amy was a series regular from season 2 onward.

“Rather than try to act or find something to do, I just thought about my friend Amy Carlson,” Donnie explained of how he approached those first scenes playing a widow (via EW). “I thought about all the years together and all the highs and lows and the ups and downs and the journey. Any tears I shed in that scene was really Donnie shedding them for Amy… She’s a dear friend. I cherish our friendship.”

“I know the audience is grieving her loss too, a lot, and I think if everyone rides the season out and takes that journey with the family as well, they will go through those stages of grief together and do what Blue Bloods typically does: make us all one family,” Donnie added. “Hopefully this family of our cast, the show, and the viewers will all mourn the loss together and move forward after this season.”