The actress was a star on Broadway and in popular soap operas before pulling up a chair at the Reagan family dinners.
By Emily Blackwood |
If there's one constant at the Reagan family dinner table,it's change. New faces are always pulling up a chair as the generations grow older and bring new people into the "Blue Bloods" cast. This has kept things fresh over the series' impressive 14-year run, which will air its 14th and final season on February 16. Out of all the new characters and storylines introduced since season one aired back in 2010, one of the most cherished among viewers has been Eddie Janko played by Vanessa Ray.
By now, she's no longer a newbie to the show. We first met Janko in season four as the love interest of Jamie Reagan (Will Estes). The easy chemistry between the two characters culminated in a swoon-worthy romance and, eventually, marriage. When the two of them tied the knot, fans were pleased to know that they could expect to see Janko around that dinner table for many seasons to come. They could also anticipate that she would play an increasingly significant role in the series' ever-growing plot.
While "Blue Bloods" fans are certainly fond of Ray for the life she breathes into Janko, the actress has been involved in many other notable projects over the years. Scroll through to learn more about the impressive life and career of Vanessa Ray.
Ray's first steps into the world of performing arts happened not in front of a camera but on stage. While little is known about how she first got into theater, she's credited with originating the role of Nemo in "Finding Nemo: The Musical," which ran at Disney World in Orlando. Ray's theatrical resume? also includes playing Olive Ostrovsky in a national tour of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" and as Crissy in the Broadway production of "Hair."
"I got my roots starting in theater, and a multi-cam is the closest thing to live theater on TV I can think of," she said in an interview withNerds of Color. "I miss taking a bow at the end of an epic performance!"
While she eventually went on to star on the small screen, she made a few returns to the stage. In 2022, she played Yvette in "Clue" at the Portland-based Anonymous Theatre Company.
Soap Opera Star
After spending some time in the literal spotlight, Ray startedlanding some guest roles in TV shows such as "Bored to Death" and "Damages." It took a few years of auditioning, but in 2006 she landed the gig that would eventually put her name on the map, playing Teri Ciccone in the popular soap opera "As the World Turns."
In a 2009 interview, she talked about the mental hurdle she had to overcome going from theater to soaps. When asked about what the major differences are between the mediums, she said: "Probably the choices you have to make, as quick as you have to make them."
"There's memorizing, then doing it, and just trusting that your instincts are right," she added. "I'm really impressed by all the actors on the show. They take it so seriously. They really force you to up your game."
Ray kept the role of Teri alive for six years and over 50 episodes before moving on to bigger and better things.
Between 2010 and 2012, Ray was everywhere. She guest-starred on some of the most popular shows at the time, including "White Collar," "Nurse Jackie," "Girls" and "Suits." But her highest-profile role — before "Blue Bloods," of course — was as CeCe Drake in the teen drama "Pretty Little Liars."
She only appeared in 19 episodes throughout her five years on the show, but her character played a pivotal role in the plot. Since the series ended, Ray has spoken publicly about how completely different the two major characters she's known for were.
"It is just so cool that I get to kind of live out these two little dream fantasies," she told StyleCaster. "One of being a super girly girl with extensions and nails and lashes and pastel clothing, things that Eddie Janko would never wear. And then I get to explore a little more vulnerable side with Eddie. I think with all of the things that are happening to her, she is constantly discovering what her job really is.
"I am just really lucky that I get to play a role as sort of silly as CeCe and as complex as Eddie. And Eddie is pretty silly, too. I feel like I should do a YouTube video of the two of them having a conversation. They would have nothing to talk about."
Is Vanessa Ray Still On Blue Bloods?
Fans of both Eddie Janko and Vanessa Ray will be happy to hear that her character is still alive and well on "Blue Bloods." You can catch her and the rest of the Reagan family in the 14th and final season, which premieres Friday, February 16, at 10 p.m. ET.
READ MORE:Who Is Bridget Moynahan's Husband? Meet The 'Blue Bloods' Star's Longtime Partner Andrew Frankel
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Vanessa Ray Liptak (born June 24, 1981) is an American actress. She is known for her roles on Pretty Little Liars
Pretty Little Liars
A television series for The Perfectionists was developed and later reworked into a spin-off and stand-alone sequel of Pretty Little Liars with the title Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists, which became the third series in the franchise.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Pretty_Little_Liars_(franchise)
It was reported that Vanessa Ray was cast to portray CeCe Drake, who was later known to be Charlotte DiLaurentis. When Ray was announced to start filming again for Pretty Little Liars fourth season, she spoke about returning, stating: "It's so fun to do, and what a crazy character I get to play.
, on legal drama Suits as Jenny, on soap opera As the World Turns as Teri Ciccone, and on police drama Blue Bloods as Officer Edit "Eddie" Janko-Reagan.
Vanessa Ray, whose character Eddie Janko is a part of one of the best Blue Bloods couples with Jamie Reagan, is in her own loving relationship in real life. Ray married husband Landon Beard in 2015, the couple adopting their son, Isaac, in November 2023. “We're just so focused on him right now,” Ray explained.
Characters like Jamie and Eddie had potential for more development. Eddie Janko-Reagan, played by Vanessa Ray, becomes a key member of the Reagan family through her romance with Jamie. Vanessa Ray's portrayal of Eddie in Blue Bloods is praised for bringing depth and connection to the character.
The actress adopted a son with her husband Landon Beard. Share this: Blue Bloods star Vanessa Ray and her husband Landon Beard are now the proud parents of a baby boy. The 42-year-old actress, who plays Eddie Reagan, revealed that she and her husband welcomed their son via adoption in November 2023.
How much does Tom Selleck make on Blue Bloods? With earnings of about $200,000 per episode and 24 episodes per season, Selleck makes about $4.8 million per season of Blue Bloods.
Initially, they mutually decide not to pursue a romantic relationship lest they lose their partnership. However, they announced their engagement to the Reagan family in the season 8 finale, "My Aim Is True". The two wed in the season 9 finale, "Something Blue".
The in-show reason Jack Reagan stopped appearing in Blue Bloods is that the character went off to college in season 9, episode 5, "Thicker Than Water". The out-of-show reason for Terraciano's departure from the show actually mirrors his character's.
The table has grown over the seasons, inviting new members into their tight clan, but is that how it is in real life? Turns out, the cast is basically a family themselves! Whether they are posting dance challenges to Instagram or taking sweet photos together, the Blue Bloods cast is a fun bunch.
In 2022, Baez adopted a newborn baby girl, Elena Baez, whose biological mother Elena Marquez was murdered by a bomb planted on the orders of Arturo Muñoz. At the time of her murder, Marquez was supposed to be in witness protection while preparing to testify against Muñoz, but had left to check on her mother.
Amy Carlson Departed the Series After Her Contract Expired
Sometimes, it has to do with behind-the-scenes factors. In the case of Amy Carlson, her Blue Bloods contract expired after Season 7, and she chose not to renew it (though she did not give a specific reason why).
How much does Tom Selleck make on Blue Bloods? According to celebritynetworth.com, Tom is the highest-paid member of the Blue Bloods cast as its most prestigious (and also an executive producer), earning a cool $200,000 per episode.
Earlier Estimates: Some sources initially reported a salary of around $60,000 per episode for Vanessa Ray in the early seasons of Blue Bloods. Current Estimates: However, recent reports and industry projections suggest a significant increase, with her salary now estimated to be around $100,000 to $150,000 per episode.
In March 2015, Ray announced on Instagram and Twitter that she was engaged to her boyfriend of six years, Landon Beard. On June 14, 2015, they married at the Condor's Nest Ranch in eastern San Diego County, California.
Edit Reagan was her partner until 2021. In 2021, Witten decided to resign from the NYPD due to the stress she experienced from her occupation as a police officer.
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