Saqib Majid
When Rizzoli & Isles debuted in 2010, it left a lasting impression on the crime drama genre by focusing on two strong female leads and providing a novel viewpoint. The TNT series, which was based on Tess Gerritsen’s best-selling novels, featured the hard-charging detective Jane Rizzoli (Angie Harmon) and her sophisticated, astute colleague, medical examiner Dr. Maura Isles (Sasha Alexander), as they collaborated to investigate crimes throughout Boston. The show’s unmistakable connection between its two stars, which kept viewers interested for all seven seasons from 2010 to 2016, was what made it stand out in addition to its deft case-solving.
Despite their differences in real life, Harmon and Alexander had a strong and organic on-screen relationship. Alexander discussed their effortless connection in a 2012 interview with The Advocate, stating that it “clicked from the moment we read together.” Although they come from different origins and have different personalities—Alexander is more refined and poised, while Harmon is more of a tomboy with a big, rowdy family—their differences only served to strengthen the bond between their characters. Alexander said that by contrasting them, they were able to depict two different kinds of women, embracing diversity without overpowering one another.
The show’s strength was not limited to its starring pair. The remaining actors, particularly those playing Jane’s relatives, gave the show more nuance and compassion. Colin Egglesfield portrayed their younger brother, Tommy, and Jordan Bridges portrayed Frankie Rizzoli Jr., Jane’s brother and fellow police officer. Their lively mother, Angela, was played by Lorraine Bracco, who eventually got a job at the precinct café. Detective Vince Korsak (Bruce McGill), tech specialist Nina Holiday (Idara Victor), and detective Barry Frost (Lee Thompson Young), Jane’s previous season companion, completed the crime-fighting squad.
When Lee Thompson Young, then 29 years old, sadly committed suicide in August 2013, the cast and crew suffered a devastating loss. In response, the season 5 premiere of the show honored him. In order to ensure that those who knew and loved Young would feel that his memory had been appropriately honored, showrunner Jan Nash later revealed that the intention was to commemorate both the actor and his role.
The cast’s personal and professional life have taken different turns since the show’s 2016 finale. For example, Angie Harmon has kept a modest profile in the entertainment industry. She appeared briefly on Match Game in 2020 and provided the voice of a character in Voltron: Legendary Defender. She started narrating Lifetime’s Cellmate Secrets documentary series in 2021. In 2020, outside of performing, Harmon collaborated with the home décor brand LeighDeux to create a line that included her unique artwork of a skull. Additionally, she has carried on with her work as a UNICEF ambassador, a position she has had since 2013. Regarding her personal life, she and NFL quarterback Jason Sehorn, with whom she had three daughters, split up in 2014. Actor Greg Vaughan and she later became engaged in 2019, but it seems that they broke up in 2021.
After Rizzoli & Isles, Sasha Alexander continued to be active in a variety of roles. In addition to appearing in shows including Amanda McKay, The Ride, and Bernard and Huey, she had a recurring role on Shameless from 2015 to 2016. In 2020, she played a detective in the Netflix drama Dangerous Lies and appeared on Law & Order: SVU, FBI, and Amazing Stories. In 2007, Alexander wed director Edoardo Ponti, the son of Sophia Loren, a legendary figure in film, and the two of them have two kids together.
After the series concluded, Jordan Bridges, who played the dependable Frankie Rizzoli Jr., kept performing. He starred in Law & Order: SVU and a number of Hallmark films, such as True Love Blooms and Christmas at Holly Lodge. He most recently costarred with his uncle Jeff Bridges in the 2022 television series The Old Man. He has two kids with his wife, Carrie Eastman, whom he married in 2002.
The seasoned actor who played Vince Korsak, Bruce McGill, had a consistent career in both film and television. He made appearances on prominent television programs like Suits, NCIS, and Blue Bloods. In 2018, he played a significant part in Shades of Blue. He narrated the Fox News documentary Scandalous in the same year. He starred in Poms, Troubled Waters, and The Best of Enemies on the big screen and is still working on new projects. Since 1994, McGill and Gloria Lee have been wed.
Loved for her portrayal of Angela Rizzoli, Lorraine Bracco went on to voice Summer Camp Island and appear in Blue Bloods. She starred in holiday films and short films, including A Ring for Christmas and The Birthday Cake. Bracco is also a writer, having written two books, including the 2015 wellness manual To the Fullest.
Since 2016, Idara Victor, who portrayed lab tech Nina Holiday, has starred in a number of television series, such as Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G., Love Is, and TURN: Washington’s Spies. After appearing in Shameless in 2019, she most recently played Tina on HBO’s Minx in 2022.
After Rizzoli & Isles, Colin Egglesfield, who played Tommy Rizzoli, made the move to the movie industry. The Space Between Us, The Middle of X, and Bad Moms are among his credits. In addition, he starred in Chicago Fire and will soon appear in Love by Drowning and In the Blink of an Eye. Egglesfield’s memoir, Agile Artist, which chronicled his adventures in Hollywood and his fight with cancer, was published in 2019. Additionally, he was a co-founder of Stage 2 Properties, a Chicago-based real estate redevelopment firm.
The devoted following of Rizzoli & Isles and the enduring impact of its performers, both on and off screen, are testaments to the show’s legacy.