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Len Cariou

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BIO

Len Cariou is a Canadian stage actor, singer and stage director. He gained prominence for his portrayal of Sweeney Todd in the original cast of Stephen Sondheim's musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1979) alongside Angela Lansbury for which he won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical. He also received Tony nominations for his roles in the Betty Comden and Adolph Green musical Applause (1970), and the Sondheim musical A Little Night Music (1973).



He is also known for his film roles in A Little Night Music (1977), The Four Seasons (1981), Thirteen Days (2000), About Schmidt (2002), Flags of Our Fathers (2006), Prisoners (2013), and Spotlight (2015). He portrayed Franklin D. Roosevelt in the HBO film Into the Storm (2009) for which he received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie. He also is known for his recurring television roles in Murder, She Wrote (1985-1992), Brotherhood (2005-2006), and Damages (2010). Since 2010, he has starred as the patriarch Henry Reagan, NYPD Police Commissioner (retired), in the multi-generational CBS series Blue Bloods.

Photos

STAGE CREDITS

Harry Townsend's Last Stand Harry Townsend's Last Stand
[Off-Broadway]
New York City Center Off-Broadway Premiere, 2019
Harry Townsend
Broadway and the Bard Broadway and the Bard
[Off-Broadway]
World Premiere Production, 2016
Performer
Kismet
[Regional (US)]
Reprise! Concert, 2004
Other Roles
The Persians
[Off-Broadway]
2003
Darius
No Strings
[Off-Broadway]
Encores! Concert, 2003
Performer
Funny Girl
[Broadway]
Actors' Fund Concert, 2002
Florenz Ziegfeld Jr.
Proof
[Broadway]
Broadway Transfer, 2000
Robert [Replacement]
[Replacement]
The Dinner Party
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2000
Andre Bouville
Sweeney Todd
[London Fringe]
London Concert, 2000
Sweeney Todd
Paramour
[San Diego, CA (Regional)]
World Premiere, 1998
Gen. St. Pe
Angela Lansbury - A Celebration
[Broadway]
Angela Lansbury Tribute Benefit, 1996
Performer
Papa
[Off-Broadway]
1996
Ernest Hemingway
The Speed of Darkness
[Broadway]
1991
Joe
Mountain
[Off-Broadway]
1990
William O. Douglass
Measure for Measure
[Off-Broadway]
1989
Vincentio
Teddy & Alice
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1987
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt
Master Class
[Off-Broadway]
1986
Stalin
Up from Paradise
[Off-Broadway]
1983
Performer
Dance a Little Closer
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1983
Harry Aikens
Sweeney Todd
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1979
Sweeney Todd
Cold Storage
[Broadway]
1977
Richard Landau
A Sorrow Beyond Dreams
[Off-Broadway]
1977
The Writer
Sondheim: A Musical Tribute
[Broadway]
Concert [Broadway], 1973
Performer
A Little Night Music
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1973
Frederik Egerman
Night Watch
[Broadway]
1972
John Wheeler
Applause
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1970
Bill Sampson
King Henry V
[Broadway]
1969
King Henry V
Up From Paradise
[New York]
New York Concert, 1981
God
Up From Paradise
[Off-Broadway]
Original Off-Broadway Production, 1983
Up From Paradise
[New York]
New York Concert, 1981

Productions

Don't Call Back
 
[Broadway, 1975]
Director

Writing

Movies

A Little Night Music
[ 1977 ] Frederick Egerman
Drying Up the Streets
[ 1978 ] Larry
The Four Seasons
[ 1981 ] Nick Callan
Lady in White
[ 1988 ] Phil Terragrossa
Getting In
[ 1994 ] Dr. Lionel Higgs, Dr. Ezekial Higgs
Never Talk to Strangers
[ 1995 ] Henry Taylor
Executive Decision
[ 1996 ] Secretary of Defense Charles White
Thirteen Days
[ 2000 ] Dean Acheson
About Schmidt
[ 2002 ] Ray Nichols
Secret Window
[ 2004 ] Sheriff Dave Newsome
Boynton Beach Club
[ 2005 ] Jack
The Greatest Game Ever Played
[ 2005 ] Stedman Comstock
Flags of Our Fathers
[ 2006 ] Mr. Beech
1408
[ 2007 ] Mike's Father
The Onion Movie
[ 2008 ] Norm Archer
Prisoners
[ 2013 ] Father Patrick Dunn
Spotlight
[ 2015 ] Cardinal Law
Death Wish
[ 2018 ] Ben
Bumblebee
[ 2018 ] Uncle Hank

TV Shows

Blue Bloods
Henry Reagan
Brotherhood
Judd Fitzgerald
Law & Order
Edgar Beezley, Mac Geller, Captain Allard Bunker
Murder, She Wrote
Michael Hagarty, Monsignore O'Shaugnessy
The Outer Limits
Doc Wells, Father Anton Jonascu
Blue Bloods
[ 2010-2024 ] Henry Reagan

Awards and Nominations


winner
Theatre World Awards - 2024 - John Willis Awards for Lifetime Achievement

Len Cariou

Drama League Awards - 2020 - Distinguished Performance Award

Len Cariou, Harry Townsend's Last Stand

Helen Hayes Awards - 2003 - Outstanding Lead Actor, Non-Resident Production

Len CariouCopenhagen

Helen Hayes Awards - 2001 - Outstanding Supporting Performer, Non-Resident Production

Len CariouDinner Party

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 1991 - Best Actor - Play

Len Cariou , Speed of Darkness


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 1979 - Outstanding Actor - Musical

Len Cariou, Sweeney Todd

Tony Awards - 1979 - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

Len Cariou, Sweeney Todd

Tony Awards - 1973 - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

Len Cariou , A Little Night Music


winner
Theatre World Awards - 1970 - Performance

Len CariouHenry V


winner
Theatre World Awards - 1970 - Performance

Len Cariou, Applause

Tony Awards - 1970 - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

Len Cariou, Applause

Videos

More Videos

News


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Theatre World Awards Board of Directors has just announced the Honorees for Theatre World Award for an Outstanding Debut Performance in a Broadway or Off-Broadway Production. We have the full list of honorees!
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More News

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Len Cariou been in?

Len Cariou has appeared on Broadway in 14 shows.

How many West End shows has Len Cariou been in?

Len Cariou has not appeared in the West End.

What awards has Len Cariou been nominated for?

John Willis Awards for Lifetime Achievement (Theatre World Awards) for , Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards) for Harry Townsend's Last Stand, Outstanding Lead Actor, Non-Resident Production (Helen Hayes Awards) for Copenhagen , Outstanding Supporting Performer, Non-Resident Production (Helen Hayes Awards) for Dinner Party, Best Actor - Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Speed of Darkness, Outstanding Actor - Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Sweeney Todd, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Sweeney Todd, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for A Little Night Music, Performance (Theatre World Awards) for Henry V, Performance (Theatre World Awards) for Applause and Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Applause.

What awards has Len Cariou won?

Len Cariou has received the John Willis Awards for Lifetime Achievement from the Theatre World Awards. He won Outstanding Actor in a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for his performance in Sweeney Todd. Additionally, he earned Theatre World Awards for his performances in Henry V and Applause.

How many shows has Len Cariou written?

Len Cariou has written 1 shows including Broadway and the Bard (Conceived by).

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