Pic credit: CBS. In an interview with Looper, he opened up about how he got the role and according to him, he was floored by the opportunity to play Tom Sellecks dad. The following year he became a founding member of the Manitoba Theatre Centre (Canadas first English-language regional theatre) under the mentorship of Artistic Director John Hirsch. If he continues to work at the pace hes been going at, theres no reason he cant reach 100 credits within the next few years. In 1973, he received his second Tony nomination for A Little Night Music; he reprised the role of Fredrik for the 1977 film version opposite Elizabeth Taylor. Leonard Joseph Cariou OC OM (/kriu/; born September 30, 1939) is a Canadian actor and stage director, best known for his portrayal of Sweeney Todd in the original cast of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, for which he won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical, and for playing the patriarch Henry Reagan, NYPD Police Commissioner (retired), in the multi-generational television series Blue Bloods on CBS. Len returned to the Guthrie Theatre in 1978 as both actor and Associate Director, once again under the aegis of Michael Langham. Leonard Joseph Cariou (born September 30, 1939 in St. Boniface, Manitoba) is a Canadian actor and stage director best known for Blue Bloods as Henry Reagan and for originating the title role in Stephen Sondheim 's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Although he was offered a scholarship to study at the National Theatre School of Canada but he chose to turn it down because he didnt want to take the time away from his family. He would get Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury), the title character of the show, involved in mysteries involving international intrigue. Instead, he learned his craft by spending two years at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Ontario, and returned in 1981 to lead the company as Prospero, Coriolanus, Brutus, and Petruchio. He has been married to Heather Summerhayes since October 25, 1986. Len also loves golf and he has been an avid player for years. Thats never good news at all and it set some people to start speculating. In 2010, Cariou appeared as Madoff-like Ponzi scheme man Louis Tobin in the drama Damages, the main antagonist in season three. Moreover, his unprecedented success as a Canadian actor on Broadway has been such that from The Great White Way to Britains West End to Dublins famed Gate Theatre, the name Len Cariou is synonymous with Canadas reputation for producing great theatrical talent. He has served as Honorary Chair for the Endowment campaign at the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre. in 1985/86, while also working as the Citadels Associate Director. He has directed several theater productions over the years including Of Mice and Men and Death of a Salesman. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Exciting Game To Anime Adaptations To Check Out, Ash Ketchum Will No Longer Be The Face Of Pokemon. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. 2023 TV GUIDE, A FANDOM COMPANY. Let me put it that way., According to Len, he wouldnt mind if the show went on for 12 more seasons. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. That said, the central figure in the show is his son, Frank Reagan (played by Tom Selleck), who has since taken over the position of commissioner, while his children hold various positions in the NYPD and the district attorney's office. So many interesting scenes over the past seasons have involved him. When people think of Lens career, live-action work is probably the first thing that comes to mind. While giving 8 performances a week as Lear, Len directed an award-winning production of Death of a Salesman in which he gave Canadian actors Allan Royal and Ron White the rare opportunity to star opposite legendary actor James Whitmore. He is an actor and producer, known for About Schmidt (2002) and Blue Bloods (2010). Indeed, Len has served with distinction as a steadfast, loyal and eloquent Canadian ambassador to the arts. [citation needed]. Six decades after Canadian actor Len Cariou started his acting career, he's still booked and busy. [3] He was offered a scholarship at the National Theatre School of Canada in Montreal but, married with a young child and financial responsibilities, he was forced to decline the honor. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. In the first place, Tom and I Whos going to buy me being Tom Sellecks father?" [7], In 2009, Cariou portrayed Franklin D. Roosevelt in the HBO movie Into the Storm, earning an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie. Before you begin working with this site, please take a moment to review the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Camille has a master's degree from Saint Joseph University's Writing Studies program, and she currently works as the Writing Center Assistant Director at a small university in western Pennsylvania. But is Len leaving Blue Bloods? He also lent his acting talent to that season, appearing on MTCs stage in Cyrano and Equus. Regionally, he has starred in a multitude of productions at theatres throughout North America, including the Kennedy Centre, the Mark Taper Forum, the Manitoba Theatre Centre, the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, the American Shakespeare Festival, the Guthrie Theatre, Long Wharf Theatre and the Old Globe Theatre. This does lead him in that direction, though. By Giovana Gelhoren Published: Aug 6, 2021 Blue Bloods star Len Cariou has been married to Heather Summerhayes Cariou for over three decades. Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie: Sang in a church choir and at weddings as a boy soprano, Made his stage debut in the chorus of a Canadian production of Damn Yankees in 1959, Starred alongside Angela Lansbury in the original 1979 Broadway production of Sweeney Todd; the pair teamed up again when Cariou landed a recurring role as a spy on Lansbury's series Murder, She Wrote, Narrated the Oscar-winning 1989 documentary short film The Johnstown Flood, Elected into the American Theatre Hall of Fame in 2004, Featured as corrupt billionaire Louis Tobin in season three of Damages. He has also produced two on-screen projects. Cariou continued to practice his craft on stages in the US, Canada and the UK through the 80s, 90s and into the 21st century. Six years later he won both the Tony and Drama Desk Award for his portrayal of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street in the Stephen Sondheim musical opposite Angela Lansbury. Browse Len Cariou movies and TV shows available on Prime Video and begin streaming right away to your favorite device. Len has spent the majority of his career focusing on acting, but he has also gotten the opportunity to tell stories from the other side. Heres another interesting story about Cariou. Although Len is well-known for a variety of roles, the last 10 years of his career have made him famous for playing Henry Reagan in the popular series Blue Bloods. However, CBS has yet to greenlight Season 13 of Blue Bloods, and viewers may have to say goodbye to the entire cast pretty soon if the show isn't renewed. By the way, Cariou is not the only singer on the show's set. In addition to finding lots of success on screen, Len has also had a very impressive theater career. In 1970, while he was appearing in the title role of the American Shakespeare Theatre companys Henry V, Len landed his first starring role on Broadway opposite Lauren Bacall in Applause, a musical adaptation of the film All About Eve. He had a continuing role in 20062007 as power broker Judd Fitzgerald in the series Brotherhood. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Acting isnt the only thing that Len has been passionate about in his life. You can watch new episodes of Blue Bloods on Fridays at 10 p.m. EST on CBS. One time, Cariou managed to team up with former cast member Sami Gayle for a little Broadway throwback. One time, Cariou managed to team up with former cast member Sami Gayle for a little Broadway throwback. Having made his mark with that role, within a year he was invited to join the Stratford Festival. He was born Leonard Joseph Cariou to his parents, George Marios Cariou and Molly Estelle Cariou . By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. In addition, he was the narrator of "An Amazin' Era", a video commemorating the 25th anniversary of the New York Mets franchise. The early years of Lens professional career highlighted his soaring talent as he was cast in a range of successively more important roles in both classical and contemporary genres. In 1975, he stepped into the role of Artistic Director of the Manitoba Theatre Centre for the 75/76 season. In reality, however, Len was born and raised in Canada. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. He has been married to Heather Summerhayes since 25 October 1986. It must be said that Len had no set ambition to seek his fortune outside of Canada; only to do whatever it took to become the best possible actor he could be. Cariou, meanwhile, has earned over 80 onscreen credits throughout his career. However, recent episodes suggest that the tough-but-fair family patriarch's story may come to an end soon. Two years later, Cariou landed his first starring role opposite Lauren Bacall in Applause, a musical adaptation of the film All About Eve. In 2009, he triumphed in The Gate Theatres definitive production of All My Sons, in Dublin, Ireland, reprising his role as Joe Keller, which had also won him raves at the Geffen Theatre in Los Angeles in 2007. It's Not Unlikely. beth tucker united stand / cuna management school / len cariou tv commercials. Len is the first Canadian to have received three Tony nominations as Best Actor in a Musical; for Applause (1969), A Little Night Music (1975), and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1979). He is an actor and producer, known for About Schmidt (2002) and Blue Bloods (2010). 2023 TV GUIDE, A FANDOM COMPANY. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Chanel no 5 'Swimming Pool' commercial 1980's. No narration by Len Cariou. LOS ANGELES (AP) Angela Lansbury and Len Cariou were partners-in-crime on stage in "Sweeney Todd" and crime busters in episodes of TV's "Murder, She Wrote." The actors were also friends and admirers, staying in touch after becoming the toasts of Broadway and Tony Award winners in 1979 for Stephen Sondheim's acclaimed musical. The repercussions are still being felt today as many Winnipeg actors have moved on to star in productions throughout Canada and the US. "Were only about a generation apart. Len Cariou was born on 30 September 1939 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Cariou also appeared on Broadway in Night Watch, Cold Storage, The Speed of Darkness, Neil Simon's The Dinner Party (with Henry Winkler and John Ritter) and Proof (with Anne Heche and Neil Patrick Harris). However, even though the show sells this relationship so well that you believe the age difference, the truth is that it might have been more appropriate to have Henry and Frank be brothers, rather than father and son. "Celebrity Reading of 'A Christmas Carol'", Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie, The American Playwrights Theater: The One Acts, Dominick Dunne's Power, Privilege, and Justice, "Frost/Nixon star reveals hot-blooded past", "Winnipeg's Cariou takes pride in Manitoba Theatre Centre roots", "Tony Awards 1979 / ACTOR (LEADING ROLE - MUSICAL)", "Stage veterans receive praise at induction", "Governor General Announces 103 New Appointments to the Order of Canada | Markets Insider", "Nominations Announced for 86th Annual Drama League Awards", Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Len_Cariou&oldid=1133347438, Best Actor Genie and Canadian Screen Award winners, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2022, Articles with unsourced statements from May 2021, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2020, Internet Off-Broadway Database person ID same as Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Michael Hagarty / Monsignore O'Shaugnessy, Edgar Beezley / Mac Geller / Captain Allard Bunker, Best Actor in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series, This page was last edited on 13 January 2023, at 09:43. 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