Len Cariou
Biography
Leonard Joseph Len Cariou is a Canadian actor born on September 30, 1939, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He gained prominence for his Tony Award-winning title role in the original cast of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street in 1979. Earlier in his career, he earned nominations for his performances in the musicals Applause in 1970 and A Little Night Music in 1973. Cariou has also appeared in supporting film roles in The Four Seasons in 1981, Thirteen Days in 2000, About Schmidt in 2002, Flags of Our Fathers in 2006, Prisoners in 2013, and Spotlight in 2015. On television, he is known for recurring roles in Murder, She Wrote, Brotherhood, and Damages, as well as a starring role in Blue Bloods.
Career overview
Leonard Joseph Len Cariou is a Canadian actor born on September 30, 1939, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He gained prominence for his Tony Award-winning title role in the original cast of the 1979 musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Prior to that success, Cariou earned nominations for his performances in the musicals Applause in 1970 and A Little Night Music in 1973.
In addition to his stage career, Cariou has appeared in supporting roles in several films. His film credits include The Four Seasons in 1981, Thirteen Days in 2000, About Schmidt in 2002, Flags of Our Fathers in 2006, Prisoners in 2013, and Spotlight in 2015.
On television, Cariou has been recognized for his work across multiple series. He is known for recurring roles in Murder, She Wrote between 1985 and 1992, Brotherhood from 2005 to 2006, and Damages in 2010. Furthermore, he took on a starring role in the television show Blue Bloods starting in 2010.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
91 titles- Wildwood (2026) as (voice)
- American Classic (2026) as Linus Bean
- Boston Blue (2025) as Henry Reagan
- Show of Titles (2021) as "Mame" Performer
- Stars in the House (2020) as Self
- When They See Us (2019) as DA Robert Morgenthau
- Bumblebee (2018) as Hank
- Death Wish (2018) as Ben
- Spotlight (2015) as Cardinal Law
- Prisoners (2013) as Father Patrick Dunn
- Wallander: The Troubled Man (2013) as Atkins
- Blue Bloods (2010) as Henry Reagan
- Into the Storm (2009) as President Franklin D. Roosevelt
- The Onion Movie (2008) as Norm Archer
- Army Wives (2007) as Randall Meade
- Damages (2007) as Louis Tobin
- 1408 (2007) as Mike's Father
- Brotherhood (2006) as Judd Fitzgerald
- Flags of Our Fathers (2006) as Mr. Beech
- The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays (2006) as James Tyrone (segment "Long Day's Journey Into Night")
- Wallander (2005) as Atkins
- The Greatest Game Ever Played (2005) as Stedman Comstock
- Boynton Beach Club (2005) as Jack
- Secret Window (2004) as Sheriff Dave Newsome
- Sex Traffic (2004) as Magnus Herzoff
- The Skulls III (2004) as Dean Lawton
- About Schmidt (2002) as Ray Nichols
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000) as Frank McCarty
- Thirteen Days (2000) as Dean Acheson
- Nuremberg (2000) as Francis Biddle
- The West Wing (1999) as Alan Damson
- Mentors (1999) as Alexander Graham Bell
- Border Line (1999) as Jerry
- In the Company of Spies (1999) as The President
- Race for the Record (1998) as Narrator (voice)
- The Practice (1997) as Defense Attorney Weiland
- New York Underground (1997) as Narrator
- FX: The Series (1996) as Charles Emery
- Swift Justice (1996) as Al Swift
- Executive Decision (1996) as Secretary of Defense Charles White
- The Summer of Ben Tyler (1996) as Spencer Maitland
- 1996 New York Yankees: The Official World Series Film (1996) as Self - Narrator
- A Brother's Promise: The Dan Jansen Story (1996) as Harry Jansen
- A Benefit Celebration: A Tribute to Angela Lansbury (1996) as Self
- Star Trek: Voyager (1995) as Admiral Edward Janeway
- The Outer Limits (1995) as Father Anton Jonascu
- The Outer Limits (1995) as Doc Wells
- The Man in the Attic (1995) as Joe Heldmann
- Never Talk to Strangers (1995) as Henry Taylor
- A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes: The Annette Funicello Story (1995) as Walt Disney
- Derby (1995) as Henry Woods
- 1995 Atlanta Braves: The Official World Series Film (1995) as Himself - Narrator
- Witness to the Execution (1994) as Jake Tyler
- Getting In (1994) as Dr. Lionel Higgs / Dr. Ezekial Higgs
- Love on the Run (1994) as Noah Cross
- The Sea Wolf (1993) as Dr. Picard
- 1993 Toronto Blue Jays: The Official World Series Film (1993) as Self - Narrator
- Class of '61 (1993) as Dr. Leland Peyton
- Miracle on Interstate 880 (1993) as Buck Helm
- Law & Order (1990) as Edgar Beezley
- Law & Order (1990) as Captain Allard Bunker
- Law & Order (1990) as Mac Geller
- The Johnstown Flood (1989) as Narrator
- An Amazin Era: Revised and Updated (1989) as Narrator
- American Experience (1988) as Narrator (voice)
- Lady in White (1988) as Phil Terragarossa
- There Were Times, Dear (1987) as Bob Millard
- A Giants History: The Tale of Two Cities (1987) as Narrator
- Killer in the Mirror (1986)
- An Amazin' Era (1986) as Narrator
- Surviving (1985) as David Brogan
- Murder, She Wrote (1984) as Michael Hagarty
- Louisiana (1984) as Oswald
- The Tempest (1983) as Prospero
- The Taming of the Shrew (1982) as Petruchio
- The Four Seasons (1981) as Nick Callan
- Madame X (1981) as John Abbott
- Drying Up the Streets (1978) as Larry
- Canada Vignettes: Spence's Republic (1978) as Narrator
- Canada Vignettes: Lady Frances Simpson (1978) as Narrator
- Who'll Save Our Children? (1978) as Matt Laver
- Canada Vignettes: Fort Prince of Wales (1978) as Narrator
- A Little Night Music (1977) as Frederick Egerman
- One Man (1977) as Jason Brady
- Great Performances (1971) as Self
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Nominee
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Winner / Performer
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Performer
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Previous Winner
- Official 1992 World Series Film as Self - Narrator
- The 1993 World Series: Toronto Blue Jays vs Philadelphia Phillies as Narrator (voice)
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Len Cariou best known for?
Len Cariou is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Wildwood (2026), Boston Blue (2025), Stars in the House (2020), When They See Us (2019).
When and where was Len Cariou born?
Len Cariou was born on September 30, 1939 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
How many credits does Len Cariou have?
Len Cariou has accumulated over 91 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1956 to 2026.
What is Len Cariou's background in cinema and television?
Leonard Joseph Len Cariou is a Canadian actor born on September 30, 1939, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He gained prominence for his Tony Award-winning title role in the original cast of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street in 1979. Earlier in his career, he earned nominations for his performances in the mus...