Len Cariou
Video: Henry Winkler Looks Back on Short-Lived Broadway Debut: 'It Was Devastating' (Apr 23, 2026)
Exclusive: How AMERICAN CLASSIC Brought OUR TOWN to the Screen (Apr 9, 2026)
80th Annual Theatre World Awards Set For June (Apr 7, 2026)
BIO
Len Cariou made his stage debut in Damn Yankees at Rainbow Stage in Winnipeg in 1959 and was a founding member of the Manitoba Theatre Centre. He trained and performed at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in the 1960s and returned in 1981 in leading roles including Prospero, Coriolanus, Brutus, and Petruchio. During the 1960s, he was a leading actor and associate director at the Tyrone Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis, appearing in productions such as As You Like It, The House of Atreus, Henry V, Oedipus the King, and King Lear.
Cariou made his Broadway debut in The House of Atreus (1968) and starred opposite Lauren Bacall in Applause (1970), earning a Tony Award nomination and the Theatre World Award. He received a second Tony nomination for A Little Night Music (1973) and reprised his role in the film adaptation (1977). He won the Tony and Drama Desk Awards for originating the title role in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1979).
His film credits include One Man (1977), The Four Seasons (1981), Thirteen Days (2000), About Schmidt (2002), Secret Window (2004), Boynton Beach Club (2005), Flags of Our Fathers (2006), 1408 (2007), The Onion Movie (2008), Into the Storm (2009), Spotlight (2015), and Death Wish (2018).
Cariou appeared frequently on Broadway in productions including Dance a Little Closer (1983), Up from Paradise (1983), Teddy & Alice (1987), Ziegfeld (1988), Night Watch, Cold Storage, The Speed of Darkness, The Dinner Party, and Proof. His Off-Broadway work includes Master Class, Papa, and Mountain. He appeared in regional productions across North America, including Macbeth, King Lear, Frost/Nixon, and All My Sons (2009).
His television credits include recurring roles on Murder, She Wrote (1985–1992), Brotherhood (2006–2007), Damages (2010), and Blue Bloods (2010–2025), as well as appearances on The West Wing, Law & Order, The Practice, The Outer Limits, North of 60 (1993), Star Trek: Voyager (1997), and Wallander: The Troubled Man (2013). He earned an Emmy nomination for his performance in the HBO film Into the Storm (2009).
Cariou narrated Major League Baseball World Series films from 1992 to 1997, narrated The Johnstown Flood (1989), and recorded numerous audiobooks.
Photos
.jpg?format=auto&width=600)
.jpg?format=auto&width=600)
.jpg?format=auto&width=600)
.jpg?format=auto&width=600)
.jpg?format=auto&width=600)
STAGE CREDITS
Productions
Writing
Movies
[ 1977 ] Frederick Egerman
[ 1978 ] Larry
[ 1981 ] Nick Callan
[ 1988 ] Phil Terragrossa
[ 1994 ] Dr. Lionel Higgs, Dr. Ezekial Higgs
[ 1995 ] Henry Taylor
[ 1996 ] Secretary of Defense Charles White
[ 2000 ] Dean Acheson
[ 2002 ] Ray Nichols
[ 2004 ] Sheriff Dave Newsome
[ 2005 ] Jack
[ 2005 ] Stedman Comstock
[ 2006 ] Mr. Beech
[ 2007 ] Mike's Father
[ 2008 ] Norm Archer
[ 2013 ] Father Patrick Dunn
[ 2015 ] Cardinal Law
[ 2018 ] Ben
[ 2018 ] Uncle Hank
TV Shows
Henry Reagan
Judd Fitzgerald
Edgar Beezley, Mac Geller, Captain Allard Bunker
Michael Hagarty, Monsignore O'Shaugnessy
Doc Wells, Father Anton Jonascu
[ 2010-2024 ] Henry Reagan
Awards and Nominations
winner
Len Cariou
Len Cariou, Harry Townsend's Last Stand
Len CariouCopenhagen
Len CariouDinner Party
Len Cariou , Speed of Darkness
winner
Len Cariou, Sweeney Todd
Len Cariou, Sweeney Todd
Len Cariou , A Little Night Music
winner
Len CariouHenry V
winner
Len Cariou, Applause
Len Cariou, Applause
Videos
Video: Kevin Kline Takes Center Stage in First Trailer for Theater Series AMERICAN CLASSIC
by Josh Sharpe - 2026-02-05 11:23:13
Video: Watch Lea Salonga Perform 'Love Who You Love' at BROADWAY BACKWARDS
by Blair Ingenthron - 2023-06-25 15:23:04
Video: Josh Groban Reveals What's Really Inside the SWEENEY TODD Meat Pies on COLBERT
by Michael Major - 2023-04-18 13:05:42
Video: SWEENEY TODD Opening Night Brings Out Lin-Manuel Miranda, Len Cariou And More!
by A.A. Cristi - 2023-03-27 19:38:28
VIDEO: Watch Broadway Unite for the BROADWAY BACKWARDS Finale!
by Nicole Rosky - 2021-04-01 09:38:52
VIDEO: Get A First Look At HARRY TOWNSEND'S LAST STAND at New York City Center
by Alan Henry - 2019-12-03 15:37:54
TV: Len Cariou, Craig Bierko & More Explain What HARRY TOWNSEND'S LAST STAND Is All About
by Nicole Rosky - 2019-11-11 14:15:47
VIDEO: Lea Salonga Sings 'Not While I'm Around' From SWEENEY TODD
by Alan Henry - 2019-10-02 14:54:10
VIDEO: Lea Salonga, Jett Pangan Preview 'A Little Priest' from SWEENEY TODD
by Oliver Oliveros - 2019-09-25 15:54:28
VIDEO: On This Day, March 1- Broadway Attends The Tale Of SWEENEY TODD
by A.A. Cristi - 2019-03-01 16:22:01
TV: What Went on Backstage at Broadway Backwards? Go Behind the Scenes!
by Nicole Rosky - 2018-04-03 15:26:45
VIDEO: On This Day, March 1- SWEENEY TODD Slashes His Way to Broadway
by A.A. Cristi - 2018-03-01 16:28:05
VIDEO: On This Day, November 3- Michael Cerveris and Patti LuPone Get Bloody in 2005's SWEENEY TODD
by A.A. Cristi - 2017-11-03 00:01:00
VIDEO: New Remixes of #BroadwayForOrlando's 'What The World Needs Now Is Love'
by Michael Dale - 2016-07-22 17:46:15
VIDEO: Theatre Community Shows Its Love, Taking On Stagedoor Manor's #BroadwayForOrlando Challenge
by Michael Dale - 2016-07-18 08:22:45
VIDEO: Stagedoor Manor Launches #BroadwayForOrlando Singing Challenge
by Michael Dale - 2016-07-15 10:16:58
News
by Josh Sharpe - Apr 23, 2026
Henry Winkler has seen enormous onscreen success over the years, but his first Broadway outing was far from pleasant. Watch him reflect on the experience during an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers.
by Josh Sharpe - Apr 9, 2026
Ahead of the season finale, dive into the making of American Classic with the writers and co-creators, and watch an exclusive clip of Kevin Kline performing from Our Town in the upcoming episode.
by Stephi Wild - Apr 7, 2026
The 80th Annual Theatre World Awards Ceremony will take place on Tuesday afternoon, June 2, 2026 beginning at 2:00PM. Learn more about the upcoming awards ceremony here!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 6, 2026
David Gersten, Vice-President of ATPAM, the Association of Theatrical Press Agents & Managers (IATSE Local 18032), died on Monday, April 6 after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.
by Howard Sherman - Apr 2, 2026
Nestled quietly in a corner of the MGM+ streamer, a service that rarely gets invoked when the streaming giants are under discussion, lies the answer to anyone who has wondered for the past 20 years, as I have, “Why can’t we have another series like ‘Slings and Arrows?’”
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 25, 2026
Broadway Backwards marked its 20th anniversary with an evening of show-stopping performances, LGBTQ+ storytelling and record-breaking fundraising at the Gershwin Theatre. See photos from the event here!
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 24, 2026
Kyra Sedgwick will direct the industry reading of THERE GOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD, a new play by Rob Sedgwick, on March 27 in New York City. The event features a star-studded cast and explores media's impact on activism.
by - Mar 18, 2026
Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is March 18, 2026 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.
by Stephi Wild - Mar 17, 2026
The American Theatre of Actors will mark its 50th anniversary with a special gala event, honoring playwright Lyle Kessler and Tony-winning actor Len Cariou with Lifetime Achievement Awards. The celebration is set to take place in New York City, highlighting the contributions of these prominent figures to the theater industry. This milestone event will gather industry professionals and enthusiasts to reflect on the theater's impact over the past five decades.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 16, 2026
The American Theatre of Actors will present ATA 50, a golden anniversary celebration and awards ceremony. The black-tie evening will honor playwright and director Lyle Kessler and Tony-winning actor, Len Cariou.
by Stephi Wild - Mar 12, 2026
Three more stars have joined the lineup of stars bringing LGBTQ+ twists to beloved show tunes at this month's Broadway Backwards, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 3, 2026
Additional stars have joined the lineup of Broadway luminaries bringing to life LGBTQ+ stories through show tunes at Broadway Backwards, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.
by Josh Sharpe - Mar 2, 2026
To mark the arrival of spring, there are plenty of new things for Broadway fans to watch, including the theater series American Classic, Maggie Gyllenhaal's The Bride! and the streaming debuts of Wicked: For Good and Hamnet.
by Josh Sharpe - Feb 27, 2026
Laura Linney stars in American Classic, a new TV series that spotlights community and the power of live theater. The series premieres on MGM+ this Sunday, March 1.
by Josh Sharpe - Feb 5, 2026
Kevin Kline is returning to his stage roots in the first trailer for American Classic, the theater-themed comedy series starring the Tony and Academy Award-winner.
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 5, 2026
Lorna Dallas, one of cabaret's most acclaimed and cherished artists and the recipient of a 2020 Bistro Award for “Consummate Cabaret Artistry,” returns to Chelsea Table + Stage.
by Josh Sharpe - Jan 15, 2026
MGM+ has shared a first look at the theater-themed comedy series American Classic starring Kevin Kline, Laura Linney, and Jon Tenney. Newly announced cast members include Aaron Tveit, Tony Shalhoub, and Stephen Spinella. Check out photos from the show now.
by Stephen Mosher - Dec 18, 2025
This is one of the reasons we choose to be New Yorkers.
by Rebecca Kaplan - Dec 15, 2025
Here are a few top picks to consider in NYC this week including the Bridges of Madison County original Broadway cast reunion, Jessica Vosk's annual holiday show SLEIGH, and more.
by Kevin Alvey - Nov 27, 2025
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Len Cariou has appeared on Broadway in 14 shows.
Len Cariou has not appeared in the West End.
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.
Len Cariou has won the following awards: John Willis Award for Lifetime Achievement (Theatre World Awards), Outstanding Actor - Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Sweeney Todd, Performance (Theatre World Awards) for Henry V, and Performance (Theatre World Awards) for Applause.
Len Cariou has written 1 shows including Broadway and the Bard (Conceived by).
Videos