If you’ve spent any time on a Sunday night watching the Reagan family pass the mashed potatoes on Blue Bloods, you know Len Cariou. He’s the guy playing Henry "Pop" Reagan—the retired commissioner who usually has the wisest, or at least the most stubborn, thing to say at the dinner table. But honestly? If you only know him as Tom Selleck’s dad, you’re missing out on about 90% of why this guy is a total titan in the industry.
Len Cariou is 86 now. In a world where most people his age are, understandably, taking it easy, Cariou is still hitting the stage and taking on new scripts. Most recently, he’s been making waves in the Off-Broadway scene, starring in Richard Vetere's psychological drama Zagłada in late 2025. It’s wild to think that the same man who originated the role of the bloodthirsty barber in Sweeney Todd is still commanding a room with that same booming, resonant voice.
The Broadway King You Might Have Missed
Most people don’t realize how much of a Sondheim pioneer Len Cariou actually was. Back in the 70s, he wasn't just "an" actor; he was the actor. He originated Fredrik Egerman in A Little Night Music and then, of course, the big one: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
He won the Tony for Sweeney in 1979. It’s a role that basically defines "dark and brooding," and while Johnny Depp did his thing in the movie, theater purists will always tell you Cariou's version was the blueprint. He had this way of being terrifying and deeply sad at the same time. You’ve probably heard "The Worst Pies in London" or "Epiphany" a million times, but hearing Cariou roar those notes alongside Angela Lansbury was apparently a "you had to be there" moment in Broadway history.
They were actually close friends, him and Lansbury. It’s why he showed up so often on Murder, She Wrote as the suave international man of mystery, Michael Hagarty.
That Blue Bloods Longevity
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: age. In Blue Bloods, Henry Reagan is the grandfather. In real life, Len Cariou is only about five years older than Tom Selleck. Yeah, you read that right. Selleck was born in 1945, and Cariou was born in 1939.
Hollywood magic (and a very good hair/makeup team) kept that father-son dynamic believable for 14 seasons. As the show wrapped its massive run in the 2024-2025 season, Cariou remained the soul of those family dinner scenes. He wasn't just a background character; he was the bridge between the old-school NYPD and the modern-day struggles the younger Reagans faced.
Why He's Not Slowing Down in 2026
You’d think after nearly 300 episodes of a hit procedural and a literal Hall of Fame theater career, he’d just sit on a porch in Manitoba. Nope.
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In July 2025, news broke that Cariou was stepping into the MGM+ comedy American Classic, replacing the late Harris Yulin. He’s playing alongside Kevin Kline. Think about that for a second. At 86, he’s still memorizing scripts for new series and jumping into comedies. It’s kinda legendary.
A Versatile Resume
If you look at his filmography, it’s a weird, wonderful mix.
- Spotlight (2015): He played Cardinal Law. He was chillingly good.
- Into the Storm (2009): He got an Emmy nod for playing Franklin D. Roosevelt.
- Bumblebee (2018): Yes, the Transformers movie. He was Uncle Hank.
- Executive Decision (1996): He was the Secretary of Defense.
He’s one of those "Oh, it's that guy!" actors for the general public, but for the industry, he’s a masterclass in staying relevant. He’s a member of the Order of Canada, which is basically their version of being knighted. It’s a big deal.
What Most People Get Wrong
People often assume stage actors find TV "easy" or a step down. Cariou has always been vocal about the opposite. He treats the dinner table scenes in Blue Bloods with the same gravity he treated Shakespeare at the Stratford Festival back in the 60s.
There’s also this misconception that he’s just a "musical theater guy." Honestly, his classical roots are deeper than his musical ones. He’s played Lear. He’s played Macbeth. He’s played Oedipus. The guy is a Shakespearean actor who just happened to have a voice good enough to win a Tony for a musical.
The Len Cariou Legacy
So, what’s the takeaway here? Len Cariou represents a dying breed of "total actors." He can sing, he can do high drama, he can do sitcom-style comedy, and he can hold a frame with Tom Selleck without blinking.
If you want to really appreciate what he brings to the table, go back and listen to the original 1979 cast recording of Sweeney Todd. Then, watch an episode of Blue Bloods from season 14. The hair is whiter and the movements are a bit slower, but that authority? That presence? It hasn't changed a bit.
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How to experience Len Cariou’s work today:
- Watch the Spotlight: If you want to see his dramatic range without the songs, his performance as Cardinal Law is a masterclass in "less is more."
- Listen to the Audiobooks: He narrated several Michael Connelly novels (the Harry Bosch series). His voice is basically velvet for your ears.
- Check out 54 Below: He still occasionally does cabaret-style performances in New York. If you’re in the city, seeing a living legend in an intimate room is a bucket-list item.
The best way to respect a career like this isn't just to look at the past, but to watch what he's doing right now. Whether it's a new play Off-Broadway or a guest spot on a streaming comedy, Len Cariou is still very much in the game.