What happened to Len Cariou?

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 2/1/11 at 10:45pm

I got to thinking lately while watching the Sondheim Birthday concert that George Hearn gets to do all the Sweeney alumni stuff, even though Cariou originated the role. I thought Cariou might have died, but I looked it up on Wikipedia, and found out he is still working and on some tv show right now. Is there something I'm missing here?

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 2/1/11 at 10:47pm

I don't think he's still in voice enough to sing anymore.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/1/11 at 10:53pm

Is there something I'm missing here?

Yes.

[broadwaybound0632]

Posted: 2/1/11 at 11:02pm

I don't think he's still in voice enough to sing anymore.

Not true I worked with him in 2008 and he sang Barber and His Wife, Send in the Clowns, and something else I can't remember and they were all amazing.

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 2/1/11 at 11:06pm

Voice or not his performance on Damages last season as the Bernie Madoff type character was amazing.

[wonkit]

Posted: 2/1/11 at 11:09pm

Cariou sang briefly and beautifully during the Sondheim celebration at City Center last April. For me, no one can ever sing "Pretty Women" better than he does.

[TwestNY]

Posted: 2/1/11 at 11:13pm

Here is a Video of Len and Angela Lansbury singing A Little Priest in 2005 for Stephen Sondheims 75th birthday concert at The Hollywood Bowl. He sounds great!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4z9i3R7UAQ

[Kevn520]

Posted: 2/1/11 at 11:17pm

I saw him last year sing during Broadway Backwards 5.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 2/1/11 at 11:46pm

I was just going to say, didn't he appear in one of the Sondheim birthday concerts last year?

Yeah, he's on Blue Bloods, which is on CBS. He plays the father of Tom Selleck's character. It films in New York, so it is still possible for him to do theater related stuff, if he wants to.

[romgitsean]

Posted: 2/2/11 at 10:47pm

If Angie can still do Broadway, he can.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 2/3/11 at 2:52pm

Actually, he can't and won't. There are good reasons but it's not my story to tell.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 2/3/11 at 3:13pm

Well, you've officially piqued my curiosity..

Posted: 2/3/11 at 3:15pm

I'm guessing incontinence.

[Adam Chris]

Posted: 2/3/11 at 7:33pm

Can we speculate?

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 2/3/11 at 7:48pm

A couple of years ago, he played Richard Nixon in the Toronto/Canadian Stage production of "Frost/Nixon". His performance was incredible.

Updated On: 2/3/11 at 07:48 PM

[choitoy]

Posted: 2/3/11 at 8:33pm

I still remember him coming out for the City Center Sondheim Birthday concert last year. It was thrilling to hear him sing live. If I recall, slightly tempered from what his voice used to be (i.e. on the "Sweeney Todd cast album"), and not able to sustain as long a note, but he's still got it.

And he did a trio version of "You Must Meet My Wife" with Alex Hanson and CZJ. I remember CZJ was the only one who flubbed.

The only thing I wished was a reunion duet with Angela when she came out. Alas, they only held hands and bowed.

[65Rosesauthor]

Posted: 2/8/11 at 1:54pm

NOTHING HAS HAPPENED TO LEN CARIOU, EXCEPT A STARRING ROLE ON CBS "BLUE BLOODS," A RECORD-BREAKING PERFORMANCE IN "ALL MY SONS" AT THE GATE THEATRE IN DUBLIN, SEVERAL BIRTHDAY TRIBUTES TO STEPHEN SONDHEIM AT WHICH YOU WERE APPARENTLY NOT IN ATTENDANCE, LAST NIGHT'S BROADWAY BACKWARDS PERFORMANCE WHICH WOWED THE AUDIENCE, AND AN UPCOMING CONCERT AT TORONTO'S MANZZOLINI HALL, AS WELL AS WITH THE WINNIPEG SYMPHONY, JUST TO RATTLE OFF A FEW...

HE HAS DEFINITIVELY NOT LOST HIS VOICE - THAT'S A VICIOUS RUMOR. IN FACT, IF YOU ASK MARK JANAS AT SALON, OR ROBERT BARTLEY WHO DIRECTED BROADWAY BACKWARDS: LEN'S VOICE HAS MELLOWED INTO SOMETHING VERY RICH UPON ENTERING HIS SEVENTH DECADE, AND HIS ARTISTRY IS EVEN MORE REFINED.

NOTHING "HAPPENED" TO LEN CARIOU - YOU JUST HAVEN'T BEEN PAYING ATTENTION.

AS FOR GEORGE HEARN DOING THE "OFFICIAL" SONDHEIM BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE? ...LEN DOESN'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT ONE EITHER. YOU'LL HAVE TO ASK STEVE....

[65Rosesauthor]

Posted: 2/8/11 at 1:54pm

RE: HE DOESN'T SING THAT WELL ANYMORE? BULLSH*T.
Updated On: 2/8/11 at 01:54 PM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/8/11 at 1:56pm

OH MY

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 2/8/11 at 2:09pm

My ears are bleeding through my eyes.

[65Rosesauthor]

Posted: 2/8/11 at 2:11pm

HE CAN'T AND HE WON'T? WHAT DO YOU KNOW? HORSEPUCKEY!

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/8/11 at 2:12pm

AIIGHT HEFFA. CHILL

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/8/11 at 2:17pm

Methinks we just heard from Laurel Freedy, perhaps?

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 2/8/11 at 2:20pm

It sounds like Harry Morgan.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 2/8/11 at 2:22pm

Marsha? Can Sybill come out now?