Blue Bloods legend lands next TV role alongside Scandal and Ozark stars

A Blue Bloods stalwart has secured his next gig acting alongside the stars from Ozark and Scandal.

Len Cariou, who played the patriarch Henry Reagan, father to Frank Reagan (portrayed by Tom Selleck) since the show's inception in 2011, is moving on to new ventures.

To the disappointment of Blue Bloods fanatics, the beloved CBS series was axed after a 14-season run last year, sparking curiosity about the cast's future endeavours.

While Donnie Wahlberg is set to return as Danny Reagan in the spin-off Boston Blue, his on-screen grandfather Len Cariou has bagged a fresh role.

The veteran Blue Bloods actor is slated to appear in MGM+'s forthcoming eight-part comedy series American Classic, which boasts an array of well-known actors.

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American Classic centres on the "notorious narcissist" Broadway luminary Richard Bean (Kevin Kline), who heads back to his roots following a very public breakdown.

His intention is to revisit the family-owned theatre where he first honed his acting chops, but discovers it's no longer under the stewardship of his father and erstwhile artistic director Linus Bean (Cariou).

Instead, Richard's sibling Jon (Jon Tenney) and Jon's spouse, also the local mayor (Laura Linney), have transformed the venue into a "low-rent dinner theatre serving roast beef and murder mysteries".

Determined to rescue both the town and the theatre, Richard decides to stage an American classic at the dinner theatre, with himself both starring in and directing the production.

Cariou is set to play the role of Richard and Jon's father Linus, who is described as an "actor, a puppet maker and the founder of the Millersburg Festival Theater".

The Blue Bloods star will be acting alongside A Fish Called Wanda's Kevin Kline, who plays Richard Bean, Scandal's Andrew Nichols actor Jon Tenney, and Laura Linney, known for her roles in Ozark and Love Actually.

Interestingly, Cariou wasn't the initial choice for American Classic; he's stepping in as a substitute.

The part was initially offered to Emmy nominee Harris Yulin, who sadly passed away on June 10 at the age of 87.

While a release date has yet to be confirmed, it's reported that the series is slated to begin production in New Jersey in 2025.

Blue Bloods is available to watch on CBS.