Who is Neil Patrick Harris?

Neil Patrick Harris, born on June 15, 1973, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is an accomplished American actor known for his versatility in portraying both relatable and eccentric characters. Harris gained initial recognition as a teenaged physician in Doogie Howser, M.D. (1989–93). His career expanded to include varied roles in television, film, and theatre. Harris earned acclaim for his role as Barney Stinson in How I Met Your Mother (2005–14) and won a Tony Award for his performance in Hedwig and the Angry Inch . He has also hosted numerous Emmy and Tony Awards broadcasts, as well as the Academy Awards ceremony in 2015.

What is Neil Patrick Harris best known for?

Neil Patrick Harris (born in 1973) is an American comic actor celebrated for portraying both relatable and flamboyant characters. Harris gained TV stardom as a teen doctor in Doogie Howser, M.D. (1989–93). He is also known for his role as Barney Stinson, a serial womanizer, in How I Met Your Mother (2005–14). Additionally, he has showcased his musical talent in stage performances such as Rent and Cabaret , as well as in the web series Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog .

What major television roles has Neil Patrick Harris played?

Neil Patrick Harris, born in 1973, is celebrated for his versatile acting, portraying both relatable and eccentric characters. Harris achieved early TV success as a teen doctor in Doogie Howser, M.D. (1989–93). After Doogie Howser , he took on diverse roles to avoid being typecast, including in My Antonia (1995) and Joan of Arc (1999). His role as Barney Stinson, a serial womanizer in How I Met Your Mother (2005–14), earned him multiple Golden Globe and Emmy nominations. Harris also played the villainous Count Olaf in A Series of Unfortunate Events (2017–19) and starred in the Netflix series Uncoupled (2022).

Has Neil Patrick Harris worked in movies or on stage as well as TV?

Neil Patrick Harris has had a prolific career across TV, movies, and the stage. Harris made his stage debut in The Wizard of Oz and acted in high school plays. His early film role in Clara’s Heart (1988) earned him a Golden Globe nomination. Harris achieved TV stardom in Doogie Howser, M.D. (1989–93). After that series ended, he sought diverse roles in TV and film, and he also appeared on stage in dramas and musicals such as Rent (1997), Cabaret (2003), and Company (2011). Harris won a Tony Award for his role in Hedwig and the Angry Inch .

What awards or honors has Neil Patrick Harris received in his career?

Neil Patrick Harris has received several awards and honors throughout his career. He earned a Golden Globe nomination for best actor in a supporting role for his first film, Clara’s Heart (1988). For his role as Barney Stinson in How I Met Your Mother (2005–14), Harris received four Emmy nominations (2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010) and two more Golden Globe nods (2009 and 2010). In 2010, he won an Emmy for his guest appearance on Glee . In 2014, Harris won a Tony Award for best actor in a leading role in a musical for his portrayal of Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch . He also won four Emmys for outstanding special class program for the Tony awards broadcasts he co-produced and sometimes hosted (2010, 2012, 2013, and 2014).

How has Neil Patrick Harris influenced or contributed to the entertainment industry?

Neil Patrick Harris, born in 1973, is an American actor known for portraying both average and unconventional characters. Harris gained TV stardom in Doogie Howser, M.D. (1989–93). He avoided being typecast by seeking varied roles, showcasing his musical talents in Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog (2008). Harris gained accolades for his role as Barney Stinson in How I Met Your Mother (2005–14). His performance as the transgender Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch earned him a Tony Award. Harris has also hosted several Emmy and Tony awards broadcasts, winning four Emmys for outstanding special class program.

Neil Patrick Harris

Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics

Quick Facts

Born:: June 15, 1973, Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S. (age 53)

Awards And Honors:: Tony Awards; Emmy Award (2010); Emmy Award (2014): Outstanding Special Class Program; Emmy Award (2013): Outstanding Special Class Programs; Emmy Award (2012): Outstanding Special Class Programs; Emmy Award (2010): Outstanding Special Class Programs; Emmy Award (2010): Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series; Tony Award (2014): Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

Married To:: David Burtka (2014–present)

Movies/Tv Shows (Acted In):: "Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore" (2010); "As Told by Ginger" (2001); "A Million Ways to Die in the West" (2014); "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" (2009); "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2" (2013); "The Muppets" (2011); "The Simpsons" (1991); "Animal Room" (1995); "Doogie Howser, M.D." (1989–1993); "Capitol Critters" (1992–1995); "Static Shock" (2001); "The Proposition" (1998); "Me, Eloise" (2006); "B.L. Stryker" (1989); "Clara's Heart" (1988); "How I Met Your Mother" (2005–2014); "Homicide: Life on the Street" (1997); "Sesame Street" (2008); "Joan of Arc" (1999); "At Home with Amy Sedaris" (2017); "Family Guy" (2007–2009); "The Next Best Thing" (2000); "Robot Chicken" (2009); "Justice League" (2002); "Blossom" (1991); "Ghostwriter" (2019); "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return" (2017); "The Legend of Tarzan" (2001); "Batman: The Brave and the Bold" (2009); "American Reunion" (2012); "Quantum Leap" (1993); "The Penguins of Madagascar" (2010–2015); "Company" (2011); "Jack & Bobby" (2005); "Ed" (2001); "Purple People Eater" (1988); "Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay" (2008); "Murder, She Wrote" (1993); "Captain Planet and the Planeteers" (1992); "Undercover Brother" (2002); "Son of the Beach" (2001); "Home Movie: The Princess Bride" (2020); "American Horror Story" (2015); "Fraggle Rock: Rock On!" (2020); "Spider-Man" (2003); "The Outer Limits" (1996); "Gone Girl" (2014); "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (2004); "A Series of Unfortunate Events" (2017–2019); "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog" (2008); "Numb3rs" (2005); "Boomtown" (2003); "Touched by an Angel" (2002); "The Mesmerist" (2002); "The Best and the Brightest" (2010); "Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle" (2004); "Stark Raving Mad" (1999–2000); "Neil's Puppet Dreams" (2012–2013); "Will & Grace" (2000); "Glee" (2010); "A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas" (2011); "Adventure Time" (2011–2013); "Beastly" (2011); "Starship Troopers" (1997); "Downsizing" (2017); "The Smurfs 2" (2013); "The Smurfs" (2011)

Movies/Tv Shows (Directed):: "How I Met Your Mother" (2010); "The Goodwin Games" (2013)

Neil Patrick Harris

American actor

Written by

Melinda C. Shepherd

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Britannica Editors

Last updated

Oct. 22, 2026 •History

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Taye Diggs, Neil Patrick Harris, Rachel Zegler Join ‘Rent’ 30th-Anniversary Concert • Oct. 19, 2026, 1:52 PM ET (Rolling Stone)

Top Questions

Who is Neil Patrick Harris?
Neil Patrick Harris, born on June 15, 1973, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is an accomplished American actor known for his versatility in portraying both relatable and eccentric characters. Harris gained initial recognition as a teenaged physician in Doogie Howser, M.D. (1989–93).

His career expanded to include varied roles in television, film, and theatre. Harris earned acclaim for his role as Barney Stinson in How I Met Your Mother (2005–14) and won a Tony Award for his performance in Hedwig and the Angry Inch. He has also hosted numerous Emmy and Tony Awards broadcasts, as well as the Academy Awards ceremony in 2015.
2 Britannica Sources
1. Neil Patrick Harris: Facts & Related Content
2. Neil Patrick Harris
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What is Neil Patrick Harris best known for?
Neil Patrick Harris (born in 1973) is an American comic actor celebrated for portraying both relatable and flamboyant characters. Harris gained TV stardom as a teen doctor in Doogie Howser, M.D. (1989–93). He is also known for his role as Barney Stinson, a serial womanizer, in How I Met Your Mother (2005–14). Additionally, he has showcased his musical talent in stage performances such as Rent and Cabaret, as well as in the web series Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog.
2 Britannica Sources
1. Neil Patrick Harris: Facts & Related Content
2. Neil Patrick Harris
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What major television roles has Neil Patrick Harris played?
Neil Patrick Harris, born in 1973, is celebrated for his versatile acting, portraying both relatable and eccentric characters. Harris achieved early TV success as a teen doctor in Doogie Howser, M.D. (1989–93). After Doogie Howser, he took on diverse roles to avoid being typecast, including in My Antonia (1995) and Joan of Arc (1999).

His role as Barney Stinson, a serial womanizer in How I Met Your Mother (2005–14), earned him multiple Golden Globe and Emmy nominations. Harris also played the villainous Count Olaf in A Series of Unfortunate Events (2017–19) and starred in the Netflix series Uncoupled (2022).
2 Britannica Sources
1. Neil Patrick Harris: Facts & Related Content
2. Neil Patrick Harris
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Has Neil Patrick Harris worked in movies or on stage as well as TV?
Neil Patrick Harris has had a prolific career across TV, movies, and the stage. Harris made his stage debut in The Wizard of Oz and acted in high school plays. His early film role in Clara’s Heart (1988) earned him a Golden Globe nomination.

Harris achieved TV stardom in Doogie Howser, M.D. (1989–93). After that series ended, he sought diverse roles in TV and film, and he also appeared on stage in dramas and musicals such as Rent (1997), Cabaret (2003), and Company (2011). Harris won a Tony Award for his role in Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
2 Britannica Sources
1. Neil Patrick Harris: Facts & Related Content
2. Neil Patrick Harris
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What awards or honors has Neil Patrick Harris received in his career?
Neil Patrick Harris has received several awards and honors throughout his career. He earned a Golden Globe nomination for best actor in a supporting role for his first film, Clara’s Heart (1988). For his role as Barney Stinson in How I Met Your Mother (2005–14), Harris received four Emmy nominations (2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010) and two more Golden Globe nods (2009 and 2010). In 2010, he won an Emmy for his guest appearance on Glee. In 2014, Harris won a Tony Award for best actor in a leading role in a musical for his portrayal of Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch. He also won four Emmys for outstanding special class program for the Tony awards broadcasts he co-produced and sometimes hosted (2010, 2012, 2013, and 2014).
1 Britannica Source
1. Neil Patrick Harris
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How has Neil Patrick Harris influenced or contributed to the entertainment industry?
Neil Patrick Harris, born in 1973, is an American actor known for portraying both average and unconventional characters. Harris gained TV stardom in Doogie Howser, M.D. (1989–93). He avoided being typecast by seeking varied roles, showcasing his musical talents in Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog (2008).

Harris gained accolades for his role as Barney Stinson in How I Met Your Mother (2005–14). His performance as the transgender Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch earned him a Tony Award. Harris has also hosted several Emmy and Tony awards broadcasts, winning four Emmys for outstanding special class program.
2 Britannica Sources
1. Neil Patrick Harris: Facts & Related Content
2. Neil Patrick Harris
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Neil Patrick Harris (born June 15, 1973, Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.) is an American comic actor known for his portrayals of both likably average and flamboyantly unconventional characters.

Harris made his stage debut as Toto in a grammar-school production of The Wizard of Oz and acted throughout high school. He earned a Golden Globe nomination for best actor in a supporting role for his first film, Clara’s Heart (1988), opposite Whoopi Goldberg. Harris achieved TV stardom (and a second Golden Globe nomination in 1992) as a teenaged physician in Doogie Howser, M.D. (1989–93).

Four seasons as the medical prodigy, however, left the 20-year-old actor struggling to avoid being typecast, and he sought out such varied roles as Jimmy Burden in the Emmy Award-winning My Antonia (1995), the Dauphin in the made-for-TV movie Joan of Arc (1999), and a phobia-prone book editor in the short-lived series Stark Raving Mad (1999–2000). He also portrayed a character dubbed Neil Patrick Harris in three farcical Harold & Kumar movies (2004, 2008, and 2011).

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His musical talents were at the forefront in Joss Whedon’s three-part Web series Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog (2008), which gained cult status and won an Emmy for best short-format live-action entertainment. Meanwhile, Harris turned to the stage, both in dramas, such as Proof (2002) and All My Sons (2006), and in musicals, most notably Rent (1997), Cabaret (2003), Stephen Sondheim’s Assassins (2004), and concert stagings of Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd (2001) and Company (2011; filmed for television).

Harris continued to accrue accolades for his television work, becoming the breakout star of the sitcom How I Met Your Mother (HIMYM; 2005–14). His performance as serial womanizer Barney Stinson earned him two more Golden Globe nods (2009 and 2010) and four Emmy nominations (2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010). Harris’s public acknowledgment in 2006 that he was gay proved to be a nonissue in his career as he continued to play the skirt-chasing Stinson on HIMYM. A guest appearance on the musical series Glee in 2010 finally brought Harris an Emmy victory.

In 2014 Harris took supporting roles in the Seth MacFarlane comedy A Million Ways to Die in the West and the thriller Gone Girl. That year he also appeared in the title role in a Broadway staging of the gender-bending rock-and-roll musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Harris’s spot-on portrayal of the transgender Hedwig earned him a Tony Award for best actor in a leading role in a musical. In 2015 he hosted the variety show Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris. He then played the loathsome Count Olaf on Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (2017–19), a TV series based on Daniel Handler’s best-selling books of the same name. In The Matrix Resurrections (2021), the fourth installment in the popular Matrix movie franchise, Harris was cast as a villain. In 2022 he appeared alongside Nicolas Cage and Tiffany Haddish in the action-comedy The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. That year also marked the debut of the Netflix series Uncoupled, in which Harris starred as a middle-aged gay man who is dumped by his partner.

Harris served as coproducer and sometime host of several Emmy and Tony awards broadcasts, the latter of which won four Emmys for outstanding special class program (2010, 2012, 2013, and 2014). He also hosted the Academy Awards ceremony in 2015. In addition, Harris wrote the children’s books The Magic Misfits (2017) and The Magic Misfits: The Second Story (2018). Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography (2014) is an unconventional memoir.

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