Neil Patrick Harris (born June 15, 1973) is an American actor, singer, writer, producer, and television host. Primarily known for his comedic television roles and dramatic and musical stage roles, he has received multiple accolades throughout his career, including a

Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ce ...

and five

Primetime Emmy Awards The Primetime Emmy Awards, or Primetime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Owned and operated by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), the P ...

, and nominations for a

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious ...

and three

Screen Actors Guild Awards Screen Actors Guild Awards (also known as SAG Awards) are accolades given by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). The award was founded in 1995 to recognize outstanding performances in movie an ...

. On television, he is known for playing the title character on the ABC series '' Doogie Howser, M.D.'' (1989–1993), for which he was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy, as well as

Barney Stinson Barney Stinson is a fictional character portrayed by Neil Patrick Harris and created by Carter Bays and Craig Thomas for the CBS television series ''How I Met Your Mother'' (2005–2014). One of the show's main characters, Barney is known fo ...

on the

CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS (an abbreviation of its original name, Columbia Broadcasting System), is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainme ...

series ''

How I Met Your Mother ''How I Met Your Mother'' (often abbreviated as ''HIMYM'') is an American sitcom created by Craig Thomas (screenwriter), Craig Thomas and Carter Bays for CBS. The series, which aired from September 19, 2005, to March 31, 2014, follows main char ...

'' (2005–2014), for which he was nominated for four

Emmy Awards The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the year, each with their own set of rules and award categor ...

, and

Count Olaf The children's novel series '' A Series of Unfortunate Events'' and its film and television adaptations features a large cast of characters created by Daniel Handler under the pen name of Lemony Snicket. The original series follows the turbul ...

on the

Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...

series ''

A Series of Unfortunate Events ''A Series of Unfortunate Events'' is a series of thirteen Children's literature, children's novels written by American author Daniel Handler under the pen name Lemony Snicket. The books follow the turbulent lives of orphaned siblings List of A ...

'' (2017–2019). He won the

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series This is a list of winners and nominees of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series. Prior to 1988 the category was not gender specific, thus was called Outstanding Guest Performer in a Comedy Series. These awards, l ...

for his role on ''

Glee Glee may refer to: * Glee (music), a type of English choral music * ''Glee'' (TV series), an American musical comedy-drama TV series, and related media created by Ryan Murphy * ''Glee'' (Bran Van 3000 album) * ''Glee'' (Logan Lynn album) * Gle ...

'' (2010). Harris is also known for portraying the title character in

Joss Whedon Joseph Hill "Joss" Whedon ( ; born June 23, 1964) is an American screenwriter, director, producer, comic book writer, and composer. He is best known as the creator of several television series: the supernatural drama ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer' ...

's musical '' Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog'' (2008) and a fictional version of himself in the '' Harold & Kumar'' film series (2004–2011). His other films include ''

Starship Troopers ''Starship Troopers'' is a military science fiction novel by American writer Robert A. Heinlein. Written in a few weeks in reaction to the US suspending nuclear tests, the story was first published as a two-part serial in ''The Magazine of ...

'' (1997), ''

The Smurfs ''The Smurfs'' (; ) is a Belgian comic franchise centered on a fictional colony of small, blue, humanoid creatures who live in mushroom-shaped houses in the forest. ''The Smurfs'' was created and introduced as a series of comic characters by ...

'' (2011), ''

The Smurfs 2 ''The Smurfs 2'' is a 2013 American fantasy comedy film loosely based on ''The Smurfs'' comic book series created by the Belgian comics artist Peyo, produced by Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, The Kerner Entertainment Company, and ...

'' (2013), and '' Gone Girl'' (2014). On stage, he starred as Mark Cohen in the national tour of ''Rent'' (1997), before making his Broadway debut in the

David Auburn David Auburn (born November 30, 1969) is an American playwright, screenwriter, and theatre director. He is best known for his 2000 play ''Proof'', which won the 2001 Tony Award for Best Play and Pulitzer Prize for Drama. He also wrote the scree ...

play ''

Proof Proof most often refers to: * Proof (truth), argument or sufficient evidence for the truth of a proposition * Alcohol proof, a measure of an alcoholic drink's strength Proof may also refer to: Mathematics and formal logic * Formal proof, a co ...

'' (2002). He went on to win the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical playing the title role in the

rock musical A rock musical is a musical theatre work with rock music. The genre of rock musical may overlap somewhat with album musicals, concept albums and song cycles, as they sometimes tell a story through the rock music, and some album musicals and concep ...

'' Hedwig and the Angry Inch'' (2014). Harris has hosted numerous award shows including the Tony Awards in

2009 2009 was designated as the International Year of Astronomy by the United Nations to coincide with the 400th anniversary of Galileo Galilei's first known astronomical studies with a telescope and the publication of Astronomia Nova by Joha ...

2011 The year marked the start of a Arab Spring, series of protests and revolutions throughout the Arab world advocating for democracy, reform, and economic recovery, later leading to the depositions of world leaders in Tunisia, Egypt, and Yemen ...

2012 2012 was designated as: *International Year of Cooperatives *International Year of Sustainable Energy for All Events January *January 4 – The Cicada 3301 internet hunt begins. * January 12 – Peaceful protests begin in the R ...

, and

2013 2013 was the first year since 1987 to contain four unique digits (a span of 26 years). 2013 was designated as: *International Year of Water Cooperation *International Year of Quinoa Events January * January 5 – 2013 Craig, Alask ...

, the Primetime Emmy Awards in

and

, and the

Academy Awards The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in film. They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence in ...

2015 2015 was designated by the United Nations as: * International Year of Light * International Year of Soil __TOC__ Events January * January 1 – Lithuania officially adopts the euro as its currency, replacing the litas, and becomes ...

. He was named one of ''

Time Time is the continuous progression of existence that occurs in an apparently irreversible process, irreversible succession from the past, through the present, and into the future. It is a component quantity of various measurements used to sequ ...

'' magazine's 100 Most Influential People in 2010.

Early life and education

Neil Patrick Harris was born on June 15, 1973, in

Albuquerque, New Mexico Albuquerque ( ; ), also known as ABQ, Burque, the Duke City, and in the past 'the Q', is the List of municipalities in New Mexico, most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico, and the county seat of Bernalillo County, New Mexico, Bernal ...

, and grew up in

Ruidoso, New Mexico Ruidoso (Spanish for "noisy") is a village in Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States, adjacent to the Lincoln National Forest. The population was 7,679 at the 2020 census. The city of Ruidoso Downs and the unincorporated area of Alto ar ...

, with his older brother and their parents, Sheila Gail (née Scott) and Ronald Gene Harris. Both parents were lawyers and also ran a restaurant.''

Finding Your Roots ''Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.'' is an American documentary television series hosted by Henry Louis Gates Jr. that premiered on March 25, 2012, on PBS. In each episode, celebrities are presented with a "book of life" that is com ...

'', February 23, 2016, PBS He attended La Cueva High School in Albuquerque, graduating with high honors in 1991, which he attributes to being privately tutored half the school year while on a set.

Career

1989–2003

Harris began his career as a child actor and was discovered by playwright

Mark Medoff Mark Medoff (March 18, 1940 – April 23, 2019) was an American playwright, screenwriter, film and theatre director, actor, and professor. His play '' Children of a Lesser God'' received both the Tony Award and the Olivier Award. He was nomina ...

at a drama camp in

Las Cruces, New Mexico Las Cruces (; ; lit. 'the crosses') is the List of municipalities in New Mexico, second-most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico and the county seat, seat of Doña Ana County, New Mexico, Doña Ana County. As of the 2020 United States ce ...

. Medoff later cast him in the drama film '' Clara's Heart'' (1988). ''Clara's Heart'' earned Harris a

Golden Globe The Golden Globe Awards are awards presented for excellence in both international film and television. It is an annual award ceremony held since 1944 to honor artists and professionals and their work. The ceremony is normally held every Januar ...

nomination. The same year, he starred in '' Purple People Eater'', a children's fantasy. Beginning in 1989, Harris played the title role of a child prodigy doctor in '' Doogie Howser, M.D.'', for which he was nominated for another Golden Globe award. After the show's four-season run ended in 1993, Harris played a number of guest roles on television series, including ''

Murder, She Wrote ''Murder, She Wrote'' is an American crime drama television series, created by Peter S. Fischer, Richard Levinson and William Link, starring Angela Lansbury, and produced and distributed by Universal Television for the CBS network. The series f ...

''. From 1999 to 2000, he starred in the

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. It is one of NBCUniversal's ...

sitcom '' Stark Raving Mad'', which lasted 22 episodes. Harris's first film role as an adult was '' Animal Room'' (1995), although he portrayed a teenager. Harris played lead roles in numerous

made-for-television A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie, telefilm, telemovie or TV film/movie, is a film with a running time similar to a feature film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a Terrestr ...

features, including '' Snowbound: The Jim and Jennifer Stolpa Story'' (1994), '' My Ántonia'' (1995), '' The Christmas Wish'' (1998), ''

Joan of Arc Joan of Arc ( ; ; – 30 May 1431) is a patron saint of France, honored as a defender of the French nation for her role in the siege of Orléans and her insistence on the Coronation of the French monarch, coronation of Charles VII o ...

'' (1999), ''The Wedding Dress'' (2001), and '' The Christmas Blessing'' (2005). His film work also has included supporting roles in '' The Next Best Thing'' (2000), '' Undercover Brother'' (2002), and ''

'' (1997). Harris portrayed Mark Cohen in the 1997 touring company of the

, '' Rent'', a role he later satirized in the January 10, 2009, episode of ''

Saturday Night Live ''Saturday Night Live'' (''SNL'') is an American Late night television in the United States, late-night live television, live sketch comedy variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Michaels and Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC. The ...

'' which he hosted, and sang the role of Charles (initially played by

Anthony Perkins Anthony Perkins (April 4, 1932 – September 12, 1992) was an American actor. Born in Manhattan, Perkins began his career as a teenager in summer stock theater, summer stock programs, although he acted in films before his time on Broadway the ...

in a 1966 ABC telecast) on the Nonesuch recording of Sondheim's '' Evening Primrose'' in 2001. Harris has also worked on Broadway in both musical and dramatic roles. He played

Tobias Ragg Tobias Ragg (also spelled as Tobias Wragg and sometimes referred to as Toby) is a fictional character who appears in various adaptations of the story ''Sweeney Todd''. The character is an apprentice to the abusive barber Adolfo Pirelli, Pirelli u ...

in the 2001 concert performances of ''

Sweeney Todd Sweeney Todd is a fictional character who first appeared as the villain of the penny dreadful serial '' The String of Pearls'' (1846–1847). The original tale became a feature of 19th-century melodrama and London legend. A barber from Fleet St ...

'', and the following year, he performed in ''

''. In 2003, he took the role of the Emcee in ''

Cabaret Cabaret is a form of theatrical entertainment featuring music song, dance, recitation, or drama. The performance venue might be a pub, casino, hotel, restaurant, or nightclub with a stage for performances. The audience, often dining or drinking, ...

''. As a result of his critically acclaimed performance in ''Cabaret'', Harris was named the top-drawing headliner in the role of the Emcee by GuestStarCasting.com.

2004–2014

In 2004, he performed the dual roles of the Balladeer and

Lee Harvey Oswald Lee Harvey Oswald (October 18, 1939 – November 24, 1963) was a U.S. Marine veteran who assassinated John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, on November 22, 1963. Oswald was placed in juvenile detention at age 12 for truan ...

on Broadway in the revival of

Stephen Sondheim Stephen Joshua Sondheim (; March22, 1930November26, 2021) was an American composer and lyricist. Regarded as one of the most important figures in 20th-century musical theater, he is credited with reinventing the American musical. He received Lis ...

's musical ''

Assassins An assassin is a person who commits targeted murder. The origin of the term is the medieval Order of Assassins, a sect of Shia Islam 1090–1275 CE. Assassin, or variants, may also refer to: Fictional characters * Assassin, in the Japanese adult ...

''. In 2004, Harris played a fictionalized, hyper-womanizing, lewd version of himself in '' Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle'', a stoner

comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dark comedy being an exception to this rule. Comedy is one of the o ...

in the '' Harold & Kumar'' series. He would go on to reprise the role in the sequels '' Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay'' (2008) and ''

A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas ''A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas'' is a 2011 American buddy stoner Christmas comedy film directed by Todd Strauss-Schulson and written by Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg. The sequel to '' Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay'' ( ...

'' (2011). In 2005, Harris portrayed Jon in the London premiere of '' Tick, Tick... Boom!'' at the Menier Chocolate Factory. He was replaced by Christian Campbell in July of that same year. From 2005 to 2014, Harris played

, a serial womanizer, in the

ensemble sitcom ''

''. The role earned him

Emmy The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the year, each with their own set of rules and award catego ...

nominations every year from 2007 to 2010. In 2007, he worked with Mike Nelson on a comedic audio commentary set to the film ''

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory ''Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory'' is a 1971 American musical film, musical fantasy film directed by Mel Stuart from a screenplay by Roald Dahl, based on his 1964 novel ''Charlie and the Chocolate Factory''. It stars Gene Wilder as chocol ...

'' for RiffTrax. In 2008, Harris played the title role in

's musical web series '' Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog''. That same year, he guest-starred on ''

Sesame Street ''Sesame Street'' is an American educational television, educational children's television series that combines live-action, sketch comedy, animation, and puppetry. It is produced by Sesame Workshop (known as the Children's Television Worksh ...

'' as the Sesame Street Fairy Shoe Person. In 2009, he hosted the 7th Annual TV Land Awards and appeared as a guest judge on season 9 of ''

American Idol ''American Idol'' is an American Music competition, singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle (company), Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It a ...

''. Harris provided the voice of Steve the Monkey in the ''

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs ''Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs'' is a children's book written by Judi Barrett and illustrated by Ron Barrett. It was first published in 1978 by Atheneum Books, followed by a 1982 trade paperback edition from sister company Aladdin Pap ...

'' film franchise (2009–2013). After a preview at

San Diego Comic-Con San Diego Comic-Con is a comic book convention and multi-genre entertainment event held annually in San Diego, California, at the San Diego Convention Center. Founded in 1970, originally showcasing primarily comic books and science fiction/fant ...

, a musical episode of '' Batman: The Brave and the Bold'' featuring Harris as the villainous Music Meister premiered on October 23, 2009, on

Cartoon Network Cartoon Network (CN) is an American cable television television channel, channel and the flagship property of the Cartoon Network, Inc., a sub-division of the Warner Bros. Discovery Networks division of Warner Bros. Discovery. It launched on ...

. He has also provided his voice for the Disney California Adventure Park attraction California Screamin'. Neil_Patrick_Harris_2013

Harris hosted the

61st Primetime Emmy Awards The 61st Primetime Emmy Awards were held on Sunday, September 20, 2009 on CBS. It took place at Peacock Theater, Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, California. The nominations were announced on July 16, 2009. On July 13, 2009, the Academy of Televi ...

on September 20, 2009. On August 21, 2010, he won two

at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards ceremony, one of which was for his guest performance in the television series ''

''. Harris hosted the

65th Primetime Emmy Awards The 65th Primetime Emmy Awards, honoring the best in prime time television programming from June 1, 2012, until May 31, 2013, were held on Sunday, September 22, 2013, at the Peacock Theater, Nokia Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles, California. CBS ...

on September 22, 2013, marking his second time hosting the event. Harris has hosted the

Tony Awards The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual cere ...

four times: the 63rd Tony Awards on June 7, 2009, the 65th Tony Awards on June 12, 2011, the 66th Tony Awards on June 10, 2012, and the 67th Tony Awards on June 9, 2013. Only Dame

Angela Lansbury Dame Angela Brigid Lansbury (October 16, 1925 – October 11, 2022) was an Irish-British and American actress, producer, and singer. In a career spanning 80 years, she played various roles on stage and screen. Among her numerous accolades wer ...

, with five ceremonies, has hosted the Tony Awards more times. Hosting the Tony Awards has earned him four

in 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014 for the 63rd, 65th, 66th and 67th, respectively. Harris appeared in the 2010 ''Time'' 100 list of influential people. That year, Harris directed a

Hollywood Bowl The Hollywood Bowl is an amphitheatre and Urban park, public park in the Hollywood Hills of Los Angeles, California. It was named one of the 10 best live music venues in the United States by ''Rolling Stone'' magazine in 2018 and was listed on ...

production of ''Rent''; he cast his '' Beastly'' co-star

Vanessa Hudgens Vanessa Anne Hudgens ( ; born December 14, 1988) is an American actress and singer. After making her feature film debut in '' Thirteen'' (2003), Hudgens rose to fame portraying Gabriella Montez in the ''High School Musical'' film series (200 ...

as Mimi Márquez. Also in 2010, Harris provided

voice acting Voice acting is the art of performing a character or providing information to an audience with one's voice. Performers are often called voice actors/actresses in addition to other names. Examples of voice work include animated, off-stage, off-sc ...

for the role of the adult

Dick Grayson Richard John "Dick" Grayson is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly in association with Batman, Teen Titans and Justice League. Created by writer Bill Finger and artist Bob Kane, he first appeared in ' ...

(

Nightwing Nightwing is a superhero alias used by multiple characters in American comic books published by DC Comics. The most prominent bearer is Dick Grayson, the original Robin, who adopts the Nightwing identity to assert his independence from Batman. ...

) in the animated film '' Batman: Under the Red Hood'' and the

beagle The Beagle is a small breed of scent hound, similar in appearance to the much larger foxhound. The beagle was developed primarily for hunting rabbit or hare, known as beagling. Possessing a great sense of smell and superior tracking inst ...

Lou in the film '' Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore''. On March 7, 2010, he delivered a musical number appearance at the

82nd Academy Awards The 82nd Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), honored the best films of 2009 and took place on March 7, 2010, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, beginning at 5:30 p.m. ...

. He played the lead in the indie comedy ''

The Best and the Brightest ''The Best and the Brightest'' (1972) is a book about the origins of the Vietnam War written by journalist David Halberstam and published by Random House. The book focuses on the foreign policy crafted by academics and intellectuals who were ...

''. In December 2010, Harris hosted the

Spike Video Game Awards The Spike Video Game Awards (in short VGAs, known as the VGX for the final show) was an annual award show hosted by American television network Spike from 2003 that recognized the best computer and video games of the year. Produced by '' GameT ...

. In 2011, Harris played the lead role of Bobby in

's ''

Company A company, abbreviated as co., is a Legal personality, legal entity representing an association of legal people, whether Natural person, natural, Juridical person, juridical or a mixture of both, with a specific objective. Company members ...

'' with the

New York Philharmonic The New York Philharmonic is an American symphony orchestra based in New York City. Known officially as the ''Philharmonic-Symphony Society of New York, Inc.'', and globally known as the ''New York Philharmonic Orchestra'' (NYPO) or the ''New Yo ...

in concert. That same year, he directed ''The Expert at the Card Table'' at Broad Stage's Edye in

Santa Monica, California Santa Monica (; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Santa Mónica'') is a city in Los Angeles County, California, Los Angeles County, situated along Santa Monica Bay on California's South Coast (California), South Coast. Santa Monica's 2020 United Sta ...

. He also starred in the 2011 film ''

'' and its 2013 sequel ''

''. Harris portrayed the titular role in the first Broadway production of the rock musical '' Hedwig and the Angry Inch'' from March through August 2014. He received acclaim for the role, with '' Variety'' declaring, "It's astonishing how polished a physical performance Harris gives. Channeling his inner Rockette, along with

Iggy Pop James Newell Osterberg Jr. (born April 21, 1947), known professionally as Iggy Pop, is an American singer, musician, songwriter, actor and radio broadcaster. He was the vocalist and lyricist of proto-punk band the Stooges, who were formed in 1 ...

and

Lou Reed Lewis Allan Reed (March 2, 1942October 27, 2013) was an American musician and songwriter. He was the guitarist, singer, and principal songwriter for the rock band the Velvet Underground and had a solo career that spanned five decades. Althoug ...

by way of the

Ramones The Ramones were an American punk rock band formed in the New York City neighborhood Forest Hills, Queens in 1974. Known for helping establish the punk movement in the United States and elsewhere, the Ramones are often recognized as one of th ...

, he carries off some advanced dance and acrobatic moves". The role earned Harris the 2014 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical. He exited the role on August 17, citing a desire to spend more time with his family. Later in 2014, Harris portrayed Desi Collings in '' Gone Girl'', a film directed by

David Fincher David Andrew Leo Fincher (born August 28, 1962) is an American film director. Often described as one of the preeminent directors of his generation, David Fincher filmography, his films, of which most are psychological thrillers, have collectiv ...

. In 2014, Harris reportedly turned down the chance to replace

David Letterman David Michael Letterman (born April 12, 1947) is an American television host, comedian, writer, producer, and auto racing team owner. He hosted late-night television talk shows for 33 years, beginning with the February 1, 1982, debut of ''Late N ...

as host of the '' Late Show'' on

, stating that he feared he would get bored of the repetition that hosting a nightly talk show would entail. He also rejected the suggestion of replacing

Craig Ferguson Craig Ferguson (born 17 May 1962) is a Scottish-American actor, comedian, writer and television host. He is best known for having hosted the CBS late-night talk show ''The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson'' (2005–2014). He is the winner of ...

as host of '' The Late Late Show'' on the same grounds, although he later claimed he was never actually offered either job. In October 2014, Harris released a memoir titled ''Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography'', which is structured like a

Choose Your Own Adventure ''Choose Your Own Adventure'' is a series of children's gamebooks where each story is written from a second-person point of view, with the reader assuming the role of the protagonist and making choices that determine the main character's actio ...

book. His autobiography spent two weeks on ''The New York Times'' Best Seller List.

2015–present

On February 22, 2015, he hosted the 87th Academy Awards. On September 15, 2015, '' Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris'', a

variety series Variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is entertainment made up of a variety of acts including musical performances, sketch comedy, magic, acrobatics, juggling, and ventriloquism. It is normally introduced by a compè ...

hosted and executive produced by Harris, premiered

live Live may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Live!'' (2007 film), 2007 American film * ''Live'' (2014 film), a 2014 Japanese film * ''Live'' (2023 film), a Malayalam-language film *'' Live: Phát Trực Tiếp'', a Vietnamese-langua ...

and ran for eight episodes. He declined to appear in the fifth season of ''

American Horror Story ''American Horror Story'' (''AHS'') is an American horror film, horror anthology series, anthology television series created by Ryan Murphy (producer), Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk for the Cable television, cable network FX (TV channel), FX. Th ...

'' after appearing in

the fourth ''The Fourth'' () is a 1972 Soviet drama film directed by Aleksandr Stolper. The film tells the story of an American journalist who has to make a difficult choice: publicize the plans of supporters of the war after having lost all his life's ben ...

in a guest role due to scheduling conflicts with ''Best Time Ever''. On January 15, 2016, Harris was cast as

in the television adaptation of ''

''. It ran for 3 seasons and 25 episodes on the streaming service

before ending on January 1, 2019. On March 31, 2017, NBC picked up the game show '' Genius Junior'' with Harris as host and executive producer. The format would test teams of children, aged 12 and under, in various subjects including spelling, mathematics, and memory. The series received a 10-episode order and debuted on March 18, 2018. His debut

young adult novel Young adult literature (YA) is typically written for readers aged 12 to 18 and includes most of the themes found in adult fiction, such as family dysfunction, substance abuse, alcoholism, and sexuality. It is characterized by simpler world build ...

, ''The Magic Misfits'', was released in November 2017 and is the first in a four-book series. In October 2020, Harris released a single-player board game named ''Box One'', produced by Theory11. As of February 2021, it is available exclusively through

Target Target may refer to: Warfare and shooting * Shooting target, used in marksmanship training and various shooting sports ** Bullseye (target), the goal one for which one aims in many of these sports ** Aiming point, in field artille ...

. Harris has been a frequent guest narrator at Disney's Candlelight Processional at

Walt Disney World The Walt Disney World Resort is an destination resort, entertainment resort complex located about southwest of Orlando, Florida, United States. Opened on October 1, 1971, the resort is operated by Disney Experiences, a division of the Wa ...

. In January 2021, Harris starred in the British drama series ''

It's a Sin "It's a Sin" is a song by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys from their second studio album, '' Actually'' (1987). Written by Chris Lowe and Neil Tennant, the song was released on 15 June 1987 as the album's lead single. It became the duo's ...

'', broadcast on

Channel 4 Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by Channel Four Television Corporation. It is state-owned enterprise, publicly owned but, unlike the BBC, it receives no public funding and is funded en ...

and

HBO Max Max (known in other countries as, and soon to be reverted globally to HBO Max) is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. It is a proprietary unit of Warner Bros. Discovery Streaming on behalf of Home Box Of ...

, depicting the 1980s HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United Kingdom. In June 2021, he was announced to be a judge on '' Australia's Got Talent: Challengers & Champions'', a spin-off series of ''

Australia's Got Talent ''Australia's Got Talent'' is an Australian reality television talent show. The show is based on the '' Got Talent'' series format that originated in the United Kingdom with Simon Cowell. The first six seasons aired on the Seven Network, from ...

''. Harris appeared in ''

The Matrix Resurrections ''The Matrix Resurrections'' is a 2021 American science fiction action film co-produced, co-written, and directed by Lana Wachowski, and the first in the ''Matrix'' franchise to be directed solely by Lana. It is the sequel to '' The Matrix Re ...

'', the fourth installment of the ''Matrix'' franchise, released in December 2021. In 2022, he joined the

Encores! Encores! is a Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre, Tony-honored concert series dedicated to reviving United States, American Musical theatre, musicals, usually with their original orchestrations. Presented by New York City Center since 1994, E ...

presentation of

's ''

Into the Woods ''Into the Woods'' is a 1986 musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine. The musical intertwines the plots of several Brothers Grimm fairy tales, exploring the consequences of the characters' wishes and quests. T ...

'' as The Baker; the limited production ran at the

New York City Center New York City Center (previously known as the Mecca Temple, City Center of Music and Drama, and the New York City Center 55th Street Theater) is a performing arts center at 131 West 55th Street (Manhattan), 55th Street between Sixth Avenue, Six ...

from May 4 to 15. Harris also starred in the 2022 Netflix series ''

Uncoupled ''Uncoupled'' is an American romantic comedy television series created by Darren Star and Jeffrey Richman that premiered on Netflix on July 29, 2022. The series was featured in the Netflix "Top 10" list at number six for one week. In January 20 ...

'' as gay Manhattanite Michael Lawson, a

realtor Real estate agents and real estate brokers are people who represent sellers or buyers of real estate or real property. While a broker may work independently, an agent usually works under a licensed broker to represent clients. Brokers and agent ...

re-navigating the dating scene after 17 years. He also portrayed Francis Beaumont in '' Peter Pan Goes Wrong'' for a limited engagement from April 11 to May 7, 2023. In December 2023, Harris guest starred as the Toymaker in the third and final special, " The Giggle", of the 60th anniversary specials of ''

Doctor Who ''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series, created by Sydney Newman, C. E. Webber and Donald Wilson (writer and producer), Donald Wilson, depicts the adventures of an extraterre ...

''.

Personal life

From 1997 to 1998, Harris dated actress

Christine Taylor Christine Joan Taylor Stiller (born July 30, 1971) is an American actress. She has played Marcia Brady in '' The Brady Bunch Movie'' and '' A Very Brady Sequel'' and appeared in '' The Craft'', '' The Wedding Singer'', '' Zoolander'', and '' Do ...

. In a 2008 appearance on ''

The Howard Stern Show ''The Howard Stern Show'' is an American radio show hosted by Howard Stern that gained wide recognition when it was radio syndication, nationally syndicated on terrestrial radio from WINS-FM, WXRK in New York City, between 1986 and 2005. The sho ...

'', he discussed how the relationship made him realize his true sexuality: "She's the coolest, nicest chick ever. She's an absolute catch, and I thought, 'If I'm not going to feel the super sparks with her... it probably means I'm gay.'" Harris publicly

came out Coming out of the closet, often shortened to coming out, is a metaphor used to describe LGBTQ people's self-disclosure of their sexual orientation, romantic orientation, or gender identity. This is often framed and debated as a privacy issue, ...

as gay in November 2006, saying, "I am happy to dispel any rumors or misconceptions and am quite proud to say that I am a very content gay man living my life to the fullest and feel most fortunate to be working with wonderful people in the business I love." Harris has been in a relationship with actor and chef David Burtka since April 2004. In October 2010, they became parents to twins, son Gideon and daughter Harper, born via a

surrogate mother Surrogacy is an arrangement whereby a woman gets pregnant and gives birth on behalf of another person or couple who will become the child's legal parents after birth. People pursue surrogacy for a variety of reasons such as infertility, danger ...

. Following the passage of the Marriage Equality Act in New York on June 24, 2011, Harris and Burtka announced their engagement via

Twitter Twitter, officially known as X since 2023, is an American microblogging and social networking service. It is one of the world's largest social media platforms and one of the most-visited websites. Users can share short text messages, image ...

, stating that they had proposed to each other five years earlier but kept the engagement secret until same-sex marriage became legal. Harris and Burtka married in Italy in September 2014.

Pamela Fryman Pamela Gail Fryman (born August 19, 1959) is an American sitcom director and producer. She was the principal director of the television series ''How I Met Your Mother'', directing 196 of the show's 208 episodes. Early life Fryman was born and g ...

, the long-time director of ''How I Met Your Mother'', officiated the wedding while

Elton John Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a British singer, songwriter and pianist. His music and showmanship have had a significant, lasting impact on the music industry, and his songwriting partnership with l ...

performed at the reception. In 2013, the couple bought a townhouse in

Harlem Harlem is a neighborhood in Upper Manhattan, New York City. It is bounded roughly by the Hudson River on the west; the Harlem River and 155th Street on the north; Fifth Avenue on the east; and Central Park North on the south. The greater ...

, which they sold in 2022 for $6.99 million. Harris is a fan of magic, including

card magic Card manipulation, commonly known as card magic, is the branch of magic that deals with creating effects using sleight of hand techniques involving playing cards. Card manipulation is often used in magical performances, especially in close-up, ...

. His characters in ''How I Met Your Mother'', '' American Horror Story: Freak Show'', and ''Glee'' also use magic. Harris won the Tannen's Magic Louis Award in 2006 and hosted the 2008 World Magic Awards on October 11, 2008. He previously served as the president of the board of directors of Hollywood's Magic Castle, from 2011 to 2014. Additionally, Harris and Burtka were guests of honor for "Magic Chefs", a season 1 episode of ''

Top Chef Masters ''Top Chef Masters'' is an American reality competition series that aired on the cable television network Bravo (American TV network), Bravo, and premiered June 10, 2009. It is a spinoff (media), spinoff of Bravo's hit show ''Top Chef''. In the ...

'', that took place at the Magic Castle. He also collaborated with the French-Swedish sportswear brand Ron Dorff on a fashion collection launched in September 2022. Fifteen per cent of all proceeds were donated to

World Central Kitchen World Central Kitchen (WCK) is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization that Food security, provides food relief. It was founded in 2010 by Spanish American chef and restaurateur José Andrés following the 2010 Haiti earthquake, earthq ...

. In May 2022, it resurfaced on Twitter that Harris had hosted a Halloween party in October 2011 in which he served guests a meat platter designed to resemble the corpse of

Amy Winehouse Amy Jade Winehouse (14 September 1983 – 23 July 2011) was an English singer, songwriter, musician, and businesswoman. With over 30 million records sold worldwide, she was known for her deep, expressive contralto vocals and her eclectic mix ...

. He apologized later that month.

Philanthropy

Harris has supported and contributed to various charities, organizations, and foundations. These include: *

AIDS Healthcare Foundation AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is a Los Angeles-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and advocacy services. As of 2024, AHF operates about 400 clinics, 69 outpatient healthcare centers, 62 pharma ...

* Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation *

American Cancer Society The American Cancer Society (ACS) is a nationwide non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating cancer. The ACS publishes the journals ''Cancer'', '' CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians'' and '' Cancer Cytopathology''. History The society w ...

* Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS *

Children International Children International is a global nonprofit humanitarian organization that helps children break the cycle of poverty. It addresses children’s critical needs through early intervention and regular interaction in community centers. The goal is t ...

* Clothes Off Our Back Foundation * Elton John AIDS Foundation * Entertainment Industry Foundation *

Feeding America Feeding America is a United States–based Nonprofit organization, non-profit organization that is a nationwide network of more than 200 food banks that feed more than 46 million people through food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and other c ...

* First Book * Food on Foot * Global Green * Hope North * International Myeloma Foundation * LeBron James Family Foundation * Live Out Loud * Los Angeles Mission * Motion Picture and Television Fund Foundation * Noreen Fraser Foundation * Project Angel Food * Real Medicine Foundation *

Stand Up To Cancer Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) is a charitable organization that was established as a division of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF). In 2022, SU2C was separately incorporated and was recognized by the IRS as a Section 501(c)(3) public charit ...

* Susan G. Komen for the Cure * The Trevor Project In October 2014, Harris attended a dinner for the Elton John AIDS Foundation and in September 2016, he and his husband were the honorary hosts of a culinary cookout to help raise money for the Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation. In April 2019, Harris hosted We Day California, a charity event that celebrates students who have made a change in their community.

Discography

Cast recordings

Singles

Acting credits

Film

Television

Theater

Web

Video games

Bibliography

Audiobooks

* 2014: ''Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography'' (read by the author), Random House Audio,

Awards and nominations

References

External links

* *
Neil Patrick Harris
at Internet Off-Broadway Database * * * 2011 interview with '' The Sondheim Review'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Harris, Neil Patrick 1973 births 20th-century American comedians 20th-century American LGBTQ people 20th-century American male actors 20th-century American singers 21st-century American comedians 21st-century American LGBTQ people 21st-century American male actors 21st-century American male writers 21st-century American non-fiction writers 21st-century American philanthropists 21st-century American screenwriters 21st-century American singers American autobiographers American comedy musicians American gay actors American gay musicians American gay writers American LGBTQ comedians American LGBTQ screenwriters American LGBTQ singers American magicians American male child actors American male comedians American male film actors American male musical theatre actors American male non-fiction writers American male screenwriters American male singers American male stage actors American male television actors American male television writers American male video game actors American male voice actors American male web series actors American television directors American television hosts American television writers American theatre directors Comedians from New Mexico Comedians from New York City Drama Desk Award winners Gay comedians Gay memoirists Gay screenwriters Gay singers La Cueva High School alumni LGBTQ magicians LGBTQ people from New Mexico LGBTQ people from New York (state) LGBTQ television producers LGBTQ theatre directors Living people Male actors from Albuquerque, New Mexico Male actors from New Mexico Male actors from New York City People from Ruidoso, New Mexico Philanthropists from New Mexico Primetime Emmy Award winners Screenwriters from New Mexico Screenwriters from New York (state) Shorty Award winners Singers from New Mexico Singers from New York City Streamy Award winners Television producers from New York City Tony Award winners Writers from Albuquerque, New Mexico