Neil Patrick Harris

Neil Patrick Harris

Born: June 15, 1973
Age: 50
Birthplace: Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
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Biography

Neil Patrick Harris (born June 15, 1973) is an American actor, producer, singer, comedian, magician, and television host. He is known for playing Barney Stinson in the television comedy series How I Met Your Mother (2005-2014), for which he was nominated for four Emmy Awards, and for his role as the title character in Doogie Howser, M.D. (1989-1993). He hosted Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris.

He is also known for his role as the title character in Joss Whedon's musical Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (2008) and a fictional version of himself in the Harold & Kumar film series (2004-2011). He appeared in the films Starship Troopers (1997), Beastly (2011), The Smurfs (2011), The Smurfs 2 (2013) and Gone Girl (2014).

Harris was named as one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in 2010, He has hosted the Tony Awards on Broadway in 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013, for which he won several special class Emmy Awards. He also hosted the Primetime Emmy Awards in 2009 and 2013, and hosted the 87th Academy Awards in 2015, thus making him the first openly gay man to host the Academy Awards. In 2014, he starred in the title role in Hedwig and the Angry Inch on Broadway, for which he won the 2014 Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical.

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Early life

Harris was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico and grew up Ruidoso, New Mexico, with his elder brother and their parents, Sheila Gail (née Scott; born 1946) and Ronald Gene Harris (born 1946). His parents were lawyers and also ran a restaurant. He attended La Cueva High School in Albuquerque, graduating with high honors in 1991.

Career

Film

Harris began his career as a child actor and was discovered by playwright Mark Medoff at a drama camp in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Medoff later cast him in the 1988 drama film Clara's Heart, starring Whoopi Goldberg based on the novel of the same name by Joseph Olshan. Clara's Heart earned Harris a Golden Globe nomination. The same year, he starred in Purple People Eater, a children's fantasy.

Harris' first film role as an adult was 1995's Animal Room, although he portrayed a teenager. His subsequent film work has included supporting roles in The Next Best Thing, Undercover Brother, and Starship Troopers. Harris plays a fictionalized version of himself in the Harold and Kumar stoner comedy films Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay and A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas.

In 2010, Harris provided voice acting for the role of the adult Dick Grayson (Nightwing) in the animated film Batman: Under the Red Hood and the beagle Lou in the film Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore. The same year, he played the lead in the indie comedy The Best and the Brightest. On March 7, 2010, he made a surprise appearance at the 82nd Academy Awards, delivering the opening musical number. He starred in the films The Smurfs (2011) and The Smurfs 2 (2013) and David Fincher's Gone Girl (2014) with Ben Affleck.

On February 22, 2015, Harris hosted the 87th Academy Awards; it was his first time hosting the ceremony, and the first time an openly gay man hosted the Academy Awards.

Stage

Harris has worked on Broadway in both musical and dramatic roles. He played Tobias Ragg in the 2001 concert performances of Sweeney Todd. In 2002, he performed beside Anne Heche in Proof. In 2003, he took the role of the Emcee in Cabaret alongside Deborah Gibson and Tom Bosley. 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, outranking fellow celebrity stars John Stamos and Alan Cumming. In 2004, he performed the dual role of the Balladeer and Lee Harvey Oswald on Broadway in the musical revival of Stephen Sondheim's Assassins. He also sang the role of Charles (first played by Anthony Perkins) on the Nonesuch recording of Sondheim's Evening Primrose, and portrayed Mark Cohen in the 1997 touring company of the musical Rent, a role he mockingly reprised on the January 10, 2009, episode of Saturday Night Live, which he hosted.

In 2010, Harris directed a production of the rock musical Rent at the Hollywood Bowl; he cast his Beastly co-star Vanessa Hudgens as Mimi. In 2011, Harris played the lead role of Bobby in Stephen Sondheim's Company with the New York Philharmonic in concert, opposite Patti LuPone and others. The same year, he directed The Expert at the Card Table at Broad Stage's Edye in Santa Monica, California.

Harris has hosted the Tony Awards four times: the 63rd Tony Awards on June 7, 2009, 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, with five ceremonies, has hosted the Tony Awards more times. Hosting the Tony Awards has earned him three Emmy Awards; in 2010, 2012 and 2013 for the 63rd, 65th and 66th respectively.

A week after hosting the Tonys, it was announced that Harris would portray the titular role in the first Broadway production of the rock musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch, which he did from March through August 2014.

Television

From 1989, Harris played the title role of a child prodigy doctor in Doogie Howser, M.D., for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe. After the show's four-season run ended in 1993, Harris played a number of guest roles on television series, including Murder She Wrote. From 1999 to 2000, he starred with Tony Shalhoub in the NBC sitcom Stark Raving Mad, which lasted 22 episodes. He has played lead roles in a number of made-for-television features including Snowbound: The Jim and Jennifer Stolpa Story in 1994, My Ántonia in 1995, The Christmas Wish in 1998, Joan of Arc in 1999, The Wedding Dress in 2001 and The Christmas Blessing in 2005.

From 2005 to 2014, Harris played Barney Stinson, a serial womanizer, in the CBS ensemble sitcom How I Met Your Mother. The role earned him Emmy nominations every year from 2007 to 2010.

In 2008, Harris guest-starred on Sesame Street 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.

Harris hosted the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards on September 20, 2009. On August 21, 2010, he won two Emmy Awards at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards ceremony, one of which was for his guest performance in the television series Glee. Harris hosted the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards on September 22, 2013, marking his second time hosting the event.

After a preview at the San Diego Comic-Con, 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. As a character who could make anyone do his bidding by singing, he spent most of the episode singing several original songs.

In 2010, Harris filmed a pilot episode for an American adaptation of the British game show The Cube as host, though it was not picked up to series.

In 2014, Harris turned down the chance to replace David Letterman as host of the Late Show on CBS, 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 as host of The Late Late Show on the same grounds.

On September 15, 2015, Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris, a live variety series hosted by Harris on NBC, made its debut, but was cancelled after an eight episode run.

On January 15, 2016 Netflix cast Harris in their new show A Series of Unfortunate Events, for which he will star as Count Olaf.

Magic

Harris is a fan of magic, like his character on How I Met Your Mother. He serves as the President of the Board of Directors of Hollywood's Magic Castle. Harris won the Tannen's Magic Louis Award in 2006 and hosted the 2008 World Magic Awards on October 11, 2008. Additionally, Harris and partner David Burtka were guests of honor for a Top Chef Masters episode which took place at the Magic Castle. Harris also performed magic in his Emmy-winning performance on Glee.

Other media

In 2007, Harris worked with Mike Nelson on an audio commentary for RiffTrax. The two "riffed" on the film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. Harris is a big fan of the cult TV series Nelson worked on, Mystery Science Theater 3000. Harris was interviewed for a 1992 Comedy Central special This Is MST3K hosted by Penn Jillette about the series and its fans. In 2008, Harris played the title role in Joss Whedon's musical web series Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog alongside Nathan Fillion and Felicia Day. The first episode of the series debuted on July 15, 2008. He has also provided his voice for the Disney California Adventure Park attraction California Screamin'.

On December 11, 2010, Harris hosted the Spike Video Game Awards.

Personal life

Harris confirmed that he is gay on November 4, 2006 by 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 is an agnostic.

Harris attended the Emmy Awards in September 2007 with his fiancé David Burtka, later confirming the relationship. In an interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Harris said his relationship with Burtka began in 2004. On August 14, 2010, Harris announced that he and Burtka were expecting twins via a surrogate mother. Their son, Gideon Scott, and daughter, Harper Grace, were born on October 12, 2010.

Following the passage of the Marriage Equality Act in New York on June 24, 2011, Harris and Burtka announced their engagement via Twitter, stating that they had proposed to each other five years earlier but kept the engagement secret until same-sex marriage became legal. On September 8, 2014, Harris announced on his Twitter page that David Burtka and he were married over the weekend in Italy. Pamela Fryman, the long-time director of How I Met Your Mother, officiated the wedding, while Elton John performed at the reception.

Harris and Burtka bought a townhouse on Fifth Avenue in Harlem in 2013, the Upper Manhattan, New York City neighborhood where they had been living for many years previously.

Discography

Cast recordings

Year Album title Notes
2001 Evening Primrose Studio Cast
2004 Assassins Revival Cast Recording
2006 Wall to Wall: Stephen Sondheim Concert Cast
2008 Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog Original Cast Recording
2009 Batman: The Brave and the Bold - Mayhem of the Music Meister Original Cast Recording
2014 Hedwig and the Angry Inch Original Broadway Cast Recording

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions Sales Album
AUS CAN IRE UK US
2010 "Nothing Suits Me Like a Suit" 113 76 50 How I Met Your Mother season 5
"Dream On" (featuring Matthew Morrison) 91 24 44 47 26 84,000 (US) Glee: The Music, Volume 3 Showstoppers

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1988 Clara's Heart David Hart
1988 Purple People Eater Billy Johnson
1995 Animal Room Arnold Mosk
1997 Starship Troopers Carl Jenkins
1998 The Proposition Roger Martin
2000 Next Best Thing, TheThe Next Best Thing David
2002 The Mesmerist Benjamin
2002 Undercover Brother Lance
2004 Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle Neil Patrick Harris
2008 Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay Neil Patrick Harris
2008 Beyond All Boundaries 1st Lt. David Hettema (voice) Documentary
2008 Justice League: The New Frontier Barry Allen/The Flash (voice) Direct-to-DVD
2009 Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs Steve (voice)
2010 Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore Lou the Beagle (voice)
2010 The Best and the Brightest Jeff
2010 Batman: Under the Red Hood Dick Grayson/Nightwing (voice) Direct-to-DVD
2011 Beastly Will Fratalli
2011 Smurfs, TheThe Smurfs Patrick Winslow
2011 Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas, AA Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas Neil Patrick Harris
2011 The Muppets Himself Cameo
2012 American Reunion Celebrity Dance-Off Host Cameo
2013 The Smurfs 2 Patrick Winslow
2013 Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 Steve the Monkey (voice)
2014 A Million Ways to Die in the West Foy
2014 Gone Girl Desi Collings
2017 Downsizing Filming

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1988 Too Good to Be True Danny Harland Television film
1989 Hallmark Hall of Fame Lonnie Tibbetts Episode: "Home Fires Burning"
1989 B.L. Stryker Buder Campbell Episode: "Blues for Buder"
1989 Cold Sassy Tree Will Tweedy/Narrator Television film
1989 Home Fires Burning Lonnie Tibbits Television film
1989 !1989-1993 Doogie Howser, M.D. Douglas "Doogie" Howser 97 episodes
1990 The Earth Day Special Doogie Howser Television film
1991 Stranger in the Family Steve Thompson Television film
1991 Blossom The "Charming" Derek Slade Episode: "Blossom - A Rockumentary"
1991 Simpsons, TheThe Simpsons Himself as Bart Simpson (voice) Episode: "Bart the Murderer"
1992 Roseanne Dr. Doogie Howser Episode: "Less Is More"
1992 Captain Planet and the Planeteers Todd Andrews (voice) Episode: "A Formula for Hate"
1992 Capitol Critters Max (voice) 13 episodes
1993 Quantum Leap Mike Hammond Episode: "Return of the Evil Leaper - October 8, 1956"
1993 Murder, She Wrote Tommy Remsen Episode: "Lone Witness"
1993 Family Torn Apart, AA Family Torn Apart Brian Hannigan Television film
1994 Snowbound: The Jim and Jennifer Stolpa Story Jim Stolpa Television film
1995 The Man in the Attic Edward Broder Television film
1995 Not Our Son Paul Kenneth Keller Television film
1995 My Antonia Jimmy Burden Television film
1995 Legacy of Sin: The William Coit Story William Coit Television film
1996 Outer Limits, TheThe Outer Limits Howie Morrison Episode: "From Within"
1997 Homicide: Life on the Street Alan Schack Episode: "Valentine's Day"
1998 The Christmas Wish Will Martin Television film
1999 Joan of Arc The Dauphin 2 episodes
1999 !1999-2000 Stark Raving Mad Henry McNeeley 22 episodes
2000 Will & Grace Bill Episode: "Girls, Interrupted"
2001 Static Shock Johnny Morrow (voice) Episode: "Replay"
2001 Son of the Beach Loverboy Episode: "Queefer Madness"
2001 Legend of Tarzan, TheThe Legend of Tarzan Moyo (voice) Episode: "Tarzan and the Challenger"
2001 Ed Joe Baxter Episode: "Replacements"
2001 The Wedding Dress Travis Cleveland Television film
2002 Touched by an Angel Jonas Episode: "The Princeless Bride"
2002 Justice League Ray Thompson (voice) 2 episodes
2003 Boomtown Peter Corman Episode: "Monster's Brawl"
2003 Spider-Man: The New Animated Series Peter Parker/Spider-Man (voice) 13 episodes
2004 Law & Order: Criminal Intent John Tagman Episode: "Want"
2005 Numb3rs Ethan Burdick Episode: "Prime Suspect"
2005 Jack & Bobby Prof. Preston Phelps Episode: "Querida Grace"
2005 Christmas Blessing, TheThe Christmas Blessing Nathan Andrews Television film
2005 !2005-2014 How I Met Your Mother Barney Stinson 208 episodes; directed episode: "Jenkins"
2006 Me, Eloise (voice) Episode: "Eloise Goes to School"
2007 !2007-2009 Family Guy Barney Stinson (voice) 2 episodes
2008 Sesame Street The Fairy Shoeperson Episode: "Telly's New Shoes"
2009 Saturday Night Live Himself (host) Episode: "Neil Patrick Harris/ Taylor Swift"
2009 Batman: The Brave and the Bold The Music Meister (voice) Episode: "Mayhem of the Music Meister!"
2009 Carrie Underwood: An All-Star Holiday Special Ace (voice) Television film
2009-2012 Robot Chicken Various roles (voice) 3 episodes
2009 7th Annual TV Land Awards Himself (host) Television special
2009 63rd Tony Awards Himself (host) Television special
2009 61st Primetime Emmy Awards Himself (host) Television special
2009 Yes, Virginia Dr. Philip O'Hanlon (voice) Television special
2010 Glee Bryan Ryan Episode: "Dream On"
2010 !2010-2013 Penguins of Madagascar, TheThe Penguins of Madagascar Dr. Blowhole (voice) 3 episodes
2010 2010 Spike Video Game Awards Himself (host) Television special
2011 Take Two with Phineas and Ferb Himself "Neil Patrick Harris" (Season 1, Episode 7)
2011 Brain Games Narrator (voice) 3 episodes
2011 !2011-2013 Adventure Time Prince Gumball (voice) 2 episodes
2011 65th Tony Awards Himself (host) Television special
2012 66th Tony Awards Himself (host) Television special
2013 67th Tony Awards Himself (host) Television special
2013 65th Primetime Emmy Awards Himself (host) Television special
2013 Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade Himself (host) Television special
2014 Under the Gunn Himself (guest judge) Episode: "Finale"
2014 RuPaul's Drag Race Himself (guest judge) Episode: "Drag My Wedding"
2015 American Horror Story: Freak Show Chester Creb 2 episodes
2015 87th Academy Awards Himself (host) Television special
2015 Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway Himself (guest announcer) Television special
2015 America's Got Talent Himself (guest judge) 1 episode
2015 Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris Himself (host) 8 episodes; also writer and executive producer
2016 A Series of Unfortunate Events Count Olaf Main role

Theater

Year Title Role Notes
1997 Rent Mark Cohen National Tour
1998 Romeo and Juliet Romeo Montague Old Globe Theatre
2001 Sweeney Todd Tobias Ragg San Francisco Symphony Orchestra concert version
2002 Proof Hal Manhattan Theatre Club
2003 Cabaret Emcee Stephen Sondheim Theatre
2004 Paris Letter, TheThe Paris Letter Young Anton / Burt Sarris Roundabout Theatre
2004 Assassins Lee Harvey Oswald / The Balladeer Roundabout Theatre
2005 Tick, Tick... BOOM! Jon Menier Chocolate Factory
2006 All My Sons Chris Keller Geffen Playhouse
2006 Amadeus Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Hollywood Bowl
2010 Rent N/A Directed
Hollywood Bowl
2011 Company Robert New York Philharmonic Concert Version
2011 A Snow White Christmas The Magic Mirror El Portal Theater
2014 Nothing to Hide N/A Director
Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre
2014 Hedwig and the Angry Inch Hedwig Belasco Theatre

Web

Year Title Role Notes
2008 Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog Dr. Horrible/Billy 3 episodes
2008 Prop 8: The Musical A Very Smart Fellow Short film
2012 Neil's Puppet Dreams Neil Patrick Harris 7 episodes; also co-creator, writer and executive producer

Video games

Year Title Role
2008 Saints Row 2 Veteran Child (voice)
2009 Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard Wallace "Wally" Wellesley (voice)
2010 Rock of the Dead Unnamed character (voice)
2010 Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions Peter Parker/Spider-Man (voice)
2013 Saints Row IV Veteran Child (voice)

Bibliography

  • Harris, Neil Patrick (2014). Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography. Crown Archetype. ISBN 978-0385346993.

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Title Result
1989 Young Artist Award Best Leading Young Actor in a Feature Film Clara's Heart Nominated
Golden Globe Award Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role - Motion Picture Nominated
1990 Young Artist Award Best Young Actor Starring in a Television Series Doogie Howser, M.D. Won
People's Choice Award Favorite Male Performer in a New TV Series Won
Favorite Male TV Performer Nominated
Viewers for Quality Television Award Best Actor in a Quality Comedy Series Nominated
1991 Young Artist Award Best Young Actor Starring in a Television Series Won
1992 Won
Golden Globe Award Best Actor - Television Series Musical or Comedy Nominated
2007 Teen Choice Award Choice TV Actor: Comedy How I Met Your Mother Nominated
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated
2008 People's Choice Award Favorite Scene Stealing Star Nominated
Teen Choice Award Choice TV Actor: Comedy Nominated
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated
2009 Golden Globe Award Best Supporting Actor - Series, Miniseries or Television Film Nominated
TCA Award Individual Achievement in Comedy Nominated
Teen Choice Award Choice TV Actor: Comedy Nominated
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated
Streamy Award Best Male Actor in a Comedy Web Series Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog Won
Satellite Award Best Supporting Actor - Series, Miniseries or Television Film How I Met Your Mother Nominated
2010 Golden Globe Award Best Supporting Actor - Series, Miniseries or Television Film Nominated
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series Glee Won
Outstanding Special Class Program 63rd Tony Awards Won
Spike Video Game Award Best Performance by a Human Male Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions Won
Satellite Award Best Supporting Actor - Series, Miniseries or Television Film How I Met Your Mother Nominated
2011 People's Choice Award Favorite TV Comedy Actor Won
Favorite TV Guest Star Glee Nominated
Critics' Choice Television Award Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series How I Met Your Mother Won
Satellite Award Best Supporting Actor - Series, Miniseries or Television Film How I Met Your Mother Nominated
2012 People's Choice Award Favorite TV Comedy Actor Won
TV Guide Award Favorite Actor Nominated
Teen Choice Award Choice TV Actor: Comedy Nominated
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Special Class Program 65th Tony Awards Won
2013 66th Tony Awards Won
Webby Award Best Comedy: Long Form or Series Neil's Puppet Dreams Nominated
People's Choice Award Favorite TV Comedy Actor How I Met Your Mother Nominated
2014 Nominated
Favorite TV Bromance Nominated
Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award Favorite Movie Actor The Smurfs 2 Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actor in a Musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch Won
Drama League Award Distinguished Performance Won
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Actor in a Musical Nominated
Daytime Emmy Award Outstanding Special Class Special Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade Nominated
Hasty Pudding Theatricals Hasty Pudding Man of the Year Won
Tony Award Best Actor in a Musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch Won
Dorian Award TV Musical Performance of the Year 67th Tony Awards Nominated
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Special Class Program Nominated
2015 Alliance of Women Film Journalists Award Best Depiction of Nudity, Sexuality, or Seduction Gone Girl Nominated
Grammy Award Best Musical Theater Album Hedwig and the Angry Inch Nominated
Saturn Award Best Guest Performance in a Television Series American Horror Story: Freak Show Nominated
Charities

Neil Patrick Harris supports the following charitable cause: AIDS.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]


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