Neil Patrick Harris: A Biography

Neil Patrick Harris is an American actor, comedian, magician, and singer, known primarily for his comedy roles on television and his dramatic and musical stage roles. On television, he is known for playing the title character on Doogie Howser, M.D. (1989–1993), Barney Stinson on How I Met Your Mother (2005–2014, for which he was nominated for four Emmy Awards). Harris is also known for his role as the title character in Joss Whedon's musical Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog and a fictional version of himself in the Harold & Kumar film series (2004–2011). His other films include Starship Troopers, Beastly, The Smurfs, The Smurfs 2, A Million Ways to Die in the West, and Gone Girl. 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. Harris has hosted the Tony Awards 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. Harris was named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in 2010. He is married to David Burtka. In 2010, they had twins using surrogacy.