How I Met Your Mother
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"Sometimes you can have the smallest role in the smallest production and still make a big impact." Neil Patrick Harris is, perhaps, one of the most underappreciated performers in Hollywood. At just 15-years-old, Harris came into his own opposite Whoopi Goldberg in the film Clara's Heart. A year later, he would land the title role on the hit sitcom, Doogie Howser, M.D.
Now, decades after becoming the child star of the early 90s, Harris is a decorated performer with a proverbial laundry list of hit roles on his resume. Harris was even named to Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People, so you know he is a big deal when it comes to pop-culture. With numerous Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy Award nominations to his name, now is a great time to learn why Neal Patrick Harris so highly thought of within the entertainment industry.
Raised in Albuquerque
Neil Patrick Harris was born on June 15, 1973, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Harris was born to a pair of lawyers and business owners named Sheila Gail and Ronald Gene Harris. Together, they also operated their own restaurant. Harris had an older brother while growing up.
As a kid, Harris attended La Cueva High School out of Albuquerque. Despite his booming career in the entertainment industry, Harris stayed focused on his education. When he wasn't in school, Harris would employ a private tutor that would come with him to set. Thanks to his dedication to education, Harris would graduate with honors from high school. Before graduating, Harris would appear in several school productions which included The Wizard of Oz.
Harris has been working in the industry for almost his entire life, so it is hard to separate his early life from his professional career. With that being said, the entertainment industry didn't really take off for Harris until he turned 15.
Decorated Entertainment Career
While Neil Patrick Harris had been performing for as long as he could walk, his career really didn't get going until 1988 when he starred in Clara's Heart. At just 15-years-old, Harris had landed the leading role opposite of Whoopi Goldberg in the aforementioned film. Harris's performance was so critically revered that he would land a Golden Globe nomination for the work. High off of the success of his feature film debut, Harris would immediately land a leading role on ABC's future hit program, Doogie Howser M.D. Harris would anchor the show for the full five-year run of the project, leading to several Golden Globe nominations.
Following his success on Doogie Howser M.D., Harris would find himself landing a major role in one of the biggest sci-fi films of the year, Starship Troopers (1997). The film would spawn a sprawling franchise that still exists to this day. Shortly thereafter, Harris starred alongside Tony Shalhoub in the NBC series, Stark Raving Mad (1999). Harris would briefly step away for work on Broadway during this period of time for performances in Rent, Assassins, and Cabaret.
By this point in his career, Harris was firmly establishing himself as a solid character actor. Known for his charm, quick wit, and soaring voice, Harris would land roles in Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004), How I Met Your Mother (2005), and Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay (2008). How I Met Your Mother would go on to become one of Harris's most notable roles as the character Barney Stinson. As Barney, Harris played a rich ladies man with an eye for fashion. For his work on How I Met Your Mother, Harris would be nominated for four Emmy Awards and a pair of Golden Globe awards.
Neil Patrick Harris has found himself at home in several roles in his post-Barney Stinson career. He's scored notable supporting gigs on American Horror Story (2015) and Glee (2010). Harris has also grabbed roles in major motion pictures like The Muppets (2011), The Smurfs (2011), Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2 (2013), and Gone Girl (2014). Most recently, Harris has starred as Count Olaf in the Netflix adaptation of A Series of Unfortunate Events (2017). The smash-hit Netflix series has already scored six Primetime Emmy nominations, among other awards. Harris is currently attached to several projects in development including Spinning Gold and Anita (2020).
When Harris isn't tearing up the silver screen or earning laughs on television, he works in several other mediums. Harris has already won four Special Primetime Emmy Awards for his work hosting The Annual Tony Awards from 2012 to 2014. In late 2014, Harris would also secure a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Harris has also released his own memoir, Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography (2014). Harris would release his second book, a young adult novel named The Magic Misfits, in 2017.
Neil Patrick Harris is far more than just an actor and entertainer. Harris is openly gay, and he works with a variety of advocacy groups and philanthropic foundations. Harris has adopted twins with his husband, David Burtka. Burtka and Harris officially married in 2014 after keeping their engagement private until the Marriage Equality Act was passed. At the wedding, Elton John would perform while Pamela Fryman, director of How I Met Your Mother, officiated the proceedings.
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