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Neil Patrick Harris: Biography, Facts and Career

Who is Neil Patrick Harris? An evergreen, sourced profile: biography, key facts and career.

By the Pop Culture Files editorial team4 min read✓ Fact-checked
Neil Patrick Harris
PhilipRomanoPhoto via Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0

Neil Patrick Harris (born June 15, 1973) is an American actor, singer, writer, producer, television host, comedian and magician. 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 and five Primetime Emmy Awards, and nominations for a Grammy Award and three Actor Awards. 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 on the CBS series How I Met Your Mother (2005–2014), for which he was nominated for four Emmy Awards, and Count Olaf on the Netflix series A Series of Unfortunate Events (2017–2019). He won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his role on Glee (2010). Harris is also known for portraying 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). His other films include Starship Troopers (1997), The Smurfs (2011), The Smurfs 2 (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 play Proof (2002). He went on to win the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical playing the title role in the rock musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2014). Harris has hosted numerous award shows, including the Tony Awards in 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2013, the Primetime Emmy Awards in 2009 and 2013, and the Academy Awards in 2015. He was named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in 2010.

Quick facts about Neil Patrick Harris

  • Full name: Neil Patrick Harris
  • Born: 1973-06-15
  • Nationality: United States
  • Known as: Comedian
  • Wikidata ID: Q485310

Profile compiled from public Wikipedia and Wikidata data. Details can change over time.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Neil Patrick Harris?

Neil Patrick Harris (born June 15, 1973) is an American actor, singer, writer, producer, television host, comedian and magician.

What nationality is Neil Patrick Harris?

Neil Patrick Harris is United States.

When was Neil Patrick Harris born?

Neil Patrick Harris was born on 1973-06-15.

Sources

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