Neil Patrick Harris: From Doogie Howser To How I Met Your Mother
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VOICE OVER: Rebecca Brayton
From the Broadway stage to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, this actor has been entertaining audiences since he was a young boy. Born on June 15th, 1973, he quickly proved to be a skilled drama student. After appearing in school plays, he made the transition to film in 1988. However, his status as a teenage heart-throb came the next year when he landed the iconic role of teen surgeon “Doogie Howser, M.D.” He later returned to film, and starred in the stage musical, “Rent.” However, it was his portrayal of himself as a drug-addicted hitchhiker in “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle” that revitalized his career. Join http://www.WatchMojo.com as we take a look at the life and career of Neil Patrick Harris.
Actor Neil Patrick Harris: From Doogie Howser To How I Met Your Mother
From the Broadway stage to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, this actor has been entertaining audiences since he was a young boy. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re taking a look at the life and career of Neil Patrick Harris.
Born June 15th, 1973, Neil Patrick Harris grew up in New Mexico. He proved to be a skilled student, and excelled academically as well as in the drama program.
After appearing in some school performances, Harris made the transition to film in 1988. For example, he appeared in the kids’ fantasy film “Purple People Eater.” However, it was his role alongside Whoopi Goldberg in “Clara’s Heart” that won him a Golden Globe nomination.
His status as a true teenaged heart-throb came the next year when he landed the role of teen surgeon “Doogie Howser, M.D.” The show’s successful four-year run launched his career and yielded Harris a Golden Globe nomination.
Following the end of the show, Harris attempted to make the switch to more adult roles with the shocking flop, “Animal Room” in 1995. He also returned to the stage. In 1997, he took on the role of Mark in an L.A. production of the popular musical, “Rent.” That was also the year he made it back to the big screen with a supporting role in the sci-fi film, “Starship Troopers.” He kept up his profile by appearing in films like “The Next Best Thing” and “Undercover Brother.”
However, it was his portrayal of himself as a drug-addled hitchhiker in “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle” in 2004 that revitalized his career. Harris’ theater career was also flourishing, but in the fall of 2005 he took on his next memorable role: the womanizing Barney Stinson on the sitcom “How I Met Your Mother.” It was during the second season of this successful show that Harris publicly announced he was gay, after a guest-appearance on the show by his boyfriend sparked rumors.
Following this, he teamed up with director Joss Whedon to become a mad scientist super villain in the Internet exclusive three-part mini-seires "Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog." This project immediately garnered a huge fan following, in large part due to the actor's unique comedic and musical talents.
In recent years, he has also added voice acting to his resume, with performances in films like “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs,” and “Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore.”
As his fame grew, his stage and screen presence was in demand. This resulted in a number of television appearances for Harris. For example, he acted as a guest judge on American Idol in 2009, and won an Emmy award for his performance on “Glee” the next year. Harris has also become famous as a talented award show host, and has taken turns on-stage at both the Tony Awards and the Primetime Emmys.
In his down time, Harris is a fan and practitioner of magic and this is showcased in a number of his most famous roles and performances.
Neil Patrick Harris’ already impressive resume gave him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2011, and this is one talented actor who will certainly be entertaining us for years to come.
