CINEFILER

Neil Patrick Harris

Born
June 15, 1973
Neil Patrick Harris (born June 15, 1973) is an American actor, singer, writer, producer, and television host. 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, five Primetime Emmy Awards, and nominations for a Grammy Award and three Screen Actors Guild 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). Harris 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). His other films include Starship Troopers (1997), Beastly (2011), The Smurfs (2011), The Smurfs 2 (2013), A Million Ways to Die in the West (2014), and Gone Girl (2014). In 2010, Harris won two awards at the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards, winning for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his guest appearance on Glee, and Outstanding Special Class Program for hosting the Tony Awards in 2009; he has won the latter award three additional times for hosting the show in 2011, 2012, and 2013. 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. 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 via surrogacy.
Known For
Serenity
(2005)
Screaming Reaver (uncredited)
Downsizing
(2017)
Jeff Lonowski
Gone Girl
(2014)
Desi Collings
The Matrix Resurrections
(2021)
The Analyst
Starship Troopers
(1997)
Colonel Carl Jenkins
The Smurfs
(2011)
Patrick Winslow
American Reunion
(2012)
Celebrity Dance-Off Host
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2
(2013)
Steve (voice)
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
(2009)
Steve the Monkey (voice)
The Muppets
(2011)
Neil Patrick Harris
The Smurfs 2
(2013)
Patrick Winslow
Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle
(2004)
Neil Patrick Harris
A Million Ways to Die in the West
(2014)
Foy
Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay
(2008)
Neil Patrick Harris
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
(2022)
Richard Fink
Batman: Under the Red Hood
(2010)
Dick Grayson / Nightwing (voice)
Full Filmography
Acting
Clara's Heart
(1988)
David Hart
Too Good to Be True
(1988)
Danny Harland
Purple People Eater
(1988)
Billy Johnson
Cold Sassy Tree
(1989)
Will Tweedy
Home Fires Burning
(1989)
Lonnie Tibbettes
The Earth Day Special
(1990)
Doogie Howser M.D.
Stranger in the Family
(1991)
Steve Thompson
The Best of Disney: 50 Years of Magic
(1991)
Time Out: The Truth About HIV, AIDS and You
(1992)
Self
Sudden Fury
(1993)
Brian Hannigan
Snowbound: The Jim and Jennifer Stolpa Story
(1994)
Jim Stolpa
Animal Room
(1995)
Arnold Mosk
The Man in the Attic
(1995)
Edward Broder
My Antonia
(1995)
Jimmy Burden
Not Our Son
(1995)
Paul Keller
Legacy of Sin: The William Coit Story
(1995)
William Coit
Starship Troopers
(1997)
Colonel Carl Jenkins
The Christmas Wish
(1998)
Will Martin
The Proposition
(1998)
Roger Martin
The Next Best Thing
(2000)
David
The Wedding Dress
(2001)
Travis Cleveland
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street in Concert
(2001)
Tobias
Summer of Camp Caprice
(2001)
Jed (voice)
Undercover Brother
(2002)
Lance
The Mesmerist
(2002)
Death from Above: The Making of 'Starship Troopers'
(2002)
Himself
The Making of Sweeney Todd at the San Francisco Symphony
(2002)
Self
Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle
(2004)
Neil Patrick Harris
The Christmas Blessing
(2005)
Nathan Andrews
Disney Heroes Volume 1
(2005)
Moyo (voice)
Serenity
(2005)
Screaming Reaver (uncredited)
The Golden Blaze
(2005)
The Comic Shop Owner (voice)
The Making of Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog
(2007)
Himself
Eloise Goes to School
(2007)
Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay
(2008)
Neil Patrick Harris
Justice League: The New Frontier
(2008)
Barry Allen / The Flash (voice)
Commentary! The Musical
(2008)
Prop 8: The Musical
(2008)
A Very Smart Fellow
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
(2009)
Steve the Monkey (voice)
Yes, Virginia
(2009)
Dr. Philip O'Hanlon (voice)
Beyond All Boundaries
(2009)
1st Lt. David Hettema / Sgt. William Manchester
Batman: Under the Red Hood
(2010)
Dick Grayson / Nightwing (voice)
The Best and the Brightest
(2010)
Jeff
Through a Dog's Eyes
(2010)
Narrator
Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore
(2010)
Lou (voice)
Dracula's Daughter vs. the Space Brains
(2010)
Dan
A First Look at Batman: Under the Red Hood
(2010)
Self
Sesame Street: 40 Years of Sunny Days
(2010)
The Shoe Fairy (uncredited) (archive footage)
The Smurfs
(2011)
Patrick Winslow
Beastly
(2011)
Will Fratalli
The Muppets
(2011)
Neil Patrick Harris
A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas
(2011)
Neil Patrick Harris
Company
(2011)
Robert
Robot Chicken: DC Comics Special
(2012)
Two-Face / Black Manta (voice)
American Reunion
(2012)
Celebrity Dance-Off Host
A Snow White Christmas: Opening Night
(2012)
The Magic Mirror
The Penguins of Madagascar: Operation Blowhole
(2012)
Dr. Blowhole (voice)
The Smurfs 2
(2013)
Patrick Winslow
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2
(2013)
Steve (voice)
The Out List
(2013)
Himself
Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade
(2013)
Host
A Million Ways to Die in the West
(2014)
Foy
Gone Girl
(2014)
Desi Collings
Attack of the 50-foot Gummi Bear
(2014)
Steve the Monkey (voice)
Steve's First Bath
(2014)
Steve (voice)
In Their Own Words: Jim Henson
(2015)
Self - Actor
Neil Patrick Harris: Circus Awesomeus
(2016)
Host / Himself
Downsizing
(2017)
Jeff Lonowski
The Words That Built America
(2017)
Reader - Declaration of Independence
Elton John: I'm Still Standing - A Grammy Salute
(2018)
Self
Mickey’s 90th Spectacular
(2018)
Self
Wig
(2019)
Self
Still Laugh-In: The Stars Celebrate
(2019)
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge - Adventure Awaits
(2019)
Self - Host
Dads
(2019)
Self
Epcot International Festival of the Holidays – Candlelight Processional
(2019)
Narrator
Take Me to the World: A Sondheim 90th Birthday Celebration
(2020)
Self - Performer
The Matrix Resurrections
(2021)
The Analyst
8-Bit Christmas
(2021)
Adult Jake Doyle / Narrator
Coded: The Hidden Love of J.C. Leyendecker
(2021)
J.C. Leyendecker (voice)
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
(2022)
Richard Fink
Billion Dollar Babies: The True Story of the Cabbage Patch Kids
(2023)
Narrator (voice)
Dolly Parton's Pet Gala
(2024)
Production
Data provided by TMDB