Life
Neil Patrick Harris was born on June 15, 1973, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and grew up in Ruidoso, New Mexico. His mother, Sheila Harris, as well as his father, Ron Harris, were both lawyers. He first began acting after following his older brother to an audition in the fourth grade, where his brother played Toto in a school production of The Wizard of Oz. He graduated with honors at La Cueva High School in Albuquerque in 1991, where he was active in school plays and musicals.
Career
Neil started his career as a child actor when he was discovered by Mark Medoff at a Drama Camp. Medoff casted him in his 1988 movie, Clara's Heart where he won a Golden Globe nomination, as well as Purple People Eater, also released in 1988. In 1989, he won the lead role in Doogie Howser, M.D., where he was again nominated for a Golden Globe. Doogie Howser ended after a four-season run in 1993.
Harris began playing a number of guest roles in TV shows before starring in his first film as an adult in Animal Room. Since then, he has landed a number of supporting roles in movies including Undercover Brother, Starship Troopers, Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, and Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay. Harris also starred with Tony Shaloub in Stark Raving Mad, a sitcom which lasted twenty-two episodes from 1999 to 2000.
He has also worked on Broadway in musicals, such as Sweeney Todd in 2001 as Tobias Ragg, Proof in 2002 with Anne Heche, and, in 2003, as the Emcee in Cabaret.
In 2005, he was cast to play Barney Stinson in the currently running sitcom, How I Met Your Mother. His role on the show earned him an Emmy nomination in both 2007 and 2008. In 2008, Neil starred in Joss Whedon's musical web series, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog where he played the series' title character, Dr. Horrible.
Careerography
Television Appearances
Doogie Howser, M.D.
Stark Raving Mad
How I Met Your Mother
Saturday Night Live
Law and Order: Criminal Intent
Film Appearances
Purple People Eater (1988)
Clara's Heart (1988)
Stranger in the Family (1991)
The Man in The Attic (1995)
Not Our Son (1995)
Animal Room (1995)
Starship Troopers (1997)
The Christmas Wish (1998)
The Proposition (1998)
The Next Best Thing (2000)
Undercover Brother (2002)
The Mesmerist (2002)
Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004)
The Golden Blaze (2005)
Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (2008)
The Muppets (2011)
Internet Projects
Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (2008)
Prop 8 - The Musical (2008)
Animation
The Simpsons (1991)
Capitol Critters (1992)
Captain Planet and the Planeteers (1992)
Spider-Man: The New Animated Series (2003)
Family Guy (2007)
Justice League: The New Frontier (2008)
Video Games
Saints Row 2 (2008)
Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard (2009)
Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions (2010)
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