Age, Biography and Wiki
Neil Patrick Harris was born on June 15, 1973, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is the son of Sheila Gail (née Scott) and Ronald Gene Harris, both lawyers and restaurateurs. Harris grew up in Ruidoso, New Mexico, with his older brother. He attended La Cueva High School in Albuquerque, graduating with high honors, partly due to private tutoring during his acting commitments.
Harris rose to child star fame with roles in projects like "Clara’s Heart" and became a household name as the prodigious Dr. Doogie Howser in "Doogie Howser, M.D." He has since built a versatile career spanning film, television, theater, and magic performances.
| Occupation | Autobiographer |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 15 June 1973 |
| Age | 52 Years |
| Birth Place | Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Gemini |
| Country | Mexico |
Height, Weight & Measurements
Neil Patrick Harris stands at approximately 6 feet (183 cm) tall. Specific details regarding his weight and other body measurements are not widely publicized, but he maintains a fit appearance for his age.
| Height | 183 cm |
| Weight | |
| Body Measurements | |
| Eye Color | |
| Hair Color |
Dating & Relationship Status
Neil Patrick Harris publicly came out as gay in November 2006. He was in a relationship with actress Christine Taylor in the late 1990s, which he later described as helping him recognize his sexuality. Since April 2004, Harris has been in a relationship with actor and chef David Burtka. The couple became parents to twins, Gideon and Harper, via surrogacy in 2010. Harris and Burtka became engaged in 2006, but announced their engagement publicly in 2011 following the legalization of same-sex marriage in New York. They married in Italy in September 2014.
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).
Both parents were lawyers and also ran a restaurant. He attended La Cueva High School in Albuquerque, graduating with high honors in 1991, which he attributes to being privately tutored half the school year while on a set.
From 2005 to 2014, Harris played Barney Stinson, a serial womanizer, in the CBS ensemble sitcom How I Met Your Mother. The role earned him Emmy nominations every year from 2007 to 2010. In 2007, he worked with Mike Nelson on a comedic audio commentary set to the film Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory for RiffTrax. In 2008, Harris played the title role in Joss Whedon's musical web series Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. That same year, he guest-starred on Sesame Street as the Sesame Street Fairy Shoe Person. In 2009, he hosted the 7th Annual TV Land Awards and appeared as a guest judge on season 9 of American Idol. Harris provided the voice of Steve the Monkey in the Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs film franchise (2009–2013). After a preview at San Diego Comic-Con, a musical episode of Batman: The Brave and the Bold featuring Harris as the villainous Music Meister premiered on October 23, 2009, on Cartoon Network. He has also provided his voice for the Disney California Adventure Park attraction California Screamin'.
In 2022, he joined the Encores! presentation of Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods as The Baker; the limited production ran at the New York City Center from May 4 to 15. Harris also starred in the 2022 Netflix series Uncoupled as gay Manhattanite Michael Lawson, a realtor re-navigating the dating scene after 17 years. He also portrayed Francis Beaumont in Peter Pan Goes Wrong for a limited engagement from April 11 to May 7, 2023. In December 2023, Harris guest starred as the Toymaker in the third and final special, "The Giggle", of the 60th anniversary specials of Doctor Who.
From 1997 to 1998, Harris dated actress Christine Taylor. In a 2008 appearance on The Howard Stern Show, he discussed how the relationship made him realize his true sexuality: "She's the coolest, nicest chick ever. She's an absolute catch, and I thought, 'If I'm not going to feel the super sparks with her... it probably means I'm gay.'" Harris publicly came out as gay in November 2006, saying, "I am happy to dispel any rumors or misconceptions and am quite proud to say that I am a very content gay man living my life to the fullest and feel most fortunate to be working with wonderful people in the business I love."
Harris has been in a relationship with actor and chef David Burtka since April 2004. In October 2010, they became parents to twins, son Gideon and daughter Harper, born via a surrogate mother. Following the passage of the Marriage Equality Act in New York on June 24, 2011, Harris and Burtka announced their engagement via Twitter, stating that they had proposed to each other five years earlier but kept the engagement secret until same-sex marriage became legal. Harris and Burtka married in Italy in September 2014. Pamela Fryman, the long-time director of How I Met Your Mother, officiated the wedding while Elton John performed at the reception. In 2013, the couple bought a townhouse in Harlem, which they sold in 2022 for $6.99 million.
Harris is a fan of magic, including card magic. His characters in How I Met Your Mother, American Horror Story: Freak Show, and Glee also use magic. Harris won the Tannen's Magic Louis Award in 2006 and hosted the 2008 World Magic Awards on October 11, 2008. He previously served as the president of the board of directors of Hollywood's Magic Castle, from 2011 to 2014. Additionally, Harris and Burtka were guests of honor for "Magic Chefs", a season 1 episode of Top Chef Masters, that took place at the Magic Castle. He also collaborated with the French-Swedish sportswear brand Ron Dorff on a fashion collection launched in September 2022. Fifteen per cent of all proceeds were donated to World Central Kitchen.
In October 2014, Harris attended a dinner for the Elton John AIDS Foundation and in September 2016, he and his husband were the honorary hosts of a culinary cookout to help raise money for the Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation. In April 2019, Harris hosted We Day California, a charity event that celebrates students who have made a change in their community.
| Parents | |
| Husband | David Burtka (m. September 2014) |
| Sibling | |
| Children |
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Neil Patrick Harris’s net worth is estimated at $50 million. His salary peaked during his time on "How I Met Your Mother," where he reportedly earned $225,000 per episode, totaling approximately $5.4 million per season before royalties and syndication earnings. Additional income comes from voice acting (video games), hosting, theater, and various business ventures.
Business and Investments
- Real Estate: In 2017, Harris and Burtka purchased a 13.5-acre property in East Hampton, NY, for $5.5 million.
- Voice Acting: He has contributed his voice to various video games, further diversifying his income streams.
- Production: Harris has produced and written for television and stage, adding to his business portfolio.
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 and five Primetime Emmy Awards, and nominations for a Grammy Award and three Screen Actors Guild Awards.
Harris began his career as a child actor and was discovered by playwright Mark Medoff at a drama camp in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Medoff later cast him in the drama film Clara's Heart (1988). Clara's Heart earned Harris a Golden Globe nomination. The same year, he starred in Purple People Eater, a children's fantasy. Beginning in 1989, Harris played the title role of a child prodigy doctor in Doogie Howser, M.D., for which he was nominated for another Golden Globe award. After the show's four-season run ended in 1993, Harris played a number of guest roles on television series, including Murder, She Wrote. From 1999 to 2000, he starred in the NBC sitcom Stark Raving Mad, which lasted 22 episodes. Harris's first film role as an adult was Animal Room (1995), although he portrayed a teenager.
Harris appeared in the 2010 Time 100 list of influential people. That year, Harris directed a Hollywood Bowl production of Rent; he cast his Beastly co-star Vanessa Hudgens as Mimi Márquez. Also in 2010, Harris provided voice acting for the role of the adult Dick Grayson (Nightwing) in the animated film Batman: Under the Red Hood and the beagle Lou in the film Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore. On March 7, 2010, he delivered a musical number appearance at the 82nd Academy Awards. He played the lead in the indie comedy The Best and the Brightest. In December 2010, Harris hosted the Spike Video Game Awards. In 2011, Harris played the lead role of Bobby in Stephen Sondheim's Company with the New York Philharmonic in concert. That same year, he directed The Expert at the Card Table at Broad Stage's Edye in Santa Monica, California. He also starred in the 2011 film The Smurfs and its 2013 sequel The Smurfs 2.
Social Network
Neil Patrick Harris is active on social media platforms, including:
- Instagram: @neilpatrickharris (verified)
- Twitter/X: @ActuallyNPH (verified)
Harris played lead roles in numerous made-for-television features, including Snowbound: The Jim and Jennifer Stolpa Story (1994), My Ántonia (1995), The Christmas Wish (1998), Joan of Arc (1999), The Wedding Dress (2001), and The Christmas Blessing (2005). His film work also has included supporting roles in The Next Best Thing (2000), Undercover Brother (2002), and Starship Troopers (1997). Harris portrayed Mark Cohen in the 1997 touring company of the rock musical, Rent, a role he later satirized in the January 10, 2009, episode of Saturday Night Live which he hosted, and sang the role of Charles (initially played by Anthony Perkins in a 1966 ABC telecast) on the Nonesuch recording of Sondheim's Evening Primrose in 2001. Harris has also worked on Broadway in both musical and dramatic roles. He played Tobias Ragg in the 2001 concert performances of Sweeney Todd, and the following year, he performed in Proof. In 2003, he took the role of the Emcee in Cabaret. As a result of his critically acclaimed performance in Cabaret, Harris was named the top-drawing headliner in the role of the Emcee by GuestStarCasting.com.
In 2014, Harris reportedly turned down the chance to replace David Letterman as host of the Late Show on CBS, stating that he feared he would get bored of the repetition that hosting a nightly talk show would entail. He also rejected the suggestion of replacing Craig Ferguson as host of The Late Late Show on the same grounds, although he later claimed he was never actually offered either job. In October 2014, Harris released a memoir titled Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography, which is structured like a Choose Your Own Adventure book. His autobiography spent two weeks on The New York Times Best Seller List.
On February 22, 2015, he hosted the 87th Academy Awards. On September 15, 2015, Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris, a variety series hosted and executive produced by Harris, premiered live on NBC and ran for eight episodes. He declined to appear in the fifth season of American Horror Story after appearing in the fourth in a guest role due to scheduling conflicts with Best Time Ever. On January 15, 2016, Harris was cast as Count Olaf in the television adaptation of A Series of Unfortunate Events. It ran for 3 seasons and 25 episodes on the streaming service Netflix before ending on January 1, 2019. On March 31, 2017, NBC picked up the game show Genius Junior with Harris as host and executive producer. The format would test teams of children, aged 12 and under, in various subjects including spelling, mathematics, and memory. The series received a 10-episode order and debuted on March 18, 2018. His debut young adult novel, The Magic Misfits, was released in November 2017 and is the first in a four-book series.
In May 2022, it resurfaced on Twitter that Harris had hosted a Halloween party in October 2011 in which he served guests a meat platter designed to resemble the corpse of Amy Winehouse. He apologized later that month.
Education
Harris attended La Cueva High School in Albuquerque, where he excelled academically. He received private tutoring while working on set, which allowed him to graduate with high honors in 1991. Unlike many of his peers, Harris has not attended a university, as his acting career began at a young age.
Summary Table
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Neil Patrick Harris |
| Birth Date | June 15, 1973 |
| Age (2025) | 52 years old |
| Height | 6 ft (183 cm) |
| Net Worth (2025) | $50 million |
| Relationship Status | Married to David Burtka |
| Children | Twins Gideon and Harper (born 2010) |
| Notable Career Highlights | Doogie Howser, M.D., How I Met Your Mother, Tony Award, Magic Hosting |
| Education | La Cueva High School (1991), private tutoring |
| Social Media | Instagram: @neilpatrickharris, Twitter/X: @ActuallyNPH |
