Cast & creator
Neil Patrick Harris
Best known for Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Simpsons
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.
Also known as: Neil Harris, NPH, Neal Patrick Harris, Neal Harris
104
film credits
117
television credits
204
1951–2026 · acting roles
6.5
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (221)
Showing 221 of 221 credits
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Self - Guest
2009
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self - Guest
2014
The Simpsons
Neil Patrick Harris (voice)
1989
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self
2014Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self - Guest
2014
The Daily Show
Self
1996
Late Show with David Letterman
Self - Guest
1993Late Show with David Letterman
Self - Top Ten Presenter
1993
Family Guy
Barney Stinson (voice)
1999
The Kelly Clarkson Show
Self
2019
American Horror Story
Chester Creb
2011
Conan
Self
2010
Saturday Night Live
Self - Host
1975
The Colbert Report
2005
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
Self
2005
The Graham Norton Show
Self
2007
The View
Self - Guest
1997The View
Self
1997
Sesame Street
1969
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self
2003Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self - Guest
2003
Jeopardy!
Self
1984
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
John Tagman
2001
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Self - Guest
1988
RuPaul's Drag Race
Self - Guest Judge
2009
How I Met Your Mother
Barney Stinson
2005How I Met Your Mother
Director
2005
Big Brother
Self - Celebrity Guest
2000
Adventure Time
Prince Gumball (voice)
2010
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Guest
1993
Robot Chicken
Executive / Harvey Dent / Two-Face / Three-Face / Four-Face (voice)
2005
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Self
2003
Glee
Bryan Ryan
2009
Will & Grace
Bill
1998
Numb3rs
Ethan Burdick
2005
Murder, She Wrote
Tommy Remsen
1984
Batman: The Brave and the Bold
Music Meister (voice)
2008
Quantum Leap
Mike Hammond
1989
The Outer Limits
Howie Morrison
1995
Tony Awards
Self - Host
1956Tony Awards
Producer
1956
Touched by an Angel
Jonas
1994
Hot Ones
Self
2015
The Talk
Self
2010
Homicide: Life on the Street
Alan Schack
1993
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
Self
2009
The Penguins of Madagascar
Dr. Blowhole (voice)
2008The Tony Danza Show
Self - Guest
2004
Dexter: Resurrection
Lowell / The Tattoo Collector
2025
Gone Girl
Desi Collings
2014The Reichen Show
Self - Guest
2005
Beat Bobby Flay
Self
2013
Celebrity Family Feud
Self
2015
Doogie Howser, M.D.
Doogie Howser
1989
Punk'd
Self
2003
Off Camera with Sam Jones
Self
2014
The Megan Mullally Show
Self - Guest
2006
Finding Your Roots
Self
2012
Static Shock
Replay / Johnny Morrow (voice)
2000
Blossom
1990
A Series of Unfortunate Events
Count Olaf
2017
Captain Planet and the Planeteers
Todd Andrews
1990
The Oscars
Host
1953
Carpool Karaoke: The Series
Self
2017
Today with Jenna & Sheinelle
Self - Guest
2019
Ed
Joe Baxter
2000
How I Met Your Father
Barney Stinson
2022
The Legend of Tarzan
Moyo (voice)
2001
Rachael Ray
2006
Justice League
Ray Thompson (voice)
2001
The Smurfs
Patrick Winslow
2011
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Steve (voice)
2009
Entertainment Tonight
Self
1981Entertainment Tonight
1981
American Reunion
Celebrity Dance-Off Host
2012
Son of the Beach
2000
Starship Troopers
Colonel Carl Jenkins
1997
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2
Steve (voice)
2013
The Matrix Resurrections
The Analyst
2021
Jack & Bobby
2004
Billy on the Street
Self
2011
Spider-Man: The New Animated Series
Peter Parker / Spider-Man (voice)
2003
Boomtown
Peter Corman
2002
The Smurfs 2
Patrick Winslow
2013
Beastly
Will Fratalli
2011
The Early Show
Self
1999
Home Movie: The Princess Bride
Westley
2020
Take Two with Phineas and Ferb
Self
2010
The Muppets
Neil Patrick Harris
2011
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Neville LaRoy
2017
Downsizing
Jeff Lonowski
2017
It's a Sin
Henry Coltrane
2021
A Million Ways to Die in the West
Foy
2014
Uncoupled
Michael Lawson
2022Uncoupled
Executive Producer
2022
At Home with Amy Sedaris
Neil Patrick Harris
2017
Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore
Lou (voice)
2010
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
Richard Fink
2022
Brain Games
Himself - Host
2011
Serenity
Screaming Reaver (uncredited)
2005
Visible: Out on Television
Self - Narrator (voice)
2020
Stark Raving Mad
Henry McNeeley
1999
Capitol Critters
Max (voice)
1992
Me, Eloise
(voice)
2006Me, Eloise
Philip (voice)
2006
Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog
Dr. Horrible
2008
Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle
Neil Patrick Harris
2004
8-Bit Christmas
Adult Jake Doyle / Narrator
2021
Fraggle Rock: Rock On!
Self
2020
Drag Me to Dinner
Self - Judge
2023Drag Me to Dinner
Executive Producer
2023Drag Me to Dinner
Creator
2023
B.L. Stryker
Buder
1989
Larry King Live
Self
1985
Get Organized with The Home Edit
2020
Undercover Brother
Lance
2002
Batman: Under the Red Hood
Nightwing (voice)
2010
Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay
Neil Patrick Harris
2008
A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas
Neil Patrick Harris
2011
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Lonnie
1951
The Goodwin Games
Director
2013Hot Country Nights
1991
Joan of Arc
The Dauphin
1999
The Next Best Thing
David
2000Spike TV VGA Video Game Awards
2003
Top Chef Masters
Himself - Guest Judge
2009Child Star Confidential
Self (archive footage)
2006
Justice League: The New Frontier
Barry Allen / The Flash (voice)
2008
Neil's Puppet Dreams
Neil Patrick Harris
2012Neil's Puppet Dreams
Executive Producer
2012Neil's Puppet Dreams
Creator
2012
Hamish and Andy's Gap Year
Self
2011
In Their Own Words
Self
2015
Sunny Dancer
Patrick
2026Million Dollar Password
2008
Dads
Self
2019
The Last Temptation of Becky
General Wilhelm Reuss
2026The Last Temptation of Becky
Executive Producer
2026
Stamptown
Self
2026
I Changed My Mind with Dan Souza
Self - Guest
2026
The Proposition
Roger Martin
1998
The Earth Day Special
Doogie Howser
1990
What's in the Box?
Self - Host
2025
Yes, Virginia
Dr. Philip O'Hanlon (voice)
2009
The Words That Built America
Self - Reader: Declaration of Independence
2017
Prop 8: The Musical
A Very Smart Fellow
2008
The Best and the Brightest
Jeff
2010
Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris
Himself
2015
Still Laugh-In: The Stars Celebrate
Self
2019
Doctor Who at the Proms
The Toymaker (archive footage)
2024
Robot Chicken: DC Comics Special
Two-Face / Black Manta (voice)
2012
Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium
Self
2022
Beyond All Boundaries
1st Lt. David Hettema / Sgt. William Manchester
2009
Steve's First Bath
Steve (voice)
2014
Purple People Eater
Billy Johnson
1988
Stephen Fry: Out There
Self
2013
Sesame Street: Elmo and Friends: The Letter Quest and Other Magical Tales
Self
2009
Group Therapy
Self - Moderator
2024Aaron & Sara
Director
Legacy of Sin: The William Coit Story
William Coit
1995
Assassins
The Balladeer / Lee Harvey Oswald
2004
Revolution Rent
Executive Producer
2019
Jack Tucker: Comedy Standup Hour
The Boss
2026Jack Tucker: Comedy Standup Hour
Executive Producer
2026
Clara's Heart
David Hart
1988
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street in Concert
Tobias
2001
Sudden Fury
Brian Hannigan
1993
Sesame Street: 40 Years of Sunny Days
The Shoe Fairy (uncredited) (archive footage)
2010
For Our Children
Self
1993
The Christmas Blessing
Nathan Andrews
2005
In Their Own Words: Jim Henson
Self - Actor
2015
The Wedding Dress
Travis Cleveland
2001
Dolly Parton's Pet Gala
2024
The Man in the Attic
Edward Broder
1995
Mickey's 90th Spectacular
Self
2018
Snowbound: The Jim and Jennifer Stolpa Story
Jim Stolpa
1994
Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade
Host
2013
Elton John: I'm Still Standing - A Grammy Salute
Self
2018
Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge - Adventure Awaits
Self - Host
2019
Too Good to Be True
Danny Harland
1988
Coded: The Hidden Love of J.C. Leyendecker
J.C. Leyendecker (voice)
2021
Attack of the 50-foot Gummi Bear
Steve the Monkey (voice)
2014
Home Fires Burning
Lonnie Tibbettes
1989
Cabaret: The Musical That Changed Musicals
Narrator
2013
The Best of Disney: 50 Years of Magic
Self
1991
Doctor Who: 60th Anniversary Specials
The Toymaker (archive footage)
2023
Animal Room
Arnold Mosk
1995
Company
Robert
2011
Death from Above: The Making of 'Starship Troopers'
Himself
2002
Time Out: The Truth About HIV, AIDS and You
Self
1992
Billion Dollar Babies: The True Story of the Cabbage Patch Kids
Narrator (voice)
2023Billion Dollar Babies: The True Story of the Cabbage Patch Kids
Executive Producer
2023
The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration
Self
2020
Stranger in the Family
Steve Thompson
1991
The Making of Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog
Self
2007
Summer of Camp Caprice
Jed (voice)
2001
Dracula's Daughter vs. the Space Brains
Dan
2010
Disney Heroes Volume 1
Moyo (voice)
2005
Wig
Self
2019Wig
Producer
2019
The Christmas Wish
Will Martin
1998
Cold Sassy Tree
Will Tweedy
1989
The Penguins of Madagascar: Operation Blowhole
Dr. Blowhole (voice)
2012
A Snow White Christmas: Opening Night
The Magic Mirror
2012
Neil Patrick Harris: Circus Awesomeus
Host / Himself
2016
Test Your Brain
Creator
2011Eloise Goes to School
2007
Genius Junior
Host
2018
A First Look at Batman: Under the Red Hood
Self
2010
Commentary! The Musical
2008
The Making of Sweeney Todd at the San Francisco Symphony
Self
2002
The Mesmerist
Benjamin
2002
The Out List
Himself
2013
My Antonia
Jimmy Burden
1995
Not Our Son
Paul Keller
1995
A House Is Not a Disco
Executive Producer
2024
The Golden Blaze
The Comic Shop Owner (voice)
2005
Epcot International Festival of the Holidays – Candlelight Processional
Narrator
2019
This Is MST3K
Self
1992
Through a Dog's Eyes
Narrator
2010
The Power
Executive Producer
2015