Neil Patrick Harris
A versatile entertainer who evolved from a teen medical prodigy on TV into a sophisticated, award-winning master of ceremonies for a generation.
Born 1973 (age 53)·American actor and singer·Birthday: June 15·Generation X
Biography
Neil Patrick Harris didn't just grow up in the public eye; he commandeered it, reshaping his career with shrewd precision and boundless theatrical flair. Known to millions as the earnest child doctor Doogie Howser, he could have been trapped by that early fame. Instead, he staged a stunning reinvention. He honed his craft on Broadway, earning acclaim in musicals like 'Hedwig and the Angry Inch,' and then brilliantly subverted his own wholesome image with the outrageously narcissistic Barney Stinson on 'How I Met Your Mother.' Harris possesses a rare, old-school showmanship; he is a master magician, a sharp-witted singer, and the go-to host for major awards shows, where his opening numbers became anticipated events. His career is a testament to the power of controlled versatility, proving that a former child star can become the most reliable and exciting adult in the room.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Neil was born in 1973, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Neil Was Born
The biggest hits of 1973
#1 Movie
The Exorcist
Best Picture
The Sting
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Neil's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1973Born
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1978Started school
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1986Became a teenager
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Could drive
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1991Could vote
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Turned 21
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2003Turned 30
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 40
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 50
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 53 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his role as Hedwig in 'Hedwig and the Angry Inch.'
- Hosted the Tony Awards four times and the Primetime Emmy Awards twice, receiving praise for his opening musical numbers.
- Starred as the womanizing Barney Stinson on the long-running hit CBS sitcom 'How I Met Your Mother.'
- Served as the president of the Academy of Magical Arts from 2011 to 2014.
Did You Know?
He is an accomplished stage magician and a member of the famous Magic Castle in Hollywood.
He and his husband, David Burtka, are the authors of a series of children's books about a family of mice.
He performed the role of the Balladeer in the 2011 Broadway revival of 'Stephen Sondheim's Company,' playing the piano on stage.
He voiced the character of Peter Parker/Spider-Man in the animated series 'The Super Hero Squad Show.'
“"The only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it. You either have to laugh or cry. I prefer to laugh. Crying gives me a headache."”
