Neil Patrick Harris was born on 15 June 1973 and the American actor, singer, writer, producer and television host will celebrate his 49th birthday today. He is best known for his character of Barney Stinson in the How I Met Your Mother series which ran from 2005 to 2014 and for which he was nominated for four Emmy Awards.
Raised in New Mexico, he started his acting career by playing the titular character on the ABC series Doogie Howser, M.D. (1989–1993), for which he was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor. From then on started the journey of a multi-talented actor who can play characters of various ranges, be it in a feature film, series or a Broadway musical.
At present, he is confirmed to join the cast of the Doctor Who series and play the role of an antagonist which is said to be the greatest enemy the Doctor has ever faced. He will be also headlining a Netflix series called Uncoupled which will be released in July. As excited we are for his upcoming work, here are some of his past works that marvel his long career from being a child actor till now.
Also Read: Joker 2: Twitter Reacts to Reports of Lady Gaga Starring in Joaquin Phoenix’s Film
3 Performances By Neil Patrick Harris That Are a Must Watch
A Series of Unfortunate Events (2017)
The series is based on the internationally best-selling series of books by Lemony Snicket (aka Daniel Handler). A Series of Unfortunate Events follows the tragic tale of the Baudelaire orphans – Violet, Klaus, and Sunny, whose evil guardian Count Olaf will stop at nothing to get his hands on their inheritance. The siblings must outsmart Olaf at every turn, foiling his many devious plans and disguises, in order to discover clues to their parent’s mysterious death.
There are 3 seasons of the show currently with each having 8-10 episodes respectively. In the series, Neil Patrick Harris plays the role of Olaf and dons a hideous disguise which suits the evil character quite well. The show is streaming on Netflix.
Gone Girl (2014)
The film is based on the book of the same name written by Gillian Flynn. The official Netflix synopsis of the film reads – His marriage crumbling, Nick comes home one day to find his wife has vanished. And as the police turn up the heat, shocking truths come to light. In this film, Harris plays the role of Desi Collings, Amy’s ex-boyfriend from boarding school. A prim and proper man who appreciates the finer things in life.
Desi was accused of having a fatal attraction to Amy and attempting suicide in her dorm room when she tried to end things with him in their youth. But later on, when she has nowhere else to run, Amy is forced to turn to the man who is still in love but she contemplates a plan that accuses him of kidnapping her. Neil Patrick Harris’s performance in the film is to look out for. The film is streaming on Netflix.
Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004)
Released in 2004 it follows the story of nerdy accountant Harold (John Cho) and his irrepressible friend, Kumar (Kal Penn), who get stoned watching television and find themselves utterly bewitched by a commercial for White Castle. Convinced there must be one nearby, the two set out on a late-night odyssey that takes them deep into New Jersey. Somehow, the boys manage to run afoul of rednecks, cops and even a car-stealing Neil Patrick Harris.
Although Neil Patrick Harris has just a cameo in the film, surely it’s a rememberable one that landed him the role on How I Met Your Mother immediately after the film’s release. He plays a fictionalized version of himself and changes the lives of Harold and Kumar forever. In A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas, he reprised his role just after coming out as a gay man in real life – which also became the plot of his role.
The film is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Which work of his is your favourite? Do let us know in the comment section below.
Also Read: Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin: Ladies Night Live Review: Celebrating Women in Comedy