While most people recognize him as Barney Stinson on the CBS comedy How I Met Your Mother, actor Neil Patrick Harris has many other talents. He is a skilled presenter, singer and writer. Darren Starr and Jeffrey Richman’s romantic comedy series Uncoupled will premiere on Netflix on July 29, starring Harris. The eight-part series, directed by Andrew Fleming, will follow Harris’ character, Michael Lawson, a New York real estate agent in his forties who is newly single after being dumped by his boyfriend of 17 years.
Check out these lesser-known facts about The Matrix Resurrections actor Harris before you see him in Uncoupled, where he plays a middle-aged gay man suddenly forced to start over and explore the dating scene.
Here are 5 facts about Neil Patrick Harris that you probably didn’t know.
1) He was nominated for a Golden Globe when he was only 15 years old.
While attending an acting camp, Neil was noticed by writer Mark Medoff. He starred in the film version of Clara’s Heart, based on the book of the same name by Joseph Olshan, which was hired by director and producer Michael Medoff. Co-starring with Whoopi Goldberg, Neil received a Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal of David Hart in the film at the age of 15.
2) He also has the magical ability to conjure objects out of thin air.
There was a reason why Harris’ Barney Stinson enjoyed magic in How I Met Your Mother and why his characters in American Horror Story: Freak Show and Glee had similar abilities. Since childhood, Neil enjoyed performing magic as a hobby. In 1990, he performed magic on Johnny Carson’s The Tonight Show.
Harris chaired the Magic Castle of Hollywood Board of Directors from 2011 to 2014. In addition to hosting the 2008 World Magic Awards on October 11, 2008 and his win at the 2006 Magic Louis Tannen Award, he was also a winner in both categories.
3) In addition to fiction for adults, he wrote a number of books for young readers.
The Magic Misfits is a four-book series written by Neil Patrick Harris and aimed at young adults. Series released in 2017; follows Carter Locke, Leila Vernon, Ridley Larsen, Theo Stein-Meyer and Izzy and Olly Golden as they become magicians. Neil’s memoir, Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography, was published in 2018. It is the first and only memoir written in the manner of the popular Choose Your Own Adventure series.
4) He made history by hosting the Oscars as the first openly gay person to do so.
The day after Thanksgiving 2006, Neil went public with his sexual orientation, saying:
“I’m happy to come clean and say that I’m a very happy gay man enjoying my life to the fullest and I feel extremely lucky to work with wonderful people in an industry that I love,”
The two began dating after he met David Burtka in 2004. Through surrogacy, the couple welcomed twins, Gideon Scott and Harper Grace, in October 2010. With the passage of New York’s Marriage Equality Act on June 24, 2011, Harris and Burtka were able to marry in Italy in 2014. Pamela Fryman, longtime director of the series, performed the ceremony. Legendary openly gay musician Elton John, a personal friend of Harris, sang at the couple’s wedding. So, in 2015, Neil Patrick Harris made history as the first gay man to host the Oscars during the 87th ceremony.
5) He is a multi-awarded presenter
Although he is best known for his acting, Neil Patrick Harris has also hosted many award shows and is a master of emceeing and the entertainment industry. He has hosted the Tony Awards four times (2009, 2011, 2012 and 2013) and the Emmy Awards twice (2009 and 2013). He has hosted the Tony Awards four times and won a Primetime Emmy each time.
Categories: Entertaintment
Source: HIS Education