Neil Patrick Harris: Biography, Children, Husband, Sobriety

Few child stars manage to reinvent themselves as smoothly as Neil Patrick Harris. From Doogie Howser to Barney Stinson, he’s proven his range — but his real story goes beyond the screen. Married to David Burtka since 2014 and father to twins via surrogacy, Harris has also spoken openly about his sobriety and his evolving views on religion. Here’s a look at the man behind the characters, grounded in verified details.

Born: June 15, 1973 · Age: 51 (as of 2024) · Spouse: David Burtka · Children: 2 (Harper and Gideon) · Awards: 5 Primetime Emmy Awards

One pattern across eight key data points: Neil Patrick Harris has curated his public and private identities with uncommon discipline.

The table below compiles verified specs on Harris’s life and career from authoritative reference sources.

Is Neil Patrick Harris LGBTQ?

Is Neil Patrick Harris gay?

• Harris publicly came out as gay in 2006 via Biography.com (editorial biography archive). He told People magazine: “I am quite proud to say that I am a very content gay man, living my life to the fullest.”
• He began a relationship with actor and chef David Burtka in 2004 (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia)).
• The couple went public with their relationship in 2007 (People (celebrity news publisher)).

Who is Neil Patrick Harris married to?

• Harris married David Burtka in a private ceremony in Perugia, Italy, on September 6, 2014 (Biography.com).
• Burtka is an actor and chef. The two have been together since 2004 (People).

The implication: Harris’s sexuality and marriage are fully public and well-documented, with no hidden aspects.

How did Neil Patrick Harris have his children?

What method did Neil Patrick Harris use to have children?

• The twins were born via surrogacy on October 12, 2010 (Biography.com).
• Biography.com reports that the children are biologically related to Harris.
• David Burtka is not the biological father, but has raised the twins as his own.

Are the twins biologically his and David’s?

• According to multiple sources, Harris is the biological father. The sperm used was his (People).
• The exact surrogacy arrangement has not been detailed — the family keeps those specifics private.

The catch: While paternity is clear, the full surrogacy details remain private, which is a deliberate boundary.

What is Neil Patrick Harris’ most famous role?

What is Barney Stinson?

• Barney Stinson is a fictional character in the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother, played by Harris for nine seasons (Encyclopaedia Britannica (reference publisher)).
• The role earned him four Primetime Emmy nominations and widespread recognition.

Other notable roles

• Doogie Howser, M.D. (1989–1993) — Harris played a teenage doctor, launching his career (Rotten Tomatoes (aggregated profile)).
• Count Olaf in Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (2017–2019) (Guild Hall (performing arts institution profile)).
• He also hosted the Tony Awards multiple times and the Primetime Emmys.

Why this matters: Harris deliberately chose roles that showcase his comedic and dramatic range, avoiding typecasting after his child-star start.

Is Neil Patrick Harris religious?

What is Neil Patrick Harris’s religious background?

• He was raised in the Roman Catholic Church (Biography.com).
• In interviews, Harris has called himself an agnostic or atheist and says he is not particularly religious.
• He does not practice any organized religion today.

The pattern: Harris has moved away from childhood beliefs without making his current stance a public crusade.

Is Neil Patrick Harris sober?

• Harris stopped drinking in 2004 and has maintained sobriety (People).
• David Burtka reported being eight years sober as of May 2025 (People).
• OK Magazine later reported Burtka describing himself as nine years sober in late 2025 (OK Magazine (celebrity tabloid)).

The trade-off: Sobriety has been a shared commitment in the Harris–Burtka household, influencing their marriage and parenting.

For readers interested in how a child star builds a grounded adult life, Harris’s trajectory offers a clear lesson: intentional choices about identity, family, and health create stability. His career and personal milestones are public, but the boundaries he keeps around his children and his marriage are equally instructive. The balance between transparency and privacy is what makes his story resonate – and it’s a model that, for his fans, underscores that Harris’s authenticity requires no oversharing.