Out Spotlight XXXXI

Tonight are the Emmy awards here in the U.S. and what a perfect day for today's Out Spotlight. Neil Patrick Harris.

NPH has done something that no one, actors, executives, agents and others thought was impossible: an openly gay man playing a skirt chasing womanizer, being a spokesman with major endorsement deals, and being one of the faces of his television network.

Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on June 15, 1973, Neil grew up the second son of two lawyers in Ruidoso, New Mexico, and found his way into acting after following his older brother to an audition. His first role? Toto in a school production of the Wizard of Oz.

While many think of his first role is that of young doctor Doogie Howser, in Doogie Houser M.D., his first roles wer in 1988, when he starred in two movies: the film Clara's Heart, a drama with Whoopi Goldberg that won him a Golden Globe nomination, and Purple People Eater, a children's move. It was in 1989 that NPH got the role in Doogie Howser, M.D., for which he was again nominated for a Golden Globe. After Doogie Howser's four-season run ended in 1993.

After Doogie, he took time to do other things, but never left performing. Taking on some guest roles on television series, before taking his first film role as an adult in 1995 in the little-seen shocker Animal Room. Other film included supporting roles in The Next Best Thing, Undercover Brother, Starship Troopers and Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, in which he played a drug-crazed, lecherous parody of himself.

But Broadway had a calling for NPH and he answer that as well. Working on Broadway in both musical and dramatic roles. He played Tobias Ragg in 2001 concert performances of Sweeney Todd. In 2002, he performed on Broadway beside Anne Heche in Proof. In 2003, he took the role of the Emcee in Cabaret, alongside Deborah Gibson and Tom Bosley. As a result of his critically acclaimed performance in Cabaret, Harris was named the top drawing headliner in the role of the Emcee by GuestStarCasting.com, topping fellow celeb stars John Stamos and Alan Cumming. In 2004, he performed a dual role of the Balladeer and Lee Harvey Oswald on Broadway in the controversial musical revival of Stephen Sondheim's Assassins. He also sang the role of Charles (first played by Anthony Perkins) on the Nonesuch recording of Sondheim's Evening Primrose. He has also portrayed Mark Cohen in the musical RENT.

In 2005 went back to weekly television in CBS's ensemble sitcom How I Met Your Mother, playing a serial womanizer Barney Stinson which earned him a 2007 and a 2008 Emmy nomination. Tonight we will see if Emmy nominated Neil Patrick Harris will become Emmy award winner Neil Patrick Harris.

Neil is a great comedian,great guest on talk shows, and competitor on game shows. NPH just seems to love to perform and have fun. He is a regular fill in guest host for Regis Philbin on Live with Regis and Kelly. He also was the co-host of this years Science and Technical Awards of the Emmy's.

During Neil's career and transition from child to adult actor, he was also growing from boy to man, there were never any child star gone wild moments for him. He is one of handful of child stars in became a well adjusted adult performer with his priorities and outlook solid. But it was not without scandal or what some tried to make into a scandal. In 2006, the website Canada.com ran a story about NPH being gay it was immediately downplayed by his publicist Craig Snyder insisting "He's not of that persuasion. While many in Hollywood would let what their publicist say be their voice, and not say anything, Neil did just the opposite, he wanted to make people knew he was not denying being gay. He came forward and not only negated his publicit statements, but acknowledge that gay rumors and said that he was gay in an exclusive to People magazine.

"The public eye has always been kind to me, and until recently I have been able to live a pretty normal life. Now it seems there is speculation and interest in my private life and relationships.

"So, rather than ignore those who choose to publish their opinions without actually talking to me, I am happy to dispel any rumors or misconceptions and am quite proud to say that I am a very content gay man living my life to the fullest and feel most fortunate to be working with wonderful people in the business I love."

Looking back on the situation in an interview with Ellen De Generes, he said: "There was a little of media scrutiny heading my way. People were starting to ask for stories of other people that may have fooled around with me, and the last thing you want to do is talk about your private life based on scandal. "I'm not a very scandalous person and so I didn't want to have to respond to some story, whether it was lie or truth - so I just made a statement and sort squashed the fires." And since his announcement, Harris has been delighted with the public response, revealing, "For me that is the greatest ending to the story so far - that nothing really has changed at all. "I'm doing nothing different and people aren't behaving differently towards me. ... People heard and they're like 'Yeah, and?' That attitude, I think, was great."

He and his long time partner fellow David Burtka. Neil and David attended the 2007 Emmys together last September as an openly acknowledged gay couple for the first time. Neil and David have been together since 2004. Harris refers to Burtka as "My better half" and an "amazing chef."

Something you might not know about NPH is that he is now one of America's top magicians, after he was voted onto the board of the Illustrious Magic Castle. NPH has been into for years - and now sits with the top tricksters at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, the home of the Academy of Magic Arts. His appointment to the board of directors is very significa - he is the first celebrity to be receive the honor since Cary Grant.

"I’m a magician at heart, so smoke and mirrors is great. The idea of smoke and mirrors tends to suggest suppression and the idea that you don’t want people to know about who you really are, but as an actor you kind of do want people to not know who you really are. I think it was nice to have a bit of a smoke screen in a way."

"(I) am quite proud to say that I am a very content gay man living my life to the fullest."



Neil and David singing Part 2

NPH: Out Magazine (article)

NPH: Live with Regis & Kelly

NPH: Sesame Street Shoe Fairy

NPH: Spoofing Doogie Howser M.D. for Old Spice

NPH: Harold & Kumar (NSFW)

NPH: Barney Stinson - Legendary