Neil Patrick Harris initially gained recognition for starring in Doogie Howser, M.D., a role that defined much of his early career. It wasn’t until the 2004 buddy comedy film Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle that he managed to break free from the character. The film features the actor portraying a fictionalized version of himself.
It received a positive reception, earning over $19 million at the box office, and served as a turning point for Harris, allowing him to shed his Doogie Howser image and paving the way towards the biggest role of his career as Barney Stinson in How I Met Your Mother.
Harold & Kumar Helped Neil Patrick Harris to Land the Role of Barney Stinson
In an interview with GQ, the Emmy-winning actor Neil Patrick Harris reflected on how he landed the role of Barney Stinson in the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother. He recalled being unsure of auditioning for the show, due to the description of the character and skepticism towards the show’s title.
“I thought one year that it would be a good idea to try and get some steady work as the next chapter. And then I got an audition for this show called How I Met Your Mother, which I thought was a terrible title — And then I read the part and it was to play someone who was like rotund, cigar-smoking Jack Black.”
With the details of the character in hand, Harris was sure that he would not get the role, however, the casting director encouraged him to audition, telling him, “Yeah, go and they like you. They’ve seen Harold & Kumar.”
The audition included a scene where the character plays laser tag. Harris, who was certain he would not get the role, went all in, performing a diving role and even crashing into one of the desks. “And I think that worked. They liked it,” the Gone Girl actor recalled.
He shared that not only did he land the role but his audition also encouraged the makers to take the character in a different direction. While he was still skeptical of the show being picked on due to its title, he ended up playing the character for nine years, a period he fondly recalls as a cherished experience in his career.
Harold & Kumar Reshaped Neil Patrick Harris’ Hollywood Career
After starring in Doogie Howser, M.D., Neil Patrick Harris faced challenges in finding the roles that matched his talents. Despite appearing in several movies and earning praise for his stage work on Broadway, his Hollywood standing seemed to diminish.
The actor has also shared that following the success of the medical sitcom he often found himself typecast and facing limited opportunities in the industry. “I was only getting jobs I was offered, not the ones I was auditioning for because I had previous baggage,” he said in an interview with The New York Times.
However, things took a turn for good following his appearance in the 2004 film Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle. Starring alongside John Cho and Kal Penn, he portrayed a fictionalized and exaggerated version of himself. And his performance not only won over audiences and critics alike but effectively buried his Doogie Howser image.
Shortly after the film’s release, he landed the role of Barney Stinson in How I Met Your Mother. He would go on to reprise his role in the subsequent sequels of Harold & Kumar sequels, Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay, and A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas.
How I Met Your Mother and the Harold & Kumar film series are available to stream on Prime Video.
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