Age: 53
male
Neil Patrick Harris (born June 15, 1973) is an American actor, singer, writer, producer, and television host. Primarily known for his comedic television roles and dramatic and musical stage roles, he has received multiple accolades throughout his career, including a Tony Award, five Primetime Emmy Awards, and nominations for a Grammy Award and three Screen Actors Guild Awards. On television, he is known for playing the title character on the ABC series Doogie Howser, M.D. (1989–1993), for which he was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy, as well as Barney Stinson on the CBS series How I Met Your Mother (2005–2014, for which he was nominated for four Emmy Awards), and Count Olaf on the Netflix series A Series of Unfortunate Events (2017–2019). Harris is also known for his role as the title character in Joss Whedon's musical Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog (2008) and a fictional version of himself in the Harold & Kumar film series (2004–2011). His other films include Starship Troopers (1997), Beastly (2011), The Smurfs (2011), The Smurfs 2 (2013), A Million Ways to Die in the West (2014), and Gone Girl (2014). In 2010, Harris won two awards at the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards, winning for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his guest appearance on Glee, and Outstanding Special Class Program for hosting the Tony Awards in 2009; he has won the latter award three additional times for hosting the show in 2011, 2012, and 2013. He also hosted the Primetime Emmy Awards in 2009 and 2013, and hosted the 87th Academy Awards in 2015, thus making him the first openly gay man to host the Academy Awards. In 2014, he starred in the title role in Hedwig and the Angry Inch on Broadway, for which he won the 2014 Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical. Harris was named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in 2010. He is married to David Burtka. In 2010, they had twins via surrogacy.
Applause follows Margo Channing, a legendary but aging Broadway star whose reign atop the theatrical world faces an unexpected threat when an ambitious young understudy named Eve Harrington arrives in her life. As Margo navigates the pressures of maintaining her status, her relationships with her devoted husband, her best friend, and her theater company become increasingly complicated by Eve's calculated charm and ruthless ambition. The musical explores themes of vanity, ambition, friendship, and the passage of time through dazzling production numbers and intimate character moments. Set against the glittering backdrop of Broadway in the 1950s, the story captures both the glamour and the cutthroat nature of show business. Margo must confront her own insecurities and mortality while learning to distinguish between genuine connection and manipulation. The narrative builds to a climactic revelation that forces all characters to reassess their values and priorities. With its sophisticated wit, memorable songs, and exploration of female ambition and rivalry, Applause celebrates the transformative power of theater while examining the costs of fame and the importance of authenticity in a world built on illusion.
