Neil Patrick Harris is an American actor, singer, comedian, writer, producer, and magician. He is best known for his role as Barney Stinson in the television series How I Met Your Mother, for which he was nominated for four Emmy Awards. He has also appeared in films such as Starship Troopers, The Smurfs, and Gone Girl. He has hosted the Tony Awards and the Primetime Emmy Awards, and is a regular presenter at the Academy Awards.