Who is Barney in How I Met Your Mother?

How I Met Your Mother is one of the most watched sitcoms in the world. The show has 9 seasons and 208 episodes. The story follows the lives of Ted Mosby and his friends living in New York. The show highlights Ted and his love life as a single man. The show has gained millions of viewers over the years and made its characters household names. The cast of the show includes Josh Radnor, Jason Segel, Cobie Smulders, Neil Patrick Harris, Alyson Hannigan, etc.

Among the characters, Barney Stinson is one of the main and popular characters of the show. He is portrayed as a loyal, sarcastic, and over-the-top person. He is an important part of his friend group and has a different personality than the others. His antics add humour to the storyline. Let’s take a look at Barney’s character and the actor who plays him.

Who is Barney in How I Met Your Mother?

Barney Stinson is one of the main characters in How I Met Your Mother. He is one of Ted Mosby's best friends and known for being funny, confident, and stylish. Barney loves wearing suits and often says his famous catchphrase, “Suit up!” Another catchphrase that he uses is - "Legend-wait-for-it-dary!" He enjoys going to bars with his friends and creating dating rules, like "The Bro Code." Even though he seems carefree, he deeply values his friendships with Ted, Marshall, Lily, and Robin. Throughout the show, he has many funny and over-the-top adventures, making him an entertaining character.

Barney is also mysterious in many ways. He first appears as a womanizer who enjoys short-term relationships, but as the show progresses, his character develops. He has a complicated past; he was raised by a single mother and he didn’t know who his real father was for many years. In season 4, he falls in love with Robin and marries her, showing a more serious and emotional side. Eventually, they end up getting divorced. Later, in the show he also becomes a father, which changes his life. Despite his wild personality, Barney is loyal, caring, and always ready to help his friends, even if he doesn’t always show it in a traditional way.

Who plays Barney in How I Met Your Mother?

Neil Patrick Harris plays the role of Barney in the show. He is an American actor, singer, writer, musician, television host, and producer, born on June 15, 1973, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. From a very young age, he was passionate about acting and performing. His big break came when he was cast as the lead in the TV show Doogie Howser, M.D. (1989–1993), where he played a teenage doctor. This role made him a well-known actor at a young age. After that, he appeared in various films, TV shows, and theater productions, proving he is versatile as a performer.

His other popular works include Harold & Kumar film series (2004–2011), Starship Troopers (1997), The Smurfs (2011), The Smurfs 2 (2013), and Gone Girl (2014). Apart from acting, Neil Patrick Harris is a skilled singer and stage performer. He has starred in many Broadway musicals, including Hedwig and the Angry Inch in 2014 for which he won a Tony Award. He is also known for hosting major award shows like the Tony Awards and the Academy Awards, impressing audiences with his humor and charm. Apart from acting, he has an interest in magic and is a member of the Academy of Magical Arts.

In an interview with The Guardian, Neil shared his experience of playing Barney. He said, “Some people will be offended by it in retrospect – and there’s not much one can do in retrospect.” He added, “But the experience of making that show for nine seasons was very good energy… and there was never a sense of doing things with bad intent.”

Also read: Who is Lily Aldrin in How I Met Your Mother?