By Wonderwall.com Editors
10:30am PDT, Jun 15, 2023
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It's time to suit up! It's hard to believe, but "How I Met Your Mother" debuted on CBS nearly 18 years ago. The beloved sitcom — which centers around a group of friends navigating their late 20s and early 30s in New York City — ran for more than 200 legendary episodes over the course of nine seasons beginning in 2005, won 10 Emmys and made household names of its main cast members. In honor of star Neil Patrick Harris's 50th birthday on June 15, 2023, we're taking a look back at how the actor and his former co-stars have changed over the years.
Keep reading to find out what the stars of "HIMYM" are up to (and look like) now…
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The womanizing scene-stealer of "How I Met Your Mother," Barney Stinson, was portrayed by Neil Patrick Harris. Barney — who's known as much for his perfectly tailored designer suits and unmistakable catchphrases as he is for his Rolodex of one-night stands — eventually changes his playboy ways upon falling in love for the first time — with Robin.
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After "How I Met Your Mother," Neil Patrick Harris starred in "A Million Ways to Die in the West," "Gone Girl" and "Downsizing," enjoyed a stint on "American Horror Story: Freak Show," portrayed Count Olaf on "A Series of Unfortunate Events," which he also executive produced, hosted the short-lived NBC shows "Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris" and "Genius Junior" and racked up accolades for his work as an award show host. In 2014, he won his third consecutive Emmy for hosting the Tony Awards … and won his first Tony Award for his performance as the title character in the Broadway production of "Hedwig and the Angry Inch." (The following year, the former child star scored an Emmy nomination for hosting the Oscars.) He also made The New York Times Best Seller list with his 2014 autobiography and launched a series of young adult novels, "The Magic Misfits," in 2017. But seriously, was 2014 a big year for the actor-magician or what? He also married David Burtka that year — four years after they welcomed twins via surrogate. His career has continued to flourish: In 2021, Neil appeared in "The Matrix Resurrections." In 2022, he starred on the Netflix series "Uncoupled" and popped up on an episode of Hulu's "How I Met Your Father." More recently, he returned to Broadway in 2023 when he joined the cast of "Peter Pan Goes Wrong."
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Jason Segel starred on "How I Met Your Mother" as lawyer Marshall Eriksen, Ted Mosby's best friend and Lily Aldrin's long-time love.
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After "How I Met Your Mother" came to an end, Jason Segel co-wrote and starred in the comedy "Sex Tape," earned a Film Independent Spirit Award nomination for best male lead for his performance as David Foster Wallace in the biopic "The End of the Tour" and appeared in the Bishop Carlton Pearson biopic "Come Sunday." He also created, executive produced and starred on the 2020 AMC mystery series "Dispatches from Elsewhere," which features some biographical elements. In 2022, he starred on the HBO sports drama series "Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty." More recently, he starred on AppleTV+'s lauded 2023 series "Shrinking" opposite Harrison Ford. The multi-hyphenate, who's become increasingly private in recent years, split from artist Alexis Mixter in 2021 after an eight-year romance.
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Josh Radnor starred as the show's main protagonist, Ted Mosby — who's telling his kids in the year 2030 all about how he met their mother. The series follows the architect and college professor on his lengthy quest to find "the one," including the numerous relationships that don't work out along the way.
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After "How I Met Your Mother" came to an end, Josh Radnor appeared in two smaller independent films — "The Seeker," which he executive produced, and "Social Animals" — and starred on two short-lived TV series: the PBS American Civil War drama "Mercy Street" and the musical drama "Rise." He scored his biggest post-"HIMYM" hit yet with the action-drama series "Hunters," which concluded in 2023, and in 2022 starred on the Hulu series "Fleishman Is in Trouble." Additionally, since 2017, he and musician Ben Lee have released two albums as the indie-folk act Radnor and Lee. In 2017, Josh was briefly linked to Minka Kelly. In 2021, he and Abigail Spencer — who appeared on two episodes of "HIMYM" in 2007 and 2014 — sparked romance rumors when they stepped out together in Southern California, though the relationship appeared to be short-lived.
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Cobie Smulders portrayed Robin Scherbatsky, a rising news anchor with goals of becoming an acclaimed journalist. Though fans initially thought she was the titular mother because she dated Ted, those theories were squashed when Robin's relationship with Barney became the surprising heart of the series. (Robin is also best known for her oft-joked-about past as Canadian teen pop sensation Robin Sparkles.)
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In the years since "How I Met Your Mother" came to an end, Cobie Smulders has appeared as Agent Maria Hill in multiple films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe: "Avengers: Age of Ultron," "Avengers: Infinity War," "Avengers: Endgame" and "Spider-Man: Far From Home"; she'll next appear in 2013's "The Marvels." She also starred in 2016's "Jack Reacher: Never Go Back," appeared in a handful of smaller films, voiced Wonder Woman in "The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part," portrayed the mother on the first season of "A Series of Unfortunate Events," popped up on the final season of "Arrested Development" and headlined the short-lived series "Friends from College" and "Stumptown," which she executive produced. In 2021, she landed a role on FX's "Impeachment: American Crime Story" and in 2022, she popped up on an episode of Hulu's "How I Met Your Father." In 2022, Cobie and "Saturday Night Live" alum Taran Killam celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary. They welcomed daughters in 2009 and 2015 — the same year she publicly revealed she'd battled ovarian cancer in her mid-20s while shooting the early seasons of "HIMYM."
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Alyson Hannigan portrayed the sweet but fierce Lily Aldrin — a kindergarten teacher and Marshall's longtime love — on "How I Met Your Mother."
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Alyson Hannigan has appeared in a handful of smaller films since "How I Met Your Mother" came to an end in 2014, though her most noteworthy post-"HIMYM" work has been on television. In 2019, she had a two-episode stint on "Pure," headlined Lifetime's "Abducted: The Mary Stauffer Story" and portrayed Dr. Ann Possible on the Disney Channel's live-action "Kim Possible" made-for-TV movie. She's also hosted "Penn & Teller: Fool Us" since 2016 and popped up in the Disney+ adaptation of the children's book "Flora & Ulysses" in 2021. Alyson and former "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" co-star Alexis Denisof, with whom she shares two daughters, have been married since 2003.
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The big reveal on "How I Met Your Mother" came on the final episode of season 8 when Cristin Milioti was introduced as "The Mother," who starts as Ted's girlfriend but eventually becomes both his wife and, most importantly, the long-awaited mother of his two children. Her full name — Tracy McConnell — wasn't revealed until the series finale.
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After "How I Met Your Mother," Cristin Milioti headlined the short-lived series "A to Z," starred on the second season of "Fargo," had a five-episode stint on "The Mindy Project," appeared on the second season of CBS All Access's "No Activity," popped up on two episodes of "Modern Love," starred in a handful of smaller independent films and then scored a major hit with the 2020 Hulu rom-com "Palm Springs" opposite Andy Samberg. In 2021, the former Broadway star — who's managed to keep her personal life under wraps over the years — starred on the HBO Max dark comedy series "Made for Love." More recently, she appeared on the 2022 Peacock series "The Resort."
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Lyndsy Fonseca and David Henrie portrayed Ted Mosby's teenaged children — Penny and Duke — in the year 2030. The duo were seen on each episode of "How I Met Your Mother" listening to the lengthy story of how their parents met. (The siblings are forced to relive their father's various romantic exploits before discovering how he finally fell for their mom.) Producers were concerned the young actors would age too quickly while appearing on the show, so they shot many of their scenes years in advance. Thus, Lyndsy and David knew how the story would end long before any of their co-stars. (They signed NDAs to ensure they'd keep the secret.)
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After "How I Met Your Mother" came to an end, Lyndsy Fonseca starred on the Marvel series "Agent Carter." She also had stints on "Grandfathered" and "9-1-1: Lone Star," appeared in a handful of small independent films and headlined the 2020 Lifetime made-for-TV movie "You Can't Take My Daughter." In 2021, the former soap actress starred on the Disney+ series "Turner & Hooch," which is based on the 1989 movie of the same name. These days, the star has been appearing in TV movies like "Next Stop, Christmas" and "North to Home." In 2016, Lyndsy and her second husband — former "Nikita" co-star Noah Bean — tied the knot. They welcomed a daughter two years later, and their second daughter joined the family in 2022. (In 2012, the actress split from her first husband, artist Matthew Smiley, after three years of marriage.)
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After "How I Met Your Mother," David Henrie popped up on two episodes of the short-lived Christian Slater series "Mind Games" and appeared in the comedy "Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2," as well as a handful of smaller independent films. He also wrote, directed and starred in the high school dramedy "This Is the Year," which his former "Wizards of Waverly Place" co-star Selena Gomez executive produced. Up next, the former child star will portray a young version of former President Ronald Reagan in the biopic "Reagan." In 2017, David married former Miss Delaware Maria Cahill. They welcomed a daughter in 2019, a son on Christmas Day in 2020, and a daughter in 2022.
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Comedian Bob Saget was never actually seen on "How I Met Your Mother," though he served a very important role as the show's narrator. The "Full House" alum voiced the future version of Ted Mosby as he tells his kids in the year 2030 how he and their mother first met.
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The same year "How I Met You Mother" came to an end, Bob Saget made The New York Times Best Seller list with the memoir "Dirty Daddy: The Chronicles of a Family Man Turned Filthy Comedian" and scored a Grammy nomination for his comedy album "That's What I'm Talkin' About." He then returned to two of his most popular roles: a version of himself in the "Entourage" movie (he appeared on several episodes of the HBO show) and Danny Tanner on the "Full House" spinoff "Fuller House." The comedian also directed and starred in the 2019 dramedy "Benjamin," appeared in the 2015 Broadway production of "Hand to God" and produced several comedy specials. In 2020, Bob competed as the Squiggly Monster on the fourth season of "The Masked Singer" and launched his podcast, "Bob Saget's Here For You." The funnyman — who has three adult daughters from his first marriage — and blogger Kelly Rizzo tied the knot in 2018. In January 2022, Bob unexpectedly passed away at 65 in his Orlando, Florida, hotel room in the midst of a new comedy tour.
