So, let's talk about Neil Patrick Harris in 2024. If you’ve been paying any attention at all, you know the guy is basically a human Swiss Army knife. He acts, he sings, he directs, he produces, and he probably knows how to fix your Wi-Fi if you ask nicely. But 2024 felt a little different for him. It wasn't just another year of him hosting an awards show and doing a magic trick. It was actually a year where he leaned heavily into his "theater nerd" roots while managing the chaos of raising teenagers.
Most people still see him as Barney Stinson from How I Met Your Mother or the kid doctor from Doogie Howser, M.D. Honestly, that’s fair. Those roles are iconic. But NPH in 2024 was less about "Legendary!" and more about the "Working Artist" grind. He spent a massive chunk of the year focused on the stage, specifically stepping behind the scenes to direct.
The Kennedy Center and the "Tick, Tick... BOOM!" Pivot
Early in the year—specifically January 2024—Neil Patrick Harris made a big splash at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. He wasn't there to perform, though. He was there to direct Jonathan Larson’s tick, tick… BOOM! This wasn't some random gig for him. He actually starred in the original London production of the show years ago, so he has this deep, personal connection to the material.
Directing a Pulitzer Prize winner’s work is a heavy lift. Critics and theater buffs were watching closely. He brought a fresh perspective to it, emphasizing the urgency of the "30/90" countdown that Larson wrote about so beautifully. It’s kinda funny when you think about it—NPH is now the age that the characters in that play were terrified of becoming. He’s the "elder statesman" of the theater world now.
Then, just to keep things interesting, he jumped into the madness of The 24 Hour Plays on Broadway later in October. If you aren't familiar, it’s exactly what it sounds like: a group of writers, directors, and actors get together and create brand-new plays from scratch in 24 hours. No sleep, lots of caffeine, and a lot of creative risk. He was right there in the thick of it at Town Hall in NYC. It’s that kind of stuff that keeps him relevant; he’s not just sitting on his HIMYM residuals. He’s out there doing the weird, fast, difficult theater stuff that most "A-list" celebs wouldn't touch.
Neil Patrick Harris 2024: Balancing the Brand and the "Dad Life"
Beyond the stage, 2024 was a massive year for the Burtka-Harris family on a personal level. His twins, Harper and Gideon, turned 14 in October. 14!
Fans on Instagram basically had a collective meltdown when he posted the Thanksgiving 2024 photos. We all remember them as these tiny toddlers in matching Halloween costumes, and suddenly Harper is towering over people. Neil has been pretty open about the "teenager phase." He jokes that they haven’t started hating him yet, but he’s basically waiting for the other shoe to drop.
What People Get Wrong About His "Hiatus"
There’s this weird misconception that if an actor isn't starring in a massive Marvel movie or a Netflix series every six months, they’ve "retired." That’s definitely not the case here. In 2024, Neil was quietly building his Wondercade brand. It’s his weekly newsletter that covers everything from magic and games to high-end lifestyle tips.
He treats it like a digital version of those old-school variety shows.
- Curating weird art: He’s obsessed with findng obscure creators.
- Magic lessons: Still a huge part of his soul.
- Gaming: He’s a massive gamer, often playing with his kids to stay connected.
He spent 2024 really leaning into being a "tastemaker." It’s less about being a celebrity you look at, and more about being the guy who tells you what's cool to look at. Plus, he and his husband, David Burtka, were busy with their Funhouse Farm enterprise, even launching a limited-edition jam with Beth’s Farm Kitchen to benefit City Harvest. Yeah, the guy sells jam now. And honestly? It probably tastes great.
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The Streaming Strategy
Even though he was focused on theater and family, NPH didn't completely ghost our TV screens. He was laying the groundwork for what came next—his Netflix game show What’s in the Box? which eventually rolled out in late 2025.
In 2024, the buzz was all about his "villain era." After his turn as Count Olaf in A Series of Unfortunate Events, people have been begging to see him play more baddies. There was even talk (and some playful teasing from Nathan Fillion) about him showing up on The Rookie. While that didn't materialize in the way fans hoped during 2024, the conversation kept his name in the mix for procedural TV fans who miss seeing his face every week.
The Reality of His Current Career
It’s important to realize that NPH is in a "legacy" phase. He’s 51. He’s won the Tonys. He’s won the Emmys. He’s hosted the Oscars. He doesn't have anything left to prove to the industry. Because of that, his 2024 moves were much more intentional. He chose projects that he actually liked, rather than just taking whatever pilot was offered to him.
He’s also living that East Hampton life. He sold his famous Harlem townhouse for a cool $7.1 million and moved the family out to their 13.5-acre estate. If you had a rooftop hot tub and a tennis court, you’d probably be a bit more selective about your work schedule too, right?
Key Takeaways for 2024
If you're looking for the TL;DR on where he stands, here’s the gist:
- Director First: He proved he’s a serious director with tick, tick... BOOM! at the Kennedy Center.
- Teenage Transition: His kids are officially "grown" in the eyes of the internet, and he's navigating the 14-year-old world with a lot of humor.
- Newsletter King: Wondercade is where he’s putting his creative energy these days, building a community that isn't dependent on a TV network.
- Selective Acting: He's moving toward hosting and theater rather than the sitcom grind.
If you want to keep up with what he’s doing, the best move isn't actually checking IMDb—it’s signing up for his newsletter or following his very "dad-core" Instagram updates. He’s clearly enjoying the freedom of being a multi-hyphenate who doesn't have to answer to a single studio.
Keep an eye on his theater directing credits; that seems to be where his heart is heading for the next few years. Whether he’s directing a musical in D.C. or making jam for charity, Neil Patrick Harris is basically living his best, most eccentric life. And honestly, we're just here for the ride.