Look, we’ve all seen the legendary Halloween photos. For over a decade, Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka have basically won the internet every October with those high-production family costumes. One year they're the cast of Wicked, the next they’re Indiana Jones characters. But while the world was busy double-tapping photos of them dressed as circus performers, something wild happened. The kids grew up.
They aren't those toddlers in matching outfits anymore.
The neil patrick harris twins, Harper Grace and Gideon Scott, are now full-blown teenagers. Specifically, as of late 2025 and heading into 2026, they are 15 years old. They’re navigating high school, dealing with rigorous homework loads in Manhattan, and—to their dads' relief—they don’t actually hate their parents yet.
The "Science Miracle" of How It All Started
Back in 2010, the path to parenthood for a gay couple wasn't as widely discussed in the mainstream as it is now. Neil and David were trailblazers in a way that felt very matter-of-fact. They used an anonymous egg donor and a surrogate.
Here is the part that still trips people up: the biology.
🔗 Read more: Emma Thompson and Family: What Most People Get Wrong About Her Modern Tribe
Basically, they used two eggs. One was fertilized with Neil’s sperm, and the other with David’s. Both embryos took. It was a "miracle of modern science" as Neil has put it. They are fraternal twins, not identical, which makes sense given they have different biological fathers but the same biological mother (via the donor egg).
Honestly, the most refreshing thing about them? They don't want to know who is who.
Neil told Barbara Walters years ago—and has stuck to it since—that he has "no interest" in finding out which twin is his biological child. "We are their parents and I love them implicitly," he said. To them, the data doesn't matter. They see traits of both themselves in both kids. Gideon might have a certain "theatrical" spark one day, while Harper shows a specific artistic flair the next. It’s a mix.
Life as Manhattan Teens in 2026
Living in New York City changes a kid. They’re "city kids," which Neil says makes them fairly mature for their age.
💡 You might also like: How Old Is Breanna Nix? What the American Idol Star Is Doing Now
Recently, the twins hit a massive milestone that felt like a personal attack to anyone who remembers them as babies: high school. In late 2025, Neil posted about them "ascending" to the world of MacBooks after years of using school-issued Chromebooks. It’s a small detail, but it’s one of those "oh man, I’m old" moments for the fans.
What they're actually into:
- Gideon: He’s been "talking shop" with Neil. He recently starred in a school production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. He’s finding his own path in the performing arts, which is cool because his parents never pushed him into it.
- Harper: She’s incredibly artistic. You might have seen her recently on the red carpet for the Wicked: For Good premiere in NYC, looking nearly as tall as her dad, David, and wearing a sea-green sequined dress that looked very much "grown-up."
Their house isn't the "hangout house" yet, though. David has mentioned that their school is super intense. Most nights involve a lot of homework rather than basement parties.
The "Bad Cop" vs. "Good Cop" Dynamic
If you think it's all magic tricks and showtunes at home, you're wrong.
Neil is self-admittedly the "stern disciplinarian." He’s the one whose voice gets "real intense" when things aren't going right. David is often seen as the more maternal, "chill" parent, but they both work hard to instill values.
📖 Related: Whitney Houston Wedding Dress: Why This 1992 Look Still Matters
A funny bit of reality: even famous dads struggle with the basics. Neil has joked that he’s still just trying to get Gideon to put a napkin in his lap during dinner. 15 years in, and the battle of the table manners continues.
Why the Public Connection Matters
People are obsessed with the neil patrick harris twins because they represent a specific kind of "happily ever after" that felt impossible for many LGBTQ+ people just a generation ago. They aren't just celebrity kids; they are proof of a shift in the American family structure.
But they aren't "poster boys" for anything, and they don't try to be.
They’re just a family that happens to be very good at Halloween and very protective of their Sundays. They usually have a sacred family dinner on Sunday nights once Neil finishes his Broadway shows. It's those quiet moments—the MacBooks, the school plays, the "put your napkin away" lectures—that actually define them, far more than any red carpet appearance ever could.
Moving Forward: What to Watch For
If you’re following the Harris-Burtka family journey, expect more "adult" milestones soon. With the twins being 15, the "driver's license" era is looming.
- Keep an eye on Gideon’s theater trajectory; he’s clearly inherited the "triple threat" gene.
- Watch for Harper’s fashion and art influence; she’s already proving to be a natural in front of the lens with a style that is uniquely hers.
- Don't expect a public DNA reveal. They’ve been firm on this for 15 years, and it’s clearly not a priority for their family dynamic.
Focusing on how they navigate these next few high-pressure high school years will tell us a lot more about their parenting success than a coordinated costume ever will.