Image credit: Warner Bros., New Line Cinema, Polygram Filmed Entertainment, CBS Films, Paramount Pictures, Craig Anderson Productions, Columbia Pictures, Universal Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox
He might be our Barney from "How I Met Your Mother" forever, but Neil Patrick Harris began his career in Hollywood as a film actor.
Here are some of the lesser-known NPH's roles that totally deserve a watch.
1. Clara's Heart (1988) A young David Hart, played by Neil Patrick Harris, is dealing with family dysfunction. His parents' marriage is on the rocks, and they take a trip to Jamaica hoping to mend things. During their stay, they meet Clara, a housekeeper.
Fast forward, David's parents split up and his mother brings Clara to the United States to work for them. David and Clara form an unlikely friendship as they both struggle with their own emotional turmoil. Clara deals with the tragic loss of her own child, while David comes to terms with his parents' divorce.
2. The Proposition (1998) In this period drama, Neil Patrick Harris plays Roger Martin, a young man in a small 1930s New England town. Roger is caught in a compromising situation involving Arthur Barret, a wealthy married man, and his beautiful wife, Eleanor. Roger becomes an unwitting pawn in a complex game between the couple and a scheming priest.
Roger, who initially seems to be just an observer, finds himself increasingly tangled in this web of betrayal.
3. The Next Best Thing (2000) Set in Los Angeles, Abbie and Robert are best friends with quite different sexual orientations — she's straight, he's gay. After a drunken night, they sleep together and Abbie becomes pregnant. Instead of going their separate ways, they decide to live together and raise the child as a non-traditional family.
They're doing great until Abbie meets Ben, who she starts dating. Suddenly, the familial arrangement is in jeopardy as Abbie and Robert have to make difficult choices about their living situation and the well-being of their child.
4. The Christmas Blessing (2005) In this heartfelt holiday movie, Neil Patrick Harris plays Nathan Andrews, a doctor who can't get over the guilt of losing a patient. He leaves his hospital job and returns to his hometown. There, he meets Charlie, a young boy with a terminal heart condition, and his single mom, Meghan.
Nathan finds purpose again as he forms a close bond with them, and they celebrate a final, magical Christmas together. Soon, Nathan also learns the real identity of Charlie's father, revealing connections that nobody expected.
5. Undercover Brother (2002) Neil Patrick Harris plays Lance, a nerdy intern at the B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D., a secret organization aimed at overthrowing "The Man," who aims to derail a general's campaign to become the first Black president of the United States. The organization's best agent, Undercover Brother, joins forces with Lance and others to stop "The Man's" wicked plans.
From infiltrating a multi-million-dollar corporation to uncovering secrets that could change the course of the election, the B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D. is up to their eyeballs in espionage and action.
6. Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004) Harold and Kumar are two stoners craving White Castle burgers. Neil Patrick Harris plays a fictionalized version of himself who hitchhikes with them. He's nothing like his clean-cut image, turning out to be an unpredictable, drug-addled madman. Together, they face a series of ridiculous obstacles, from raccoon attacks to getting thrown in jail.
All this mayhem just for some fast-food burgers.
7. Beastly (2011) Neil Patrick Harris plays Will, a blind tutor who helps Kyle, a vain, arrogant high school student turned into a "beast" by a witch. Kyle must find someone who loves him within a year, or stay hideous forever. He finds his potential true love in Lindy, a fellow student.
As Will helps Kyle become a better person, they all learn valuable lessons about what truly matters in life.
8. The Smurfs (2011) In a surprising blend of animation and live-action, the Smurfs wind up in New York City after escaping their arch-nemesis, Gargamel. Neil Patrick Harris plays Patrick Winslow, who finds the Smurfs and lets them stay in his apartment.
While the Smurfs and Patrick tackle the chaos of the Big Apple, they also have to come up with a plan to get back to their village before Gargamel catches them.
9. A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas (2011) This sequel packs even more laughs and absurdity. Six years after their White Castle adventure, Harold and Kumar have grown apart. But a mysterious package arrives, leading to a quest to find the perfect Christmas tree. Once again, Neil Patrick Harris shows up, seemingly resurrected after dying in the previous film.
Together, they go through a series of misadventures, from Ukrainian gangsters to a toddler getting high, all in the spirit of Christmas.
10. Gone Girl (2014) Neil Patrick Harris plays Desi Collings, an ex-boyfriend of Amy, who is the "Gone Girl" in question. When Amy goes missing, her husband Nick becomes the prime suspect. Meanwhile, Desi offers to help Amy, who's actually orchestrated her own disappearance to frame Nick. Desi becomes an integral part of Amy's twisted plans, leading to tense and shocking events.
