Josh Radnor
About
Biography
Biography
A personable young actor who bore a strong resemblance to comedian Jimmy Fallon, Josh Radnor played the lovelorn Ted Mosby in the CBS sitcom "How I Met Your Mother" (2005-14). The likable, quirky series marked his first lead after a string of guest appearances on television shows and movies, as well as several high profile theatrical gigs.
Born July 29, 1974 in Columbus, OH, Radnor developed an interest in acting purely by accident; after tagging along with friends to a high school theater audition, he decided that he could handle a role better than any of the other hopefuls, and tried out for the part himself. Turns in school productions of "Oklahoma!" and "Cabaret" cemented his desire to become an actor. After gaining more experience in local theater, he attended Kenyon College in Ohio, where he won the Paul Newman award from the theater department (Kenyon is Newman's alma mater). He continued his theater training at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, where he earned an M.F.A. in acting.
Following graduation, Radnor dove headlong into the New York theater scene, where he landed steady work at the Manhattan Theatre Club. Two years of roles in regional and off-Broadway productions preceded his first TV job on the little-seen comedy, "Welcome to New York" (CBS, 2000). He also won his first film role (as a tour guide) that year in the comedy "Not Another Teen Movie" (2001).
Radnor almost made his television series debut in 2001 as a regular in "Off Centre" (The WB, 2001-02), but was replaced by Eddie Kaye Thomas (of "American Pie" franchise fame) shortly after shooting the pilot. He got his chance a year later with the legal drama "The Court" (ABC, 2002), but despite the John Wells production shingle and a powerhouse cast lead by Sally Field, the program did not last a full season. That same year, Radnor made his Broadway debut in the summer when he replaced Jason Biggs in "The Graduate" opposite Kathleen Turner and Alicia Silverstone.
Guest shots in a string of television shows, both high profile ("E/R," NBC, 1994-2009; "Six Feet Under," HBO, 2001-05) and not so high ("Miss Match," NBC, 2003) preceded Radnor's top-billed turn on "How I Met Your Mother." The premise of the show was a unique one - an older version of Radnor's character Ted (voiced by Bob Saget) narrated each episode to explain to his children how he met the woman that eventually gave them life. Each episode unspooled as a flashback to his younger, carefree days when Ted and his friends (well played by Jason Segal, Alyson Hannigan, and a scene-stealing Neil Patrick Harris) tackled adult issues like marriage and romance, while Ted wrestled with an on-again-off-again relationship with Robin (Cobie Smulders), who, in a clever twist, was NOT the children's mother. How the past/present becomes the future was part of the reason why viewers tuned into the show; the considerable charm and chemistry between Radnor and Smulders contributed to its ratings success as well.
Filmography
Director (Feature Film)
Cast (Feature Film)
Writer (Feature Film)
Producer (Feature Film)
Life Events
2000
Landed first television role on the series "Welcome to New York" (CBS)
2001
Feature film debut, playing a tour guide in genre parody "Not Another Teen Movie"
2002
Made Broadway debut in the stage version of "The Graduate" opposite Kathleen Turner and Alicia Silverstone
2002
Acted on short-lived legal drama "The Court" (ABC)
2005
Landed breakthrough TV role as lovestruck Ted Moseby on CBS sitcom "How I Met Your Mother"
2010
Feature film writing and directing debut, "Happythankyoumoreplease"
2012
Wrote, directed, and starred in romantic comedy "Liberal Arts"
