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Neil Patrick Harris Explains Why He Doesn’t Want To Know Which Twin Is Biologically His

Neil Patrick Harris and David Burkta share twins, and Harris has explained why he doesn't want to know which is biologically his.
Credit: Alamy & @nph/Instagram

Neil Patrick Harris has revealed why he doesn’t want to know which twin is biologically his. 

Harris, 50, is best known for his roles in major US TV shows, such as How I Met Your Mother and his performance in the mystery-thriller Gone Girl (2014).

Throughout his career, he’s won numerous accolades, including a Tony Award and five Primetime Emmy Awards.

But Harris is also known for being a pioneer in terms of LGBTQ+ rights and was one of the first big names to start a family with his same-sex partner.

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The A Series of Unfortunate Events actor and his partner, David Burtka, 48, have been together since 2004.

Harris publicly came out as gay two years later in an exclusive interview with People magazine, in which he said: “I am a very content gay man living my life to the fullest and feel most fortunate to be working with wonderful people in the business I love.”

The Smurfs star and Burtka began as friends but their relationship quickly blossomed into something more, with their pair going public in 2007.

David Burtka and Neil Patrick Harris.
David Burtka and Neil Patrick Harris went public in 2007. Credit: @nph/Instagram

On The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Harris opened up about coming out while maintaining his privacy.

“I’m not a very scandalous person and so I didn’t want to have to respond to some story… I just made a statement and sort of squashed the fires,” he said.

“My life had been relatively open in my world. I’ve been dating the same guy for three years and our families know. We go out together all the time… I never felt it was an obligation for me to hold pinkies down the red carpet or anything.”

Over the coming years, Harris would say ‘maybe someday’ when it came to discussing having kids.

Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka.
The celebrity couple welcomed their twins in 2010. Credit: @nph/Instagram

And then in 2010, the Uncoupled star and Burtka welcomed twins, son Gideon and daughter Harper.

Announcing their arrival, Harris tweeted on X (formerly known as Twitter): “All of us are happy, healthy, tired, and a little pukey.”

Previously, Burtka had revealed that the pair had always known that they wanted kids together.

The couple, who tied the knot in 2014, co-wrote an essay for Out magazine, in which the chef penned: “Even on that first date, we talked about kids.

“If he hadn’t wanted kids, I don’t think we’d be together.”

Harper Grace and Gideon Scott.
The twins recently became teenagers! Credit: @nph/Instagram

Harris and Burtka recently discussed parenting teenage twins, describing the siblings as ‘good kids’.

“We keep being told that at a certain point, they’re going to hate us,” he joked in a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight.

“That hasn’t happened yet. So you know, so far, so good!”

Burtka agreed: “They’re good kids. We’ve done a good job. You know, you put the work in and you get it back, you know?”

Gideon Scott, Neil Patrick Harris and Harper Grace.
A surrogate mother carried Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka’s twins. Credit: @nph/Instagram

Harris and Burtka’s twins had been carried by a surrogate mother, with the pair both donating s****. This means either of the twins could biologically be Harris’ or Burtka’s.

And now, the Starship Trooper star has explained why he doesn’t want to find out which twin is his.

He made the comments back in 2014, when his children were four years old, but has stuck by this viewpoint to this day.

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“I have no interest in [finding out]. We are their parents and I love them implicitly,” he explained.

“We inserted one of my s**** and one of David’s s**** into two eggs with the hope that they would both take, just because we both wanted to be dads biologically.

“Both [of the eggs] took, miraculously.”

David Burtka, Gideon Scott, Harper Grace and Neil Patrick Harris.
David Burtka and Neil Patrick Harris discussed having kids on their first date. Credit: @nph/Instagram

In spite of Harris’ stance, some detectives believe they’ve figured out who’s whose.

One speculates on Facebook: “They both look like his husband, so probably biologically they are both not his, but he is their dad no matter what! Love NPH!”

Another agrees, writing: “He doesn’t need to know, we all know Harper has David’s face lol. Excited that at least I get to know haha!”

A third opines: “The boy is his absolute double. And the girl looks like his husband, especially around her nose and mouth.”

While a fourth fan simply states: “They are both his kids so it doesn’t matter!”

David Burtka, Gideon Scott, Harper Grace and Neil Patrick Harris.
Neil Patrick Harris says he has ‘no interest’ in finding out which twin is biologically his. Credit: @nph/Instagram

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Written by Annie Walton Doyle

Annie Walton Doyle is a content editor at IGV who specialises in trending, lifestyle and entertainment news. She graduated from Goldsmiths, University of London, with a degree in English Literature. Annie has previously worked with organisations such as The Huffington Post, The Guardian, The Telegraph, Harvard University, the Pulitzer Prize and 22 Words.