Neil Patrick Harris first stole our hearts as a young Doogie Howser in the early '90s. Now, he plays the womanizing Barney Stinson on "How I Met Your Mother," a role that's earned him multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. He won an Emmy for his guest performance on "Glee."
Since the actor came out in 2006, saying, "I am quite proud to say that I am a very content gay man, living my life to the fullest," in People magazine, Harris has been a vocal supporter for LGBT rights. When New York was voting on same-sex marriage last year, the 39-year-old actor spoke up, saying his five-year long engagement to David Burtka had to end so they could legally tie the knot. The couple has twins, Gideon Scott and Harper Grace, born via a surrogate.
Harris, who was born in Albuquerque, N.M., made an "It Gets Better" video, helped launch the Human Right Campaign's Americans for Marriage Equality initiative, and co-hosted the Democratic National Committee's LGBT Gala for President Obama last year.
The Emmy-award winning actor shared his home and life in a June episode of "Oprah's Next Chapter," and in September, Harris signed a book deal, which will be a memoir set to release in 2014.
Each day in October, which is LGBT History Month, we'll be featuring a different LGBT icon. Check back tomorrow for a look at another incredible individual who changed history and visit our LGBT History Month Big News Page for more stories.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Harris and Burtka's twins are both boys.