Josh Radnor Explained

Josh Radnor
Birth Name:Joshua Thomas Radnor
Birth Date:1974 7, mf=yes
Birth Place:Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Years Active:2000–present

Joshua Thomas[1] Radnor (born July 29, 1974)[2] is an American actor, filmmaker, author, and musician. He is best known for portraying Ted Mosby on the Emmy Award–winning CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother (2005–2014). He made his writing and directorial debut with the 2010 comedy drama film Happythankyoumoreplease, for which he won the Sundance Film Festival Audience Award and was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize.

In 2012, he wrote, directed and starred in his second film, Liberal Arts, which premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. In 2014, Radnor portrayed Isaac in the Broadway play Disgraced, which was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Play. He then starred as Dr. Jedediah Foster on the PBS American Civil War drama series Mercy Street, Lou Mazzuchelli in the musical series Rise, and as Lonny Flash in Hunters. In 2024 he returned to theater acting in the Itamar Moses play The Ally at The Public Theater.

Early life and education

Radnor was born in Columbus, Ohio, to a Jewish family, the son of Carol Radnor (née Hirsch), a high school counselor, and Alan Radnor, a medical malpractice lawyer.[3] Radnor has two sisters.[4]

He grew up in Bexley, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus, and was raised in Conservative Judaism.[5] He attended the Orthodox Jewish day school Columbus Torah Academy before going to Bexley High School[6] [7] [8] and then Kenyon College, where his school's theater department presented him with the Paul Newman Award and during which he spent a semester (Spring 1995) training at the National Theater Institute at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford, Connecticut. He graduated from Kenyon with a Bachelor of Arts in drama in 1996.[9] Radnor received his Master of Fine Arts degree in acting from New York University's graduate acting program at the Tisch School of the Arts in 1999.[9] [10] Radnor participated in an Israel experience program in Tzfat with Livnot U'Lehibanot in 1997.[6]

Career

Radnor was cast as the lead in The WB series Off Centre. However, the role was re-cast with Eddie Kaye Thomas before the first episode aired.[11] In 2002, he made his Broadway debut in the stage version of The Graduate, succeeding Jason Biggs, opposite Kathleen Turner and Alicia Silverstone. In 2004, Radnor starred in The Paris Letter alongside his future How I Met Your Mother co-star Neil Patrick Harris.[12] From 2005 to 2014, Radnor starred as Ted Mosby in the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother, his biggest role to date. The series ran for nine seasons and revolved around friends living in New York City and finding love. He acted alongside Cobie Smulders, Neil Patrick Harris, Jason Segel, and Alyson Hannigan.[13]

In July 2008, he starred opposite Jennifer Westfeldt in the premiere of the play Finks,[14] written by Joe Gilford and directed by Charlie Stratton for New York Stage and Film. Radnor made his directorial debut with the film Happythankyoumoreplease, where he was both the writer and star of the 2010 comedy-drama.[15] His second directorial effort, Liberal Arts, starring himself and Elizabeth Olsen, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 22, 2012.[16] Radnor appeared in the Broadway production of Disgraced, which opened October 23, 2014, at the Lyceum Theatre.[17] [18] He is set to direct the sci-fi thriller film The Leaves.[19] From 2016 to 2017 he played Dr. Jedediah Foster in the historical medical drama Mercy Street on PBS.[20]

In October 2016, Radnor also confirmed he is in a band, Radnor and Lee, with Australian musician Ben Lee. Radnor and Lee had known each other for "twelve or thirteen years after meeting on the set of How I Met Your Mother" eventually writing songs together.[21] Their debut album, Radnor & Lee was released on November 10, 2017,[22] "receiving widespread praise across the board, and cementing the duo as an accomplished pair of artists," stated Rolling Stone.[23] On February 19, 2020, Spin announced Radnor and Lee's sophomore album, Golden State, out on Flower Moon Records, and premiered the first single "Outside In."[24] American Songwriter later premiered the video for the album's 2nd single, "Simple Harmony." Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the album's release date was pushed back to June 2020.[25] Radnor's debut solo EP, One More Then I'll Let You Go, was released on April 16, 2021, on Flower Moon Records. Rolling Stone premiered the first single, "The High Road," March 10, 2021, calling it a "gently lilting ballad about the breakdown of a friendship on which he sings... which features deep textures of piano, acoustic guitar, organ, and snapping fingers."[26] The EP's 2nd single, "You Feel New," premiered on March 31, 2021, with features in Rolling Stone, NPR, American Songwriter and Paste Magazine.[27]

From 2020 to 2023 he starred as Lonny Flash Amazon Prime series, Hunters acting alongside Logan Lerman and Al Pacino.[28] He voiced Durpleton in the Netflix animated series Centaurworld (2021). He took a recurring role as Adam one of the protagonists friends, in the FX on Hulu limited series Fleishman Is in Trouble (2022). He acted alongside Jesse Eisenberg, Lizzy Caplan, and Adam Brody.[29] The series went on to receive a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series.[30] In 2024 Radnor returned to theatre starring in the Itamar Moses play The Ally directed by Lila Neugebauer at The Public Theatre.[31]

Personal life

In 2008, Radnor told the Los Angeles Times, "I do Transcendental Meditation, and part of the reason I chose my house is that I thought it would be a great place to meditate."[32]

Radnor is an avid Cloud Cult fan. He collaborated with the band to make the film The Seeker in 2016. Radnor explained, "What's true for me about a lot of music, but especially true for Cloud Cult's music, is that it stirs up the thing that's already in you and calls it out. If this film is able to do that, I'll sleep well at night."[33] [34]

Radnor married clinical psychologist Jordana J. Jacobs on January 6, 2024.[35]

Filmography

style="background:#FFFFCC;"
Denotes productions that have not yet been released

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2001Not Another Teen MovieTour Guide
2008The Negotiating TableWGA NegotiatorShort film
2010HappythankyoumorepleaseSam WexlerAlso director and writer
2012Liberal ArtsJesse FisherAlso director, writer and producer
2013Afternoon DelightJeff Boyardee
2013 The Galapagos Affair: Satan Came to EdenJohn Garth (voice)Documentary
2016The SeekerFatherAlso executive producer
2018Social AnimalsPaul
2023Three BirthdaysRob
2023All Happy Families

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2000Welcome to New YorkDougEpisode: "The Crier"
2001Off CentreMike PlattUnaired pilot
2002Law & OrderRobert KitsonEpisode: "Access Nation"
2002The CourtDylan Hirsch3 episodes
2003ERKeithEpisode: "The Advocate"
2003Six Feet UnderWill JaffeEpisode: "The Trap"
2003Miss MatchAndrew GilbertEpisode: "I Got You Babe"
2005Judging AmyJustin BarrEpisode: "Too Little, Too Late"
2005–14How I Met Your MotherTed MosbyMain role (208 episodes)
2007, 2009Family GuyTed Mosby (voice)Episodes: "No Chris Left Behind"
"Peter's Progress"
2013MalviviendoHimself/cameoEpisode: "La cosa está muy negra"
2016–17Mercy StreetDr. Jedediah FosterMain role (12 episodes)
2018RiseLou MazzuchelliMain role (10 episodes)
2018Grey's AnatomyJohnEpisode: "Momma Knows Best"
2020–23HuntersLonny FlashMain role (18 episodes)
2021CentaurworldDurpleton (voice)Main role (18 episodes)
2022Fleishman Is in TroubleAdamRecurring

Music videos

Year Title Artist Notes
2016 "Let Me Be Your Girl" Director[36]
2017 "Be Like the Being" Director
2021 "Afternoon" Cinders Director

Theatre

YearTitleRoleLocationclass=unsortableRef.
2002The GraduateBenjamin BraddockPlymouth Theatre, Broadway[37]
2004The Paris LetterSam Arlen / Young SandyKirk Douglas Theater
2011She Loves MeGeorg NowackStephen Sondheim Theatre, Broadway
2014–2015DisgracedIsaacLyceum Theatre, Broadway [38]
2016The Babylon LineAaron PortLincoln Center Theatre[39]
2018Little Shop of HorrorsSeymour KrelbornKennedy Center[40]
2024The AllyAsaf The Public Theatre[41]

Awards and nominations

YearAssociationCategory Project Resultclass=unsortableRef.
2010Sundance Film FestivalAudience AwardHappythankyoumoreplease
Grand Jury Award
2011 Georgia Film Critics AssociationBreakthrough Award[42]
2013Midwest Independent Film FestivalBest FeatureLiberal Arts[43]
Best Director
Best Actor
Best Screenplay
2014 People's Choice AwardsFavorite TV Bromance (with Jason Segel and Neil Patrick Harris)How I Met Your Mother[44]
2024 Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play The Ally [45]

Discography

Radnor and Lee

Solo

Additional appearances

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Josh Radnor on Twitter. Dec 12, 2012.
  2. News: Happy birthday, Josh Radnor: See his star sign and read your horoscope . July 29, 2014 . . February 21, 2020.
  3. Web site: Bexley natives to premiere award-winning film at Drexel. June 30, 2010. ThisWeek Community News. February 28, 2022.
  4. News: Vered. Weiss. January 5, 2015. Josh Radnor May Go on the Road after 'Disgraced' Closes on Broadway. February 21, 2020. Jewish Business News.
  5. News: Josh Radnor: 'I love being from Columbus'. The Lantern. September 25, 2013. Halie. Williams. February 21, 2020.
  6. Web site: Spence . Rebecca . Radnor: Not Your Average TV Star . . March 12, 2008 . March 13, 2008.
  7. News: Josh Radnor on Talmud and 'Liberal Arts' . The Forward. September 13, 2012 . November 14, 2012.
  8. News: Josh Radnor: Heart vs Head - 'it's a big theme of my life'. The Jewish Chronicle. October 4, 2012 . November 14, 2012.
  9. Web site: Josh Radnor: How I Met Your Mother on CBS . CBS. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080403060133/http://www.cbs.com/primetime/how_i_met_your_mother/bio/josh_radnor/bio.php . April 3, 2008.
  10. Web site: NYU Graduate Acting Alumni . December 1, 2011 . May 30, 2012 . https://archive.today/20120530061847/http://gradacting.tisch.nyu.edu/object/ga_alumbios.html . dead .
  11. Web site: Josh Radnor Biography . . September 19, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080217125108/http://www.tv.com/josh-radnor/person/6249/trivia.html . February 17, 2008 . CNET Networks, Inc..
  12. News: Theater Review: The Paris Letter . . December 16, 2004 . February 12, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130622015612/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/16/theater/reviews/16kirk.html . June 22, 2013 . Charles . Isherwood . Charles Isherwood . 5 .
  13. Web site: THEN AND NOW: The cast of 'How I Met Your Mother' 17 years later. Business Insider. February 11, 2024.
  14. Web site: Cotter . James . July 26, 2008 . Times Herald . article . https://web.archive.org/web/20090202114146/http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20080726%2F . February 2, 2009.
  15. News: Angelo . Megan . How I Met Your City, the Real One . . February 27, 2011 . February 12, 2019 . 12.
  16. Kit. Borys . Josh Radnor, Elizabeth Olsen Teaming for Indie 'Liberal Arts' . . April 23, 2011 . March 23, 2011.
  17. Web site: Sobel . Jon . Josh Radnor to Appear in Pulitzer Winner 'Disgraced' on Broadway This Fall . Classicalite.com . June 10, 2014 . February 12, 2019.
  18. 'Disgraced' Broadway . . July 23, 2016 . Brightspot.
  19. McNary . Dave . 'How I Met Your Mother' Star Josh Radnor Directing Sci-Fi Drama 'The Leaves' . . June 21, 2016 . February 12, 2019 .
  20. Web site: Josh Radnor, Gary Cole and the ‘Mercy Street’ Cast On Bringing The Brutal Truths of The Civil War to PBS. IndieWire. February 11, 2024.
  21. Web site: Ben Lee and Ted from 'How I Met Your Mother' Have a Band, Unfortunately. D'Souza. Shaad. April 4, 2018. Vice.
  22. Murphy . Sam . Josh Radnor From 'How I Met Your Mother' And Ben Lee Continue Bromance With New Song . . August 19, 2017 . February 12, 2019.
  23. Web site: Radnor & Lee on Their New Album, and Making Music While in Quarantine. July 21, 2020.
  24. Web site: Radnor and Lee Announced Sophomore Album "Golden State". February 19, 2020.
  25. Web site: Radnor & Lee Ache for Pre-Quarantine Life with New Video, "Simple Harmony". May 14, 2020.
  26. 'How I Met Your Mother' Star Josh Radnor Previews New EP with Introspective 'The High Road'. . March 10, 2021.
  27. 'How I Met Your Mother' Star Josh Radnor Drops 'You Feel New'. . March 31, 2021.
  28. Web site: Josh Radnor on 'Hunters' Season 2, His Favorite Fight Scene, and the Team Dynamic. Collider. February 11, 2023.
  29. Web site: Josh Radnor Joins FX Limited Series ‘Fleishman Is In Trouble’. Deadline Hollywood. February 11, 2024.
  30. Web site: Emmys 2023: The Complete Nominations List. Variety. February 11, 2024.
  31. Web site: 'The Ally' sets full Off-Broadway cast. New York Theatre Guide. February 11, 2024.
  32. News: Sachs . Mark . Plenty of spots to meet . . April 24, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160305230422/http://articles.latimes.com/2008/nov/28/entertainment/et-faveweekend28 . March 5, 2016 . live . November 28, 2008.
  33. News: Cloud Cult Made a Gorgeous One-Hour Movie with Josh Radnor . . April 2016 . January 22, 2017 . Josh . Jackson.
  34. Web site: Interview: 'How I Met Josh Radnor'. January 15, 2009 . February 12, 2019 . StarPulse . https://web.archive.org/web/20170831044039/http://www.starpulse.com/interview-how-i-met-josh-radnor-1847878772.html. August 31, 2017.
  35. Web site: A Psychedelic Trip Leads to a ‘Cosmic and Divine’ Celebration of Love . The New York Times . Katherine . Rosman . January 19, 2024 . January 19, 2024.
  36. Web site: Allison Janney clowns around in Rachael Yamagata's new video . Nicole. Evatt . . October 10, 2016 . October 12, 2016.
  37. Web site: Josh Radnor. Internet Broadway Database. January 11, 2012.
  38. Web site: Disgraced (Broadway, Lyceum Theatre). Playbill. February 11, 2024.
  39. Web site: The Babylon Line. Lincoln Center. February 11, 2024.
  40. Web site: Megan Hilty and Josh Radnor Star in Kennedy Center Little Shop of Horrors Beginning October 24. Playbill. February 11, 2024.
  41. Web site: See Who's Joining Josh Radnor in The Ally at The Public. Playbill. February 11, 2024.
  42. Web site: 2011 Georgia Film Critics Association. GeorgiaFilmCritics. February 11, 2024.
  43. Web site: best of the midwest awards throughout the years. Midwest Film Festival. February 11, 2024.
  44. Web site: People's Choice Awards 2014: The winners list. Entertainment Weekly. February 11, 2024.
  45. Web site: Wet Brain Leads 2024 Lucille Lortel Award Nominations; Read the Complete List. Playbill. April 27, 2024.