How I Met Your Mother enjoyed massive success throughout its 9-season run, leaving fans curious about the cast’s endeavors after the show’s conclusion in 2014.
Since bidding farewell to How I Met Your Mother after its ninth season, the cast members have embarked on diverse projects, showcasing their versatility and talent. While some were already established names before the series debuted in 2005, others began their journey to fame with the show, their careers skyrocketing from television to major film productions. The enduring popularity of How I Met Your Mother remains evident nearly a decade after its conclusion, with some leading cast members reprising their roles in the spinoff series, How I Met Your Father.
Josh Radnor – Ted Mosby
Portraying the main character Ted Mosby in How I Met Your Mother, Josh Radnor takes center stage as the perpetual bachelor on a quest to find his soulmate, a central theme of the show. Following the conclusion of HIMYM, Radnor expanded his repertoire by taking on diverse roles. He assumed the character of Dr. Jedediah Foster in the 2016 series Mercy Street and later embodied Lou Mazzuchelli in the 2018 show Rise. Additionally, Radnor ventured into the streaming platform world, portraying Lonny Flash in the Amazon Prime original series Hunters. In 2022, he briefly appeared as Adam Epstein in the TV miniseries Fleishman is in Trouble, sharing the screen with Jesse Eisenberg.
Cobie Smulders – Robin Scherbatsky
In How I Met Your Mother, Cobie Smulders brings the multi-talented pop star and morning show host Robin Scherbatsky to life. Post-HIMYM, Smulders embraced significant roles, notably as SHIELD Agent Maria Hill in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including her participation in the cast of Secret Invasion. Demonstrating versatility on the small screen, Smulders took on the character Lisa Turner in the show Friends From College and embodied Marine veteran Dex Parios in Stumptown. Her repertoire extended to true crime drama as she portrayed Ann Coulter in American Crime Story. Returning to the How I Met Your Mother universe, Smulders had a guest spot in the spinoff series How I Met Your Father, reprising her role as Robin.
Jason Segel – Marshall Eriksen
Elevating the star power of the How I Met Your Mother cast, Jason Segel embodies the overly ambitious and endlessly hopeful Marshall Eriksen. Following HIMYM, Segel took on the lead role of Jay in the movie Sex Tape alongside Cameron Diaz. He portrayed David Foster Wallace in the biopic The End of the Tour. Notably, Segel’s depiction of real-life figure Paul Westhead in Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty garnered high praise, and he earned an Emmy nomination for his role as Jimmy in the Apple TV Plus original series Shrinking.
Alyson Hannigan – Lily Aldrin
Alyson Hannigan graces How I Met Your Mother as Lily Aldrin, the ever-loyal friend of Ted and wife to Marshall. Post-HIMYM, Hannigan ventured into TV movie projects, including the live-action Kim Possible movie, where she portrayed Kim’s Mother, Dr. Ann Possible. Transitioning to voice acting, she lent her voice to the character of Claire Clancy in the animated show Fancy Nancy. Hannigan played the role of Phyllis in the Disney film Flora & Ulysses and guest-starred as Dawn in one Doogie Kamealoha, M.D. episode.
Neil Patrick Harris – Barney Stinson
The most recognizable member of the How I Met Your Mother cast, Neil Patrick Harris, brings the hilariously aloof womanizer Barney Stinson to life. Post-HIMYM, Harris’s film credits include Desi in Gone Girl, Foy in A Million Ways to Die in the West, and The Analyst in The Matrix Resurrections. Harris took on the role of the nefarious Count Olaf in Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, co-starring with his former castmate Cobie Smulders. He reprised his iconic Barney Stinson character in How I Met Your Father.
Harris also delved into voice acting for titles like Netflix’s F is for Family, where he voices Louis, and played the Celestial Toymaker in the Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Special. In 2022, Harris secured the starring role of Michael in Uncoupled, which Showtime revived after being canceled by its original platform, Netflix, following its first season.
Cristin Milioti – Tracy McConnell
While Cristin Milioti’s role in the How I Met Your Mother cast was more minor, portraying Tracy, the eponymous Mother, her career flourished. Post-HIMYM, Milioti assumed the role of Zelda Vasco in the short-lived sitcom A to Z and represented Betsy Solverson in Fargo season 2. She had a recurring guest role as Whitney on Mindy Kaling’s The Mindy Project. Milioti starred as Hazel Green in Made For Love and co-starred with Andy Samberg in the comedy film Palm Springs. In 2022, Milioti played Emma in the comedy mystery series The Resort.
David Henrie – Luke Mosby
David Henrie continued his career journey by appearing in all nine seasons of How I Met Your Mother as Luke, Ted’s future son. Post-HIMYM, the Wizards of Waverly Place star appeared as Elliot on the series Mind Games and played Lane in Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2. Henrie also lent his voice to Handsome Young Man in the cartoon series A Tale Dark and Grim. However, he faced controversy following a 2018 arrest for attempting to bring a loaded weapon into Los Angeles International Airport (via Variety).
Lyndsy Fonseca – Penny Mosby
Completing the How I Met Your Mother cast, Lyndsy Fonseca portrays Ted’s future daughter, Penny, who is subjected to her father’s nine-season-long story. Fonseca appeared as Frankie in the short-lived comedy series Grandfathered and secured a recurring role as Angie Martinelli in Marvel’s Agent Carter series. Fonseca featured prominently in Turner & Hooch, playing Laura Turner, and appeared on 9-1-1: Lone Star as Iris Blake.
