American actor Josh Radnor was born on July 29, 1974 in Bexley, Ohio. He started acting in school productions, and continued to do so during his tenure as a student of Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, where he was awarded the Paul Newman Acting Trophy by the school’s theater department. He eventually graduated with an MFA degree at the Tisch School of the Arts in New York City.
Radnor started acting for the screen in 2000, when he made a guest appearance in the short-lived comedy Welcome to New York. The following year, he played the tour guide in the parody film Not Another Teen Movie. He was also originally attached to play a lead role in the WB sitcom Off Centre, a role which eventually went to Eddie Kaye Thomas. In 2002, Radnor made his Broadway debut, appearing in the stage version of the film The Graduate. He continued playing guest roles on television, appearing in shows such as Law & Order, ER, Six Feet Under, Miss Match and Judging Amy.
After a stint in the short-lived legal drama The Court, Radnor was cast in his most successful role yet: as the lead Ted Mosby in the CBS comedy How I Met Your Mother. The series revolves around his character, telling his son and daughter about the events that led to him meeting their mother. His character tries to find his soulmate, despite being prone to many socially questionable romantic gestures, sometimes spectacularly failing in wooing the girl he loves—stealing a French horn, wearing skimpy costumes on Halloween, among others. He also voiced an animated version of this character in the series Family Guy, along with his How I Met Your Mother co-star Neil Patrick Harris.
In 2008, he returned to his alma mater, Bexley High School, to become a guest speaker for the year’s graduating class.
Made his Broadway debut in 2002 in the stage version of The Graduate (1967), starring opposite Kathleen Turner and Alicia Silverstone.
Originally cast as the American lead in the pilot of the WB sitcom "Off Centre" (2001). The role was eventually played by Eddie Kaye Thomas.
Attended Kenyon College, where he won the Paul Newman award from the theater department
He has an M.F.A. in acting from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts.
Is allergic to dogs.
Graduated from Bexley High School, class of 1992, and came back as a guest speaker for the 2008 graduating class.
He has two sisters who live in southern and northern California, respectively.