Unlikely TBBT Star Was Almost Cast as Barney on How I Met Your Mother
When it comes to iconic sitcom characters, How I Met Your Mother's Barney Stinson is a huge fan favorite, no doubt.
But what if we told you he could've been portrayed by another well-known actor? That's right, it turns out there was a chance for the role to go to an unlikely candidate – one of The Big Bang Theory 's most recognizable faces.
Played by actor Neil Patrick Harris, Barney Stinson needs no introduction. The character became popular among the viewers very quickly due to his hilarious one-liners, eccentric personality, and, of course, dazzling suits.
Neil's performance was so impressive that his portrayal of the unforgettable womanizer has become synonymous with the show itself.
However, what many people don't know is that another famous sitcom lead was almost cast as Barney Stinson – Jim Parsons, who famously played Sheldon Cooper on TBBT for twelve seasons.
Parsons' portrayal of the socially awkward genius is now legendary in its own right.
That said, it's nearly impossible to picture him as the charismatic, confident, and smooth-talking Barney, as the two characters are literally polar opposites. And yet, according to Parsons, he auditioned for the role before he was cast in TBBT.
When the actor appeared on Live with Kelly and Michael, he revealed, "It was one of the stranger experiences of my life. Because you know how it is to audition for things. They come out with character breakdowns and stuff, and on this one, it specifically said 'Barney, a big lug of a guy.'
And I remember thinking, I got it and was like, 'Who the hell looked at me and thinks 'big lug of a guy?'" And it wasn't offensive, I thought, 'This is silly.'"
Parsons, however, doesn't have any lingering feelings of disappointment about not being chosen. In fact, he appeared to be content with the way things have turned out and acknowledged that Neil was a better fit for the role.
After all, he went on to gain widespread recognition and a very successful career for his role on TBBT.
We'll never know for sure what could have been, and Jim Parsons' near-casting as Barney is now just one of the many fascinating behind-the-scenes stories.
But what we do know is that both shows became two of the most beloved sitcoms of the last two decades and there's no denying that the casting choices for both shows ended up being perfect in their own way.