Barney Stinson

Barnabus Stinson is a fictional character played by Neil Patrick Harris in the CBS television series How I Met Your Mother, created by Carter Bays and Craig Thomas (2005-2014). The show's main character, Barney, is known for his brash, manipulative, and opinionated personality. He's a womanizer who likes to wear expensive suits, play laser tag, and drink Scotch whisky. To facilitate sex with women, the character employs a number of 'plays' from his 'playbook.' He has a few serious relationships in later seasons, then marries, divorces has a child from a one-night stand with an unnamed woman, and then marries the same woman again.

Critics praised the character and credited Harris' performance with much of the show's success. The show's breakout character is widely regarded as Barney. Harris was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his work as Barney from 2007 to 2010.