Neil Patrick Harris returns to host Tony Awards

Emmy Award-winning actor Neil Patrick Harris, star of the CBS comedy "How I Met Your Mother," returns to host The 66^th Annual Tony Awards, to be broadcast live from The Beacon Theater in New York, Sunday, June 10 (8 to 11 p.m.), on the CBS Television Network.

This will be the third time that Harris has hosted the Tony Awards, previously serving as host for both the 63^rd and 65^th broadcasts. As he did in 2011, Harris will also act as a producer, along with executive producers Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss of White Cherry Entertainment.

"I'm thrilled to be a part of this year's Tony Awards," Harris said. "Not only will I be shining a spotlight on the best that Broadway has to offer, but hopefully I'll score some free house seats to a show - or five!"

"We are excited to have Neil Patrick Harris return as host of the Tony Awards," said Jack Sussman, executive vice president, specials, music and live events, CBS Entertainment. "Neil is the ultimate showman. He brings great talent, energy and creativity to the Tony stage and usually a surprise or two. I can't wait to see what he has in store this year."

Equally successful on stage and screen, Harris currently stars as Barney Stinson on the hit CBS sitcom "How I Met Your Mother," a role that has garnered him multiple Emmy and Golden Globe Award nominations, as well as a People's Choice Award for Favorite TV Comedy Actor, and a Critics' Choice Award for Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. A veteran of the theater, Harris recently tackled the role of Bobby in the New York Philharmonic's production of Stephen Sondheim's "Company" at Lincoln Center. Harris made his Broadway debut in the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama "Proof," and subsequently starred on the Great White Way as the Emcee in "Cabaret," and as the Balladeer/Lee Harvey Oswald in the Tony Award-winning production of "Assassins." His additional theater credits include roles in "All My Sons," "Tick, Tick... Boom," "The Paris Letter," "Sweeney Todd," "Rent" and "Romeo and Juliet." Harris made his theatrical directorial debut with "I Am Grock" at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood. Additionally, he directed a production of Jonathan Larson's "Rent" at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, and more recently he helmed a production of "The Expert at the Card Table" at the Broad Stage Theater.

On television, Harris gained notoriety as the beloved title character in "Doogie Howser, M.D." Recently, he won an Emmy Award for his guest-starring turn in "Glee." Harris' additional television credits include a series regular role on "Stark Raving Mad," as well as guest-starring roles in "Numb3rs," on the Network, "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," "Will & Grace" and "Boomtown."

This year marks the 66th anniversary of the Tony Awards, which were first held on April 6, 1947, at the Waldorf Astoria's Grand Ballroom. The American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing. The Tonys were founded in memorial to Antoinette ("Tony") Perry, the American Theatre Wing's World War II chairperson.