Portraying Ted Mosby on the Emmy Award–winning CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother remains the most recognizable project in the multi-hyphenate career of Joshua Thomas Radnor. Born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1974, Radnor established a professional trajectory spanning acting, screenwriting, and film direction, beginning his formal training at Kenyon College before advancing his studies at New York University.
Early Development and Education
Raised in Bexley, Ohio, by his parents Carol and Alan Radnor, the future performer attended Columbus Torah Academy and Bexley High School. During his undergraduate tenure at Kenyon College, the drama department awarded him the Paul Newman Award. He further refined his craft during a 1995 stint at the National Theater Institute in Connecticut. After earning his Bachelor of Arts in 1996, Radnor participated in a 1997 Israel experience program with Livnot U'Lehibanot in Tzfat before completing a Master of Fine Arts at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.
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Radnor’s early theatrical work included a 2002 Broadway debut in The Graduate, taking over for Jason Biggs. His pivot toward filmmaking saw him write, direct, and star in the 2010 comedy-drama Happythankyoumoreplease, which earned the Sundance Film Festival Audience Award. He followed this in 2012 with Liberal Arts, which premiered at the same festival. His Broadway presence continued with roles in the 2014 play Disgraced and, later, in the 2024 production of The Ally at The Public Theater.
Television and Music Pursuits
Beyond his nine-season tenure on How I Met Your Mother, Radnor appeared in the PBS drama Mercy Street, the musical series Rise, and the Amazon Prime production Hunters. His musical output includes collaboration with Australian musician Ben Lee; the duo released albums titled Radnor & Lee and Golden State. Radnor also issued solo recordings, including the 2021 EP One More Then I'll Let You Go and his Eulogy project volumes in 2023 and 2024.
Personal Life
Radnor practices Transcendental Meditation, a discipline that influenced his housing choices. He married psychologist Jordana Jacobs in January 2024, having met at a meditation retreat in upstate New York. The couple announced the arrival of their first child in February 2026. Additionally, he maintains a professional interest in the music of Cloud Cult, having collaborated with the band on the 2016 film The Seeker.
Fast facts
- Born: 1974, Columbus, Ohio
- Education: Kenyon College (BA), NYU Tisch (MFA)
- Broadway Debut: The Graduate (2002)
- Directorial Debut: Happythankyoumoreplease (2010)
- Spouse: Jordana Jacobs
- Primary Instrument: Vocals (Radnor and Lee)
Questions readers ask
What was Josh Radnor's film directorial debut?
His directorial debut was the 2010 comedy-drama film Happythankyoumoreplease, which he also wrote and starred in.
Did Josh Radnor appear in theater productions?
Yes, his stage work includes The Graduate (2002), Disgraced (2014), The Ally (2024), and Hit Machine (2026).
Achievements
- Educated at Kenyon College, New York University Tisch School of the Arts and Bexley High School
- Worked as actor, screenwriter and film director
