Celebrity3 min(s) read
Published 10:37 15 May 2026 GMT
Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka’s teenage twins took a few playful shots at their famous dads during a heartfelt speech.
The How I Met Your Mother actor, 52, and his husband, 50, were honored with the Luminary Award at Family Equality’s gala in New York City on May 11.
The award, which was presented by Elton John and David Furnish, celebrated both men's 'visibility, advocacy and enduring commitment to LGBTQ+ families,' cited by PEOPLE.
According to Entertainment Tonight, the 15-year-old siblings, Harper and Gideon, delivered an emotional tribute filled with jokes aimed directly at their dads.
Gideon joked: "We had twice the dad jokes, and zero the improvement," while Harper said: "Whenever I’m confused or doubting myself, papa just turns to me and repeats the family motto: 'What would Doogie do?'"
The joke referenced Harris’ breakout role as teenage doctor Doogie Howser in Doogie Howser, M.D.
After the event, Harris took to Instagram to share photos from the gala and reflected on the special night in the caption.
"We were so honored to be, well, honored by @familyequality with their Luminary Award at this year’s Gala. And introduced by @eltonjohn and @davidfurnish, no less!" he wrote.
"An absolutely wonderful night for a remarkable organization. I’m so proud of my family. Just… yeah. They make me so proud. I feel very #grateful."
Fans quickly flooded the comments section after seeing how grown-up the twins looked.
"Congratulations! The kids are so grown up!" one person wrote.
Another added: "How did your kids grow up soooo fast!!"
"What a Beautiful family!” someone else commented.
A third added: "Your children have grown up to be so beautiful and I know they are good people too because you are and David are good people."
The couple, who got married in 2014 after publicly confirming their relationship in 2007, welcomed Gideon and Harper via surrogate in 2010.
They previously spoke about the process, explaining that one of Harris' sperm and one of Burtka’s sperm were implanted into separate eggs.
Both embryos successfully developed.
In a 2014 interview with Barbara Walters, Harris explained why he has never wanted to know which child is biologically his.
"I have no interest in [finding out]. We are their parents, and I love them implicitly," he said.
However, he added that he has his suspicions as he sees himself 'in each of them at different times'.
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