David Burtka

Last updated

David Burtka
DavidBurtka-byPhilipRomano.jpg
Burtka in 2025
Born
David Michael Burtka

(1975-05-29) May 29, 1975 (age 50)
Education University of Michigan (BFA)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • chef
Years active
  • 1999–present (actor)
  • 2009–present (chef)
Spouse
(m. 2014)
Children2

David Michael Burtka (born May 29, 1975) is an American actor and chef.

Contents

Early life

David Burtka was born in Dearborn, Michigan, the son of Deborah A. Zajas (died 2008) and Daniel Burtka. He is of Polish descent. [1] [2] He grew up in Canton, Michigan, and graduated from Salem High School in 1993. He trained in acting at Interlochen Center for the Arts, obtained his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Michigan and had further training at the William Esper Studios.

Acting career

Burtka made his television debut in 2002 with a guest role on The West Wing . This was followed by a guest appearance on Crossing Jordan.

Burtka made his Broadway debut as Tulsa in the 2003 revival of Gypsy, which starred Bernadette Peters. He played The Boy in the American premiere of Edward Albee's The Play About the Baby, for which he won the 2001 Clarence Derwent Award for most promising male performer.

In 2004, Burtka originated the role of Matt Mateo in the musical The Opposite of Sex and reprised the role in the work's East Coast premiere in the summer of 2006.

Burtka appeared in seven episodes of How I Met Your Mother , playing Scooter, the former high school boyfriend of Lily Aldrin (Alyson Hannigan). Burtka made a cameo appearance in A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas, as himself, opposite Neil Patrick Harris.

Burtka starred in Osiris Entertainment's 2013 film Annie and the Gypsy, [3] and had a featured role in the 2014 film Dance-Off. [4]

In 2015, Burtka returned to Broadway in a musical comedy, directed by David Hyde Pierce and entitled It Shoulda Been You. An Off-Broadway revival of Yasmina Reza's God of Carnage at Theatre Row featuring Burtka began previews on April 18, 2023, and opened on April 27, 2023. Burtka starred along with Carey Cox, Gabe Fazio and Christiane Noll. [5]

Culinary career

While living in Los Angeles, Burtka took a hiatus from acting full-time to become a professional chef. [6] He graduated from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Pasadena in the summer of 2009; afterwards, he began running a Los Angeles catering company, "Gourmet MD". [7] Burtka's cookbook, Life is a Party, a collection of recipes and tips on entertaining, was published in April 2019. [8]

Personal life

Burtka with his husband, Neil Patrick Harris, in September 2011. DavidBurtkaNeilPatrickHarrisHWOFSept2011.jpg
Burtka with his husband, Neil Patrick Harris, in September 2011.

Burtka was in a relationship with Lane Janger in the early 2000s, around the time Janger was expecting twins via surrogacy. Although not the biological or legal father of the children, Burtka helped raise them during his relationship with Janger, and has remained close to them after he and Janger split. [9] [10]

Burtka has been in a relationship with Neil Patrick Harris since April 2004. [11] In October 2010 they became parents to twins, Harper and Gideon, [12] who were born via a surrogate mother.[ citation needed ]

Following the passage of the Marriage Equality Act in New York on June 24, 2011, Burtka and Harris announced their engagement, stating that they had proposed to each other five years earlier but had kept the engagement secret until same-sex marriage became legal in their state. [13] They married in Italy in September 2014. [14]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
199924 NightsToby
2007Worldly PossessionAndrew BatesTelevision film
Open HouseHusbandShort film
Army GuyKeithShort film
2011 A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas Himself
Gaysharktank.comBroadway GuyShort film
2012Annie and the GypsyMartin
2013The Gay Christian MingleAlanShort film
2014Dance-OffJT
2020 Cicada Bo

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2002 The West Wing BruceEpisode: "The Black Vera Wang"
2005 Crossing Jordan Craig HeeleyEpisode: "Total Recall"
2006–2014 How I Met Your Mother Scooter7 episodes
2007 CSI: NY David KingEpisode: "Down the Rabbit Hole"
2012–2013 Neil's Puppet Dreams Himself7 episodes
2013 Iron Chef America HimselfEpisode: "Zakarian vs. Chiarello: Scotch"
2014 RuPaul's Drag Race Himself (guest judge)Episode: "Drag My Wedding"
2015 Beat Bobby Flay Himself (guest judge)Episode: "No Training Wheels"
American Horror Story: Freak Show Michael BeckEpisode: "Curtain Call"
2018 A Series of Unfortunate Events Mr. Willums2 episodes
2020 Home Movie: The Princess Bride Princess ButtercupEpisode: "Chapter Five: Life Is Pain" [15]
2022 Uncoupled JerryEpisode: "Chapter 6"
2023 Drag Me to Dinner Himself (judge)10 episodes
2026 Elle ChadFilming

Bibliography

See also

References

  1. "Obituary » Michigan Death Notices » from Michigan.com . . ". michigan.com. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
  2. Administrator. "Famous Polish Americans". polishyoungstown.com. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
  3. "Annie and the Gypsy". Archived from the original on September 8, 2014. Retrieved February 8, 2013.
  4. "Platinum the Dance Movie (2014)". IMDb. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  5. "David Burtka to Lead Off-Broadway 'God of Carnage' Revival (EXCLUSIVE)". March 16, 2023.
  6. Neil Patrick Harris talks Thanksgiving on The Late Late Show . Retrieved November 16, 2011 via YouTube.
  7. Quimblerly, Anne (June 12, 2023). "Things You Probably Didn't Know About Out Actor and Chef David Burtka". Instinct. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  8. Vora, Shivani (June 14, 2019). "How Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka Spend Their Sundays". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  9. "Neil Patrick Harris, partner David Burtka, are each biological father of one of their twins" . Retrieved August 29, 2025.
  10. Dulin, Dann. "David Burtka: Cover Story". April 5, 2014. aumag.org. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
  11. Beeck, Ellen. "Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka's Relationship Timeline". People. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  12. "Neil Patrick Harris Welcomes 'Happy, Healthy' Twins". People. October 15, 2010. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
  13. "Neil Patrick Harris announces secret engagement". Digital Spy. June 25, 2011. Retrieved November 16, 2011.
  14. Beeck, Ellen. "Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka's Relationship Timeline". People. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  15. Breznican, Anthony (June 26, 2020). "Watch the Celebrity-Filled Fan-Film Version of The Princess Bride". Vanity Fair . Retrieved June 26, 2020.