Neil Patrick Harris made his debut in the entertainment business at age 13, opposite Whoopi Goldberg in the 1988 movie "Clara's Heart." But his life at the time was nothing like your typical child actor. Instead of living in Hollywood, Harris lived in Ruidoso, New Mexico, raised by two middle-class lawyers. Harris stumbled into Hollywood when playwright and "Clara's Heart" screenwriter Mark Medoff discovered him in a theater camp and advocated for his casting in the film.

Harris' performance in "Clara's Heart" garnered the novice actor a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor. The impressive debut led to a tantalizing television opportunity the following year. It...

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