Josh Radnor has opened up about his current relationship with the “How I Met Your Mother” cast. On the “Half the Picture” podcast, the actor was asked whether he and his former co-stars are still as close as they were during the sitcom’s run. His answer was blunt. “No, no, not even a little bit.”
However, Josh Radnor made it clear that there is no major falling-out behind the distance. He said he did not mean it “in any dramatic way.” The relationships have simply changed since the series ended. That passage of time is also evident when looking back at stars such as the 90s child star who played Jim Carrey’s son in “Liar Liar.”
Josh Radnor Says Their Lives Simply Went in Different Directions
According to Radnor’s “Half the Picture” interview, he compared the cast’s experience to college. He described it as an intense period when everyone spent an enormous amount of time together.
“You can’t imagine not seeing each other every day.”
That kind of closeness can be difficult to maintain once the shared experience ends. The cast members eventually moved on with their own lives and careers.
Josh Radnor said Neil Patrick Harris now lives in New York. The other cast members – Cobie Smulders, Alyson Hannigan and Jason Segel – mostly live in California, while Radnor has also gone on with his own life.
The actor still has occasional contact with some of his former co-stars. He said he and Segel sometimes exchange texts when something reminds them of a funny moment from the set. However, Radnor admitted that he has not seen the actor “in a really long time.”
Smulders has remained somewhat easier to keep in touch with. She appeared twice on Josh Radnor’s podcast, although most of their contact has taken place over Zoom.
A Deep Affection for His Former Co-Stars
The distance does not mean Radnor has stopped caring about the people he worked with.
As reported by Entertainment Weekly, Josh Radnor said he has “love for all these people.” He also described the cast as being “more like family than friends.”
He explained that family dynamics can develop when people spend so many years together. The actors did not choose each other in the usual sense. They were brought together by the series and then shared a major chapter of their lives.
Radnor also spoke about his relationship with Harris. Harris previously appeared on Radnor’s podcast, “How We Made Your Mother.” The two discussed some of the tension they experienced on set.
Josh Radnor described that conversation as “fascinating and kind of healing.” The comment suggests that some old issues have been addressed, even though the two are not regularly spending time together.
Hannigan also remains part of Radnor’s life story. She attended his 2024 wedding to Jordana Jacobs. According to Radnor’s podcast comments, however, he has not seen the actress since then.
Fans Still Imagine the “HIMYM” Cast Together
The distance may be surprising to fans because friendship was at the center of “How I Met Your Mother.”
Josh Radnor acknowledged on “Half the Picture” that viewers often imagine the cast maintaining the same relationships away from the show. He said fans “really wanna believe” that he, Harris and Segel are still going out together in New York.
Still, the reality is different.
Josh Radnor said the former castmates can have deep affection without maintaining active friendships. He described that kind of bond as “quite deep and rich and probably everlasting.” At the same time, he stressed that it is “not an active love.”
The actor offered one final explanation for why relationships between co-stars can change. “Acting is a lot of little love affairs that you have, and then you move on.”
For the “How I Met Your Mother” cast, that appears to be what happened. Years of shared work created lasting memories and affection. Their lives simply moved in different directions afterward. Lea Thompson has similarly looked back fondly on her time working with Matthew Perry.
Watch the full interview here.
