Sunny Hostin Insists Neil Patrick Harris Still Looks Like Doogie Howser as He Nears 50: “You Don’t Age”

To some, Neil Patrick Harris will always be a Doogie Howser — and is that really a bad thing? The actor stopped by The View today to promote his new show, Drag Me to Dinner, where he was gushed over by the Hot Topics panel. Sunny Hostin appeared to be his biggest fan, praising the actor’s youthful looks as he approaches his 50th birthday.

Harris, who was joined by his husband and Drag Me to Dinner costar David Burtka, will turn 50 on June 15. When asked by Ana Navarro what his upcoming milestone birthday means to him, he replied, “I enjoy aging.”

Before he could continue, Hostin quipped, “That’s ’cause you still look like Doogie Howser — you don’t age,” referring to Harris’ child doctor character, a role he played for four seasons in the late ’80s and early ’90s.

After the laugher around the table died down, Harris added, “It took me a while to feel comfortable in my own skin,” admitting that he only understood “who I am, as opposed to who I was trying to be, or who I was” in his 30s and 40s.

At 49, Harris said he feels more settled than ever. He explained to the panel, “I feel good in my life. I feel good with my husband, with my kids. I feel like I’m in a good place. I don’t feel like I’m past the prime, I feel like I’m starting the second chapter.”

Harris then told the panel he’d been receiving mysterious envelopes since April, all leading up to his 50th birthday and taking him on a “scavenger-treasure hunt” with clues and riddles. While he still has no idea who’s sending the messages — and Burtka denies any involvement — the sneaky sender made their way to The View somehow.

Harris seemed genuinely shocked when Sara Haines pulled out an envelope marked “50” and presented it to him at the table.

“Stop it! Are you serious?” he asked incredulously, while Navarro joked, “Most of us just get an envelope from AARP.”

The View airs weekdays at 11/10c on ABC.