A packed Call auditorium welcomed American actor and filmmaker Josh Radnor — best known for his role of Ted Mosby on the Emmy-award winning show “How I Met Your Mother” — for a Q&A session on Sunday evening.
Radnor was invited by the Cornell University Program Board and Cornell Hillel as part of the Major Speaker series, which has brought Jewish figures like Josh Peck and Aly Raisman to the University. Maya Weisberg ’26, Cornell Hillel President, explained that Radnor was the perfect candidate for this event.
“[Radnor] was chosen because of his unique perspective as an actor and director, and we believe his experiences and work will resonate deeply with our community,” Weisberg wrote in a statement to The Sun.
The crowd erupted with applause as Radnor was brought to the stage. The event opened with a moderated Q&A, where Radnor was asked to reflect on different eras of his life.
Radnor’s role of Ted on “How I Met Your Mother,” the romance sit-com from the 2000s, played a pivotal part in Radnor’s career. Radnor described how being known for one role led him to be hard on himself at the time of filming.
Now, in preparation for a new podcast he is working on called “How We Made Your Mother,” he has decided to rewatch the show. This time around, he gives his younger self more grace from a different vantage point.
“I think it's hard to take ‘How I Met Your Mother’ out of my life … I’m in this season of reclamation with [it].” Radnor said. “I am becoming a fan of it in my own little way.”
Apart from acting, Radnor has written and directed films of his own, such as“Happythankyoumoreplease,” a project he worked on simultaneously while filming “How I Met Your Mother,” after feeling the need for a greater creative outlet. He shared the interesting contrast that was created between balancing projects of different emotional and narrative complexities.
Radnor has also ventured into songwriting, releasing various records within the past decade like his latest release “Eulogy II.”
As an actor, director, filmmaker and singer-songwriter, Radnor has channeled his talents into the art of storytelling in its many forms, each piece representing a chapter in his evolving creative journey.
“It’s been a really great way to journal my life,” Radnor said. “Sometimes you have an idea and you’re like, ‘You know what? That's a four minute song.’ And then you have another idea, and you say, ‘No, that idea is a 90 minute movie.’”
Radnor’s love of storytelling originated in his Jewish upbringing, as he finds many values and lessons of Judaism applied to different aspects of his life.
“I think that what you do in a theatre is the same thing you do in a yeshiva — you look at the text and you dig underneath the words to find a deeper meaning,” he said, noting connections between acting and Jewish educational institutions.
The event later transitioned into a heartfelt audience-led Q&A. Many speakers shared the touching impact “How I Met Your Mother” has had on their lives, ranging from finding a passion for architecture to the love for true friendships after a breakup. Some attendees even travelled for the event, with non-student visitors coming from Canada and Philadelphia, sharing their commitment to lasting lessons and connections inspired from the show.
Though audience questions varied, many boiled down to one similar theme — love.
“A term they use a lot in ‘How I Met Your Mother’ that I don't like personally is ‘the one,’ because I think it puts a lot of pressure on [love],” Radnor said. “I think it’s really lovely in the last analysis that [Ted] didn't have one, he had two.”
Audience members described Radnor’s hit show “How I Met Your Mother” as a comfort show that has provided a sense of familiarity and warmth. Kate Sevigny ’27, a fan of the series, reflected on the joy and ease it brings her.
“Seeing him talk about the show was really cool, because it has brought me so much joy and, honestly, this [event] did too,” Sevigny said. “I feel like that comfort [he brings in the show], he exudes.”
As Radnor left the stage to a final round of applause, he extended gratitude for the people who have found comfort, inspiration and connection through his storytelling.
“I hope you stick with me,” Radnor said. “I’m hoping to have a long career as a storyteller.”
