'Doogie Howser' Star Not Gay, Says Publicist.

Neil Patrick Harris' publicists are playing down reports the actor is gay after an internet report linked him with Broadway star David Burtka. Website Canada.com 'outed' Harris in a recent article, claiming he helped land his alleged boyfriend a role in his sitcom How I Met Your Mother.

"Nepotism is alive and well in Hollywood," Canada.com wrote. "Former Doogie Howser star Neil Patrick Harris, 33, recently got his longtime sweetheart David Burtka, 31, a guest role on his series How I Met Your Mother.

"Burtka is an experienced theatre actor (he played opposite Bernadette Peters in Gypsy on Broadway and starred in the touring company of Beauty and the Beast) but also had small parts on episodes of The West Wing and Crossing Jordan," Canada.com reported.

However, the former child star's publicist, Craig Snyder, insists, "He's not of that persuasion."