Hollywood actor Josh Radnor gained widespread acclaim and recognition for starring as Ted Mosby in the popular sitcom How I Met Your Mother. It was while starring in the sitcom that the actor had an experience that marked a significant shift in his career trajectory.
The actor has shared that the pivotal moment came when he met the Australian musician Ben Lee on the set of the show. He recalled how the encounter sparked his interest in exploring his passion for music, culminating in the formation of an indie duo with Lee.
Josh Radnor Recalled His Encounter with Ben Lee on How I Met Your Mother Set
After concluding his run on the CBS sitcom, How I Met Your Mother, Josh Radner made a career shift into music, joining the musical band, Radnor and Lee, with the Australian musician Ben Lee.
In a later interview with The Big Takeover, the actor shared that although he had always loved music, he chose to focus on acting during college and built his career in the industry.
And it was his meeting with Ben Lee, which inspired him to further pursue his interest in music. The actor recalled that the makers of the Emmy-winning sitcom wanted to feature one of Lee’s songs on the show.
The studio charged them an exorbitant licensing fee. However, when Lee learned about it, he watched a few episodes of the show and reached out to the showrunners, offering, “I would have let you have it for less money.”
He was then invited to the set, where he met Radnor, who was a huge fan. “I love Ben Lee,” he recalled telling the show’s creators before adding, “I had a couple of his records. I really liked his music.“
Radnor even shared that he was probably the only person who knew the musician that well, and they quickly bonded. The actor shared that after the show they once again ran into each other and have since remained friends and musical partners.
Josh Radnor’s Serendipitous Meeting with Ben Lee Sparked Musical Partnership
During his interview, Josh Radnor further recalled how despite spending so much time together they didn’t exchange contact information initially. However, fate intervened a few months later, when they encountered each other again.
“I ran into him a couple of months later… and we had dinner with his now wife,” he said before adding, “We’ve been friends ever since.” The actor credited the hit sitcom, How I Met Your Mother, for bringing them together, saying,
So, in some ways, in every way, were it not for How I Met Your Mother, I don’t know that I’d be writing songs right now.
Radnor and his musical partner, Ben Lee, debuted as Radnor and Lee with a self-titled album in 2017, followed by their second album, Golden State, in 2020. Both albums received positive acclaim.
In 2021, Radnor ventured into a solo career, releasing his debut solo EP, One More Then I’ll Let You Go, followed by his solo debut album, Eulogy: Volume I, which was actually released in 2023. Radnor noted that recording Volume I provided a cohesive, story-like experience and shared that he is planning to release Volume II soon as well.
How I Met Your Mother is available to watch on Netflix.
