John Lithgow Is Barney’s Dad On “How I Met Your Mother”

Egads! John Lithgow will play Neil Patrick Harris’ dad on CBS’ hitcom How I Met Your Mother.

The five-time Emmy winner, best remembered for his roles in films like Footloose and as Dr. Dick Solomon on television’s 3rd Rock from the Sun, is set to play Barney’s father — Jerome Whitaker — in an episode airing later this season. If you’re glued to your tube each week for a new edition of HIMYM, you’ll recall that Barney has been searching for his father for years, but has never managed to find him.Details of how the suit-lovin’ womanizer and his long lost dad connect have not yet been revealed.

How I Met Your Mother — which will feature a guest appearance by Grammy-nominted singer Katy Perry early next month — airs Mondays @ 8/7c on CBS.