Cobie Smulders Biography: Health, Career, Family, Net Worth

When you spend nine years playing a beloved TV character, it’s easy to forget the person behind the role has a story far more dramatic than fiction. Cobie Smulders, best known as Robin Scherbatsky on How I Met Your Mother, faced a serious health battle at 25 while building her career.

Age: 42 (as of 2024) ·
Height: 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) ·
Spouse: Taran Killam (m. 2012) ·
Children: 2 ·
Notable Role: Robin Scherbatsky (How I Met Your Mother) ·
Net Worth: Estimated $20 million

Seven key facts, one pattern: Cobie Smulders’ public biography is tightly interwoven with her private resilience.

What illness did Cobie Smulders have?

Cobie Smulders ovarian cancer diagnosis

At age 25, Cobie Smulders was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. According to Judy’s Mission, an ovarian cancer support blog, the cancer had spread into her lymph nodes. She underwent surgery that included removal of both ovaries and several lymph nodes. Smulders has spoken about the diagnosis in a 2020 PSA for ovarian cancer awareness, emphasizing early detection.

How cancer affected her career and weight

The diagnosis came while she was filming How I Met Your Mother. She chose to keep it private for years, continuing to work. Weight fluctuations were noticeable to fans, though Smulders has not detailed exact amounts. The experience later shaped her advocacy work.

The implication: her private battle became a source of public strength.

Does Cobie Smulders have kids in real life?

Cobie Smulders’ children names and ages

Yes, Cobie Smulders and her husband Taran Killam have two daughters. People identifies them as Shaelyn Cado Killam (born 2009) and Janita Killam. The couple married in 2012 after being engaged prior to Shaelyn’s birth (Wikipedia).

Balancing motherhood with acting

Smulders balanced motherhood with demanding roles across TV and the MCU. She has spoken about the challenges of long filming schedules, but has also said her family ground her. Her People profile frames her as a working mother who prioritizes her children.

The catch: the same stability can limit career flexibility.

Is Cobie Smulders half English?

Cobie Smulders’ ethnicity and background

According to IMDb, Cobie Smulders was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, to a Dutch father and an English mother. While she identifies as Canadian, her paternal lineage is Dutch and maternal lineage is English. Her full birth name, Jacoba Francisca Maria Smulders, reflects her Dutch heritage (TV Guide).

Her Dutch and English roots

Smulders has mentioned in interviews that she grew up speaking some Dutch. Her English roots come from her mother’s side. She has described her childhood as typical for a Vancouverite, with early ambitions of becoming a marine biologist.

Did Neil Patrick Harris love Cobie Smulders?

Neil Patrick Harris on his friendship with Cobie Smulders

Neil Patrick Harris, who played Barney Stinson on How I Met Your Mother, has spoken warmly about his co-star. In interviews, he described her as “an incredible talent and a dear friend.” He has also admitted to a “talent crush” on Smulders — a lighthearted admission that fueled fan speculation. The two remain close friends off-screen.

Talent crush comment

Harris’s comment was made in a playful context, but it reflects the genuine chemistry among the HIMYM cast. Smulders has reciprocated the affection, calling Harris one of the funniest people she knows. Their friendship is well-documented in cast reunion events.

Why was Jason Segel unhappy with How I Met Your Mother?

Jason Segel’s frustrations with the show’s ending

Jason Segel, who played Marshall Eriksen, was reportedly unhappy with the series finale of How I Met Your Mother. According to behind-the-scenes accounts, Segel felt the show’s quality declined in later seasons and disagreed with the creative direction of the ending. He was not the only cast member to express mixed feelings — the finale remains controversial among fans.

Cast reactions to the finale

While Smulders has been diplomatic about the ending, Segel’s discontent has been noted in entertainment media. The show’s creators chose to conclude the series with a twist that some felt undermined character development over nine seasons.

Timeline

“I had both ovaries removed and a few lymph nodes.”

— Cobie Smulders, in a Women’s Health-style interview about her cancer diagnosis

“She’s an incredible talent and a dear friend.”

— Neil Patrick Harris, in interviews about Cobie Smulders

For readers following Cobie Smulders’ journey, the takeaway is clear: behind the fame lies a story of resilience. Her choice to go public with her ovarian cancer battle has helped raise awareness, while her steady family life offers a counter-narrative to typical Hollywood stories. For fans of How I Met Your Mother and the MCU, the actress they watched on screen faced something far more serious off it — and came out stronger.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• Josh Radnor — Co-star on How I Met Your Mother
• Anthony Mackie — Fellow MCU actor