Cobie Smulders: Cancer Survival, HIMYM, Husband & Kids

Cobie Smulders played a fiercely independent pop-star-turned-journalist on TV, but her real life included a much more serious plotline: an ovarian cancer battle that began at age 25. Her journey from a Vancouver model to a Marvel movies mainstay is a story of resilience, timing, and grit.

Born: April 3, 1982 (age 42) ·
Height: 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) ·
Net Worth: Estimated $25 million ·
Spouse: Taran Killam (m. 2012) ·
Children: 2 daughters

Among the core biographical data points, the most defining moments of Cobie Smulders’s life bridge her personal and professional milestones.

What illness did Cobie Smulders have?

In 2015, Smulders publicly shared a private health battle that had unfolded years earlier, shocking fans who knew her best for her comedic roles. Her honesty about the experience has since made her an important voice in women’s health.

What type of cancer did Cobie Smulders have?

• Smulders was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at age 25. Wikipedia (crowd-sourced reference)

When was Cobie Smulders diagnosed?

• According to Coping with Cancer (patient-survivor publication), Smulders received her diagnosis in 2008 during the third season of How I Met Your Mother.
• Cure Today (oncology-focused patient media) confirmed she was diagnosed at age 25 after advocating for an ultrasound.

How did Cobie Smulders discover her cancer?

• She discovered the cancer during a routine checkup when she insisted on an ultrasound. Cure Today
• The cancer had spread to her lymph nodes, and she underwent multiple operations over roughly two years, eventually leaving her with part of one ovary. Wikipedia

The implication: Smulders’s willingness to share this deeply personal history has made her an unlikely but powerful ambassador for women’s health and early cancer detection.

Did Neil Patrick Harris love Cobie Smulders?

For fans of HIMYM, the romantic tension between Ted Mosby and Robin Scherbatsky was a core part of the show’s mythos. Off-screen, the bond between Harris and Smulders was just as strong, though decidedly platonic.

What did Neil Patrick Harris say about Cobie Smulders?

• Harris has stated he had a “talent crush” on Smulders, praising her comedic timing and quick instincts. Wikipedia

Are Neil Patrick Harris and Cobie Smulders close friends?

• The pair co-starred for all nine seasons of the sitcom and have repeatedly expressed mutual admiration in interviews, cementing one of television’s most enduring friendships.

The implication: The cast’s chemistry was not a manufactured product of television magic, but a genuine rapport that persisted long after the cameras stopped rolling.

Is Jason Segel friends with Cobie Smulders?

While Ted and Robin were the star-crossed lovers of HIMYM, the friendship between Robin and Marshall—played by Jason Segel—was one of the show’s sweetest dynamics.

How did Jason Segel and Cobie Smulders meet?

• They met when cast together on HIMYM in 2005 and quickly developed a close working relationship. Wikipedia

What did Cobie Smulders say about working with Jason Segel?

• Smulders told Entertainment Weekly that her chemistry with Segel was immediate, built on mutual trust and a shared sense of humor.

The pattern: Their dynamic was a cornerstone of HIMYM’s heart, proving that platonic chemistry can be just as compelling as a will-they-won’t-they romance.

When did Cobie Smulders have a baby?

Smulders’s journey into motherhood is a central chapter of her life, deeply intertwined with her recovery from cancer and her rise to stardom.

How many children does Cobie Smulders have?

• She has two daughters with husband Taran Killam. IMDb (celebrity biography database)

What are the names of Cobie Smulders’ daughters?

• Her first daughter, Shaelyn Cado Killam, was born in 2009. Los Angeles Times (West Coast news authority)
• Her second daughter, Janita Killam, was born in 2017. A patient publication also referred to her second daughter as Joelle. IMDb / Coping with Cancer
• She took maternity leave during Season 4 of HIMYM, a break that the show wrote around creatively.

The implication: Smulders has openly stated that her doctors were unsure if she would be able to conceive naturally after her cancer surgery, making her two successful pregnancies a poignant part of her recovery narrative.

How old was Cobie Smulders during How I Met Your Mother?

The sitcom famously took place across a long narrative arc, and Smulders grew up alongside her character in real time, transitioning from a young actress into a seasoned lead.

What year did How I Met Your Mother start?

• The show premiered on September 19, 2005. Wikipedia

How old was Cobie Smulders in season 1?

• Smulders was 23 years old when the show premiered, turning 24 early in the first season. When the series concluded in 2014, she was 31 years old.

The pattern: The nine-season run of HIMYM coincided almost exactly with Smulders’s twenties and early thirties, a formative period that saw her marriage, her cancer battle, and the birth of her first child.

Timeline: Cobie Smulders’s Life and Career

The following timeline draws a clear line through the key events that define Smulders’s personal and professional life.

• April 3, 1982: Born in Vancouver, Canada.
• 2001: Began modeling and acting.
• 2005: Cast as Robin Scherbatsky in How I Met Your Mother.
• 2008: Diagnosed with ovarian cancer; undergoes surgery.
• 2009: Gives birth to daughter Shaelyn.
• 2012: Marries Taran Killam; debuts as Maria Hill in The Avengers.
• 2014: HIMYM series finale.
• 2017: Gives birth to daughter Janita.

The timeline reveals an actress who never stopped working, even as she navigated life-altering health and family events.

What is confirmed and what remains unclear

Key perspectives from Cobie Smulders and her co-stars

Smulders told Entertainment Weekly that the chemistry between her and Segel was built on mutual trust and a shared sense of humor.

— Cobie Smulders, on working with Jason Segel (Entertainment Weekly)

Harris has stated he had a “talent crush” on Smulders, praising her comedic timing and quick instincts.

— Neil Patrick Harris (People magazine)

Summary

Cobie Smulders is not just a sitcom star or a Marvel fixture. She is a woman who navigated a serious health crisis in her mid-twenties while carrying the weight of a hit television show, built a family when doctors weren’t sure she could, and remained one of the most grounded figures in a turbulent industry. For women facing an ovarian cancer diagnosis, her story is one of concrete action: advocate for your own body, demand the scan, and refuse to let a career define your legacy.

Frequently asked questions

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