David Burtka grew up in Canton, Michigan. He graduated from Plymouth Salem High School in 1993. He has one older sister, Jennifer.

David has been in a committed relationship with partner Neil Patrick Harris since 2004.

In 2010, Burtka started an L.A.-based catering company called Gourmet M. D. with Molly Hanisee, a classmate from Pasadena's Le Cordon Bleu culinary arts school.

He has twin children (born by surrogate) with current partner Neil Patrick Harris. The twins were born on October 12th, 2010. Their son is named Gideon Scott and their daughter is named Harper Grace.

His Broadway debut was as Tulsa in the 2003 production of Gypsy starring Bernadette Peters. He played The Boy in the American premiere of Edward Albee's The Play About the Baby, for which he won the 2001 Clarence Derwent Award for most promising male performer.

In 2004, Burtka originated the role of Matt in the musical The Opposite of Sex, and reprised the role in the work's East Coast premiere in the summer of 2006.

Burtka made his television debut in 2002 with The West Wing; Crossing Jordan and later on How I Met Your Mother.

David hosts Celebrity Dish on Cooking Channel.