Howie Mandel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Howie Mandel |
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Mandel at America's Got Talent in 2020
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| Birth name | Howard Michael Mandel |
| Born | November 29, 1955 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Medium | Stand-up, television, film, books |
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Genres | Observational comedy, improvisational comedy |
| Subject(s) | Everyday life, self-deprecation |
| Spouse |
Terry Soil
(m. 1980) |
| Children | 3 |
Howard Michael Mandel (born November 29, 1955) is a famous Canadian comedian, TV star, actor, and producer. He is well-known for many things. He voiced Gizmo in the movie Gremlins and its sequel. He also played Dr. Wayne Fiscus on the TV show St. Elsewhere.
Howie Mandel created and starred in the popular children's cartoon Bobby's World. Since 2010, he has been a judge on America's Got Talent. He also judges Canada's Got Talent since 2022. He hosted the game show Deal or No Deal in both the US and Canada.
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Early Life and Comedy Beginnings
Howie Mandel was born and grew up in Willowdale, Ontario, Canada. His family is Jewish, and they came from Romania and Poland. Howie even has a distant cousin who is a famous violinist, Itzhak Perlman.
When he was younger, Howie was expelled from high school. He had pretended to be a school official! After that, he worked selling carpets. He started doing stand-up comedy at a club called Yuk Yuk's in Toronto. By 1978, he was a featured act. One of his funny tricks was putting a latex glove over his head. He would then blow it up with his nose! The glove's fingers would stick up like a chicken's comb. When the audience laughed, he would throw his hands up and say, "It's you!"
On a trip to Los Angeles, Howie performed at The Comedy Store. This led to him becoming a regular performer there. Soon, he was booked for TV shows and even opened for David Letterman. In 1980, he got a main role in the Canadian movie Gas. He was also one of the first "VeeJays" on Nickelodeon's PopClips.
Television and Film Roles
Howie Mandel became famous in the US on the TV show St. Elsewhere. He played Dr. Wayne Fiscus from 1982 to 1988. While on the show, he also worked in movies. He voiced Gizmo in the hit movie Gremlins (1984) and its sequel Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990).
In 1986, he starred in the movie A Fine Mess with Ted Danson. He also voiced characters like Bunsen Honeydew and Animal in the first two seasons of Muppet Babies. In 1989, he was "Maurice" in the movie Little Monsters.
A big part of his career was Bobby's World. This was an animated children's series that Howie created and produced. He also voiced the main character, Bobby, and Bobby's dad. The show ran for seven seasons from 1990 to 1998.
In 1996, he guest-starred on Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. He played the supervillain Mister Mxyzptlk. In 1998, he hosted his own talk show, The Howie Mandel Show. He also appeared as himself in episodes of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip and Medium. He even made a dream cameo on Deal or No Deal.
One of Howie's signature comedy stunts was inflating a latex glove over his head. He stopped doing this trick because his doctor told him to. He had a problem with his sinuses. However, he did do the trick again in a cameo on My Name Is Earl. He also guest-starred in two episodes of Monk.
Hosting Deal or No Deal
In 2005, Howie Mandel became the host of the American version of Deal or No Deal. The show became very popular. He also hosted Deal or No Deal Canada starting in 2007. This made him one of the few hosts to lead the same game show in two different countries.
Howie initially said no to hosting Deal or No Deal many times. But after seeing a tape of the show from another country, he finally agreed. In 2018, it was announced that Howie would host a new version of the game show on CNBC. He also became an executive producer for it. In 2024, he was also an executive producer for Deal or No Deal Island. It was revealed he was the secret "banker" on that show!
Judging Got Talent
In January 2010, Howie Mandel joined America's Got Talent as a judge. He replaced David Hasselhoff. Howie has been a judge on the show for many years, making him the longest-serving judge.
In 2021, it was announced that Howie would also be a judge on the second season of Canada's Got Talent, which aired in 2022.
Howie Mandel Does Stuff Podcast
Since February 2021, Howie Mandel has hosted a podcast called Howie Mandel Does Stuff Podcast. His daughter, Jackelyn Shultz, is his co-host. They make prank calls, talk about pop culture, and interview interesting people.
Other Ventures
Howie Mandel is interested in new technology. He has invested in many new companies. In 2021, he invested in a company called MetaMedia's MagicScreen. This company plans interactive experiences for movie theaters.
In 2022, Howie became an investor and user of Proto Hologram technology. He uses it for his own appearances. He even "beamed" into JFK Airport to surprise travelers!
Personal Life and Health
Howie Mandel has been married to Terry Mandel since 1980. They have three children together.
In 2008, Howie received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2009, he also received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame in Toronto.
Howie has been open about his health. He has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and OCD. He has written a book about his life with these conditions called Here's the Deal: Don't Touch Me. He is also a germaphobe, meaning he has a strong fear of germs.
In 2009, he had chest pains and was taken to the hospital. It was reported as a minor heart attack, but it was later said to be an irregular heartbeat. He was discharged soon after.
Howie is also colorblind. In 2022, he got COVID-19. This caused him to miss some episodes of America's Got Talent. The lockdown during the pandemic was also tough for his physical and mental health.
Howie Mandel lives in the Hollywood Hills area of Los Angeles.
Helping Others
Howie Mandel started a charity called Breakout the Masks. This foundation helps provide special protective equipment to healthcare workers. These workers were fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. He also supports Bell's Let's Talk Day. This initiative helps people who are dealing with mental health issues.
Images for kids
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Howie Mandel at America's Got Talent in 2020
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Howie Mandel at the 39th Emmy Awards in 1987
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Hand prints of Howie Mandel in front of Hollywood Hills Amphitheater at Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park
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Howie Mandel on Children's Mental Health Awareness Day, 2007
