Howie Mandel

Background

Howie Mandel is a big star in stand-up comedy and television hosting. Mandel was born and raised in Willowdale, Ontario. He is Jewish and a distant cousin of an Israeli violinist. His father was a real estate agent and a lighting manufacturer.

Mandel worked as a carpet salesman and a stand-up comedian at Yuk Yuk in Toronto. He took a trip to Los Angeles where he performed at The Comedy Store and was hired as a regular performer. He began to open shows in the summer of 1979. He later signed to a T.V. show in 1980 and even won a lead role in the Canadian movie “Gas.” He voiced Gizmo in the 1984 “Gremlins” and its 1990 sequel. He starred in the 1994 comedy film “Walk Like a Man.” He also starred in “Good Grief” on a FOX show which was short-lived. He was also the executive creator of an Emmy-nominated children’s series, “Bobby’s World.” “Howie” was his self-titled comedy show, where he featured several guest stars, which aired in 1992. In 2002, he played the sandman in “Hansel and Gretel.” In 2007 he made a dream cameo of himself on “Deal or No Deal.” Mandel is fond of appearing as a comedian on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” From 2007, he became an internet retailer for buy.com. In 2010, it was announced he would replace David Hasselhoff on “America’s Got Talent” as a judge and has the longest tenure as a judge. Netflix released “Bullsh*t The Game Show” on April 27, 2022, with Mandel as the host of 10 episodes.

Mandel is married to Terry Mandel, and they have three children, Lackie, Riley, and Alex. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in September of 2008 on their ‘100 greatest comedians of all time.’ He has published an autobiography detailing his life in comedy with A.D.H.D. and O.C.D. He is a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs and currently lives in the Hollywood hills.