Howie Mandel is a well known name in the entertainment industry thanks to his four decades long career. He is recognized for his amazing comedic performances on stage and on screen. Few of his projects include Gremlins, Walk Like a Man, Bobby’s World, St. Elsewhere, Hansel & Gretel and more. Mandel is also a regular face in the talent show world having served as a judge in a few.
Well thanks to his extensive career trajectory, people have shown much interest in Howie’s life. Thus in this biography we will take a look at Mandel’s life before fame, professional journey, romantic history, fatherhood and more.
Where Did Howie Mandel Grow Up?
The talented comedian was born Howard Michael Mandel in Willowdale, North York, Ontario, Canada on 29th November, 1955. Howie Mandel’s parents raised him as Jewish, with his ancestors emigrating from Poland and Romania. His father reportedly worked as a real estate agent and was also a lighting manufacturer.
Sadly, further information regarding Howie’s childhood is a bit of mystery. But we do know that Mandel enrolled at William Lyon Mackenzie Collegiate Institute. He was expelled from the institution for impersonating an official and hiring a construction company to build an addition to the school.
How Did Howie Mandel’s Comedy Journey Start?
Howie Mandel seems to have found interest in entertaining others from an early age. He started out as a stand-up comedian in Toronto’s Yuk Yuk’s and became a featured act after a while. Mandel also performed at The Comedy Store while on a trip and was hired as a regular performer soon after.
Moreover while performing in LA, Howie was noticed by a Make Me Laugh show’s producer and booked him for several appearances on it. Mandel was then booked to open for famed comedian David Letterman at his shows in the summer of 1979. This was followed by him securing a TV special having impressed CBC-TV’s head of variety programming from his set.
Howie Mandel then booked his first acting role in 1980 and this started his journey into the acting world.
What Movies and Shows Did Howie Mandel Have Worked On?
Howie Mandel’s acting debut came with his lead role in the 1981 movie Gas. This was followed by his work in other projects such as Muppet Babies, A Fine Babies, Where Did I Come From? and more. But it was Howie playing the part of Dr. Wayne Fiscus in the medical drama St. Elsewhere that resulted in him gaining national attention in the US. He started appearing on the series in 1982 and starred in 137 episodes till 1988.
The Canadian star’s popularity grew after he starred in many other projects throughout the 1990s. He not only appeared on screen but also voiced animated characters in movies and shows such as Magic Kid II, Gremlins 2: The New Batch, Rebel Highway, Harrison Bergeron, Great Word Adventure, The Nanny, and Jackie’s Back!. He also worked on many popular projects including Pinocchio 3000, Hansel & Gretel, Spin Cycle, The Great American Christmas, Monk, Medium and more.
Mandel’s acting journey has continued on with him making guest appearances in many television series such as The Big Band Theory, YidLife Crisis, The Dating Guy, David’s Vlog, and Harley Quinn. He also had significant parts in TV movies and feature films throughout the years with his recent projects being Killing Hasselhoff.
Well, throughout his acting career, Howie also kept up with his comedy journey. He does stand-up comedy and has put out numerous comedy specials over the years. Moreover, Mandel has been on tour showing off his comedy chops on numerous venues. If you are interested in attending any of his shows, one can find the dates and location of his upcoming shows on his official website.
Well, Howie Mendal’s net worth of $60 million has been heavily influenced by his work on movies, TV shows and video games. Also, the success of his comedy tours has also helped the Canadian-born star amass a massive wealth.
What Other Projects Has Howie Mandel Appeared In?
Besides his comedy career and acting journey, Howie Mandel also found fame and fortune through his other projects. He is known for his hidden camera segments on the popular show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He hosted the US and Canadian version of the game show Deal or No Deal. Furthermore, he was involved in the reality show Howie Do It in 2009.
Today many recognize Mandel as one of the judges on the talent show competition, America’s Got Talent. He replaced David Hasselhoff in 2010 and has continued to appear on the show making him the one with the longest tenure. He has also been involved in other game and competition shows such as Bullsh*t the Game Show, Canada’s Got Talent and more.
Well, it is evident that Howie Mandel’s career has grown extensively over the years. We hope to see more of him in the coming days.
Who Is Howie Mandel’s Wife?
Talking about his personal life, the talented comedian has been married for decades and is also a father of three. Howie Mandel’s wife is Terry Mandel (formerly Terry Soil) and the pair have been married since 1980. Not much is known about Terry and her life.
But we do know that Howie and Terry have three kids. Mandel’s children are son, Alex Mandel and daughters Jackie Mandel and Riley Mandel. Jackie aka Jackelyn Shultz has collaborated with her father on the Howie Mandel Does Stuff podcast. Alex on the other hand has tried his hand in acting but Riley prefers to keep her life away from the spotlight.