In Toronto, it’s no secret that the affable and highly energetic stand-up comedian Howie Mandel launched his showbiz career by sheer chance. While on vacation, he attended an amateur night at the Comedy Store on Sunset Strip in Los Angeles. Invited by friends, Mandel’s talents caught the attention of a producer who quickly hired him for a role in a comedy game show. This chance moment sparked an incredible story of fortune and success! Mandel transitioned from an unknown to a TV celebrity, writer, actor, producer, director, entrepreneur, and host of a popular game show. Read more on torontoski.
About the Comedian
Howie Michael Mandel II, a curly-haired Jewish Canadian, was born on November 29, 1955, in Toronto, Ontario, and raised there. Of Romanian and Polish descent, he is a cousin of Israeli virtuoso violinist Itzhak Perlman. In school, Mandel was the class clown, which didn’t win him much favor. His antics led to his expulsion. Mandel later found a job selling carpets by day while moonlighting as a performer at Yuk Yuk’s comedy club in Toronto. In 1978, he visited the L.A. Comedy Store in the United States—and decided to stay.
As a regular at the popular Sunset Strip club, Mandel was discovered by a producer of the syndicated comedy game show Make Me Laugh (1979), who invited him to appear in a series of episodes during the show’s brief run from 1979 to 1980. This led to Mandel’s breakthrough on The David Letterman Show, CBS’s comedy special in 1980, several appearances on The Alan Thicke Show, and a lead role in the quirky but poorly received Canadian film comedy Gas (1981), co-starring Susan Anspach. Mandel also became one of the original “VeeJays” on Nickelodeon’s music video series.
Filmography
The personable and talented comedian quickly transitioned from TV talk shows and Vegas gigs to family-oriented television fame. Mandel gained household recognition for his role in the critically acclaimed medical drama St. Elsewhere (1982). Playing the lively Dr. Wayne Fiscus, Mandel became known for his comic relief while continuing his work as a stand-up comedian. He also aimed for movie stardom in the 1980s, with roles such as a young comic in Funny Farm (1983), voicing Gizmo in the box office hit Gremlins (1984) and its sequel Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990), and starring in films like A Fine Mess (1986) and Walk Like a Man (1987). However, these films failed to achieve significant commercial success or critical acclaim.
On television, Mandel voiced Skeeter on the animated series Muppet Babies (1984). His strong affinity for children led him to create his own Emmy-nominated children’s series, Bobby’s World (1990), in which he served as creator, executive producer, and voice actor for the title character, Bobby Generic.
Mandel also starred in the short-lived dark comedy series Good Grief (1990), which centered around the funeral business, and hosted his own talk show, The Howie Mandel Show (1998), which lasted for one season. Over the years, he appeared in several TV series, including Lois & Clark, Carol & Company, Homicide: Life on the Street, Bless This House, The Nanny, The Outer Limits, and Sunset Beach.
Awards and Highlights
In 2006, Mandel gained immense popularity as the bald-headed host of the game show Deal or No Deal (2005), which ran for four seasons and returned for a revival a decade later. Mandel also became the spokesperson for Boston Pizza, appearing in numerous commercials.
In April 2004, Comedy Central ranked Mandel #82 on their list of the “100 Greatest Stand-Up Comedians of All Time.” On September 4, 2008, Mandel received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. That same year, he publicly revealed his struggles with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and became an advocate for adult ADHD awareness. He later wrote and published an autobiography discussing his challenges with OCD and ADHD.
In 2009, Mandel starred in and executive-produced his reality show Howie Do It (2008), which was reminiscent of Candid Camera. However, the show only lasted one season. Similarly, his flash mob reality show Mobbed (2011) did not achieve success. Since then, Mandel has enjoyed steady fame as a judge on the reality competition show America’s Got Talent (2006).
Mandel has been married to Terry (née Soil) since 1980, and the couple has three children. In 2009, he received a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame in Toronto, cementing his legacy as one of Canada’s most beloved entertainers.