Howie Mandel was born on November 29, 1955, making him 70 years old. Over a career spanning more than four decades, the Canadian comedian, actor, and television host has transitioned from a wacky stand-up regular into an enduring fixture of prime-time television. Whether you remember him pulling surgical gloves over his nose on late-night talk shows or watching him hand out briefcases on Deal or No Deal, understanding his exact age requires looking at a birth date that bridges several eras of entertainment history.
Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Mandel didn't follow a traditional path to show business. Before headlining comedy clubs, he worked as a carpet salesman. An impromptu open-mic performance at Los Angeles's legendary Comedy Store in 1979 changed everything, quickly landing him television appearances and setting off a multi-faceted career across stand-up, voice acting, and massive game show franchises.
Early Life and Stand-Up Breakthrough
Growing up in the Bathurst Manor neighborhood of Toronto, Mandel was known more for schoolyard pranks than academic focus. He was expelled from William Lyon Mackenzie Collegiate Institute after reportedly hiring a construction crew to do work on the school while impersonating an official.
His entry into professional comedy happened almost by accident. While visiting Los Angeles in 1979, he stepped onto the stage at The Comedy Store during an amateur night. Executives from CBC spotted his frenetic, uninhibited style and booked him for a television special almost immediately. That quick success propelled him into regular touring and laid the groundwork for his transition to American screens.
Career Timeline and Major Milestones
Mandel’s resume is defined by sharp pivots across different entertainment mediums. Here is how his professional timeline unfolded across the decades:
- 1979–1980: Transitioned from carpet sales to full-time stand-up comedy, securing early television spots and his first film role in the Canadian comedy Gas.
- 1982–1988: Landed his breakout mainstream acting role as Dr. Wayne Fiscus on the critically acclaimed NBC medical drama St. Elsewhere, proving he could handle dramatic acting alongside absurdist humor.
- 1984: Voiced the iconic mogwai Gizmo in the blockbuster hit film Gremlins, a role he reprised in the 1990 sequel.
- 1990–1998: Created, executive produced, and starred in the Emmy-nominated animated Saturday morning cartoon series Bobby's World, drawing heavily on his own childhood voice personas.
- 2005–2019: Hosted the hit NBC game show Deal or No Deal, earning widespread pop-culture recognition and an Emmy nomination for his tense, playful interactions with contestants.
- 2010–Present: Joined the judging panel on America's Got Talent, securing the longest tenure of any judge in the show's history across more than 17 consecutive seasons.
Personal Life and Health Advocacy
Beyond his performance career, Mandel has spent decades openly discussing his personal battles with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Long before mental health discussions were mainstream in Hollywood, his struggles with germophobia and extreme anxiety were central to his public persona and routines.
In 2009, he published his frank, New York Times bestselling memoir, Here's the Deal: Don't Touch Me, which detailed the daily impact of his conditions. By turning his vulnerabilities into transparent conversation, he normalized conversations about neurodivergence for millions of fans. He continues to perform hundreds of live stand-up dates annually while co-hosting the Howie Mandel Does Stuff podcast with his daughter.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Howie Mandel's birthday?
Howie Mandel was born on November 29, 1955.
How long has Howie Mandel been married?
Mandel married Terry Soil in 1980. The couple met when they were teenagers and share three adult children: Jackelyn, Alex, and Riley.
Does Howie Mandel still perform stand-up comedy?
Yes. Despite his heavy television schedule on talent competitions and podcasts, Mandel maintains an active touring schedule, performing up to 200 live stand-up sets every year across North America.
Why does Howie Mandel avoid shaking hands?
Mandel lives with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and germophobia, which makes physical contact with unwashed surfaces or strangers a significant source of anxiety. He has famously used fist bumps or verbal greetings as alternatives for decades.
