The story goes that huggable stand-up comedian Howie Mandel, who ran a carpet business once upon a time, began his show biz career by chance while catching amateur night at the Comedy Store on the L.A. Sunset Strip during a vacation. Goaded on by friends to try out, a producer spotted him, hired him for an appearance on the comedy game show "Make Me Laugh," and the rest is history. Talk about luck! Born in Toronto, Canada in 1955, Howie became a highly affable performer who quickly graduated to TV talk shows and Vegas gigs. Six years on, the critically-acclaimed St. Elsewhere medical drama not only increased his visibility but earned him Emmy nominations. An affinity for children led him to the Emmy-nominated animated kids' series Bobby's World serving as creator, executive producer and vocal talent. Film stardom has been elusive with silly, bumbling vehicles such as A Fine Mess, Walk Like a Man and Little Monsters failing to click with audiences. Kids, however, enjoyed his cuddly voice as Gizmo, in the Gremlins film series.

Following his own failed talk show The Howie Mandel Show during the 1998-1999 season, Howie has managed a full time schedule of concerts and comedy specials that keeps him current with today's audiences.
Color blind. Children with Terry Mandel: daughters Jackie (b. 1985) and Riley (b. 1993) son Alex (b. 1990). An alumnus of Beth David B'nai Israel Beth Am's Hebrew School where he celebrated his bar mitzvah. Once an opening act for Diana Ross in Las Vegas. He was expelled from his high school in Toronto after pretending to be from the school board and convincing a local construction company to start construction of an addition onto the high school. Suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder and mysophobia (fear of germs). As a result, he will not shake hands with people.