Comedian Howie Mandel, listed on Comedy Central's list of the top 100 comedians of all time. He has had roles in comedy and dramatic TV and movies, and is currently the host of both the US and Canadian versions of the international smash hit game show "Deal or No Deal".

Howie Mandel

Date of Birth: 29 November 1955, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Just celebrated his fiftieth birthday.)
Birth Name: Howie Michael Mandel II
Height: 5' 9-1/2"
Spouses name: Terry
Children (March 1980 - present): 3, Daughters Jackie (born 1984) and Riley (born 1992) and son Alex (born 1989)
Trade Mark: Bald-Shaven Head

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.
Suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder and mysophobia (fear of germs). Will not shake hands with people.
Personal Quotes: "I'm from Canada, so Thanksgiving to me is just Thursday with more food."

Deal or No Deal host and comedian, Howie Mandel, who before getting into show business ran a small carpet business, began his career by chance while attending an amateur night gig at the Comedy Store on the L.A. Sunset Strip.

Persuaded by friends to try out, a producer spotted and hired him for an appearance on the comedy game show "Make Me Laugh," the rest is history. In 1955 Howie became a highly enjoyable performer who quickly moved on to TV talk shows and Vegas gigs. Six years hence, he obtaned another Emmy nomination for the critically-acclaimed "St. Elsewhere" (1982) medical drama.

His love for children led him to another Emmy-nominated animated kids' series "Bobby's World" (1990) serving as creator, executive producer and vocal talent.

His film carrer has been somewhat spotty, but credible with credits in movies such as A Fine Mess (1986), Walk Like a Man (1987) and Little Monsters (1989) failing to click with audiences. However, it was the Kid's who really loved him as Gizmo, in the Gremlins (1984) film series.

Following his failed talk show "The Howie Mandel Show" during the 1998-1999 season, Howie has managed a full time schedule doing concerts and comedy specials.

Howie doesn't shake hands with anyone: "Howie stated in a TV interview that he did not shave his head because he is balding but, due to his mysophobia, it helps him feel cleaner.

Where is Howie Now: (December 2005 - present) Hosting the NBC Game Show "Deal or No Deal."

Howie Mandel Trivia

Howie revealed on an episode of Rachael Ray that he still does about 280 stand up comedy performances a year as well as Deal or no Deal.

In 2008, Mandel received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Howie turned down the Deal or no Deal host gig 3 times before accepting it. (edit)

While starring on Deal or No Deal, Howie filmed a public service announcement about family communication for NBC's "The More You Know" campaign.

Howie was one of People Magazine's Sexiest Men Alive, 2006. He is found in the "Bald and Beautiful" section.

He was voted sexiest comedian amongst males through a University of Pennsylvania survey of 20,000 people.

His astrological sign is Sagittarius.

In October of 2005 it was announced that Howie would be the host of the American version of the international hit game show Deal or No Deal.

In 1988, while Howie was one of the stars, St. Elsewhere won a Television Critics Association Award for Outstanding Achievement in Drama.

St. Elsewhere, which Howie starred in, won the Peabody Award in 1985.

He has mysophobia (the fear of dirt & germs), so he does not shake hands with people.

His animated children's show Bobbie's World was nominated for a Daytime Emmy in 1998.

He won a Golden Apple Award in 1998.

St. Elsewhere, which Howie starred in, was nominated for the Outstanding Drama Series Emmy every year from 1984 through 1988.

Nominated for a Gemini award in 1998 in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Guest Role in a Dramatic Series category for an appearance on The Outer Limits.

He came in at #82 on Comedy Central's list of the 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time.

Has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. He has a fear of Germs and shaking other peoples hands. To get around this he takes to either wearing latex gloves or avoiding human contact.

Howie Mandel Quotes

Howie Mandel: My point of reference is life, in everything that I do.

Hwoie Mandel: Now I have new stories and I feel refreshed. There is talk of Bobby's world eventually coming back. I would be happy to do that.

Howie Mandel: You release these things, and if they fly then you have more.

Howie Mandel: When I went into Bobby's World, I had no idea it would be a success. I had been doing the Bobby voice as part of my nightclub adult act for years.

Howie Mandel: The success of any stand-up act comes out of life experience.

Howie Mandel: Now I have new stories and I feel refreshed. There is talk of Bobby's World eventually coming back. I would be happy to do that.

Howie Mandel: It's really not that hard. If I do a Tonight Show, it's six or seven minutes. If I do a concert, it's 90 minutes. If I do an interview, that's 15 minutes. So by the end of the day I've done three hours worth of work.

Howie Mandel: I was totally involved in Bobby's World from the time we started the idea to sitting with the artists on how he would look, to the script meetings, the music, the lyrics, the songs. (edit)

Howie Mandel: If I'm a game show host, will someone buy a ticket to see me do standup? To do a dramatic role in a movie?

Howie Mandel: I was the voice of Bobby. So while I was doing the show, I was also a father. It did reflect how I tried to handle things in my own home.

Howie Mandel: Bobby's World touched a lot of people. That's why the family's last name is Generic. Uncle Ted is based on uncles we've all had.

Howie Mandel: I needed time to stand back and go through a lot more experience in life. Then I have something to write about, joke or to animate.

Howie Mandel: Everything runs its course. We had told a lot of stories that happened in our life. My kid was getting older, and we were running out of stories to tell.

Howie Mandel: Bobby's World touched a lot of people. That's why the family's last name is Generic. Uncle Ted is based on uncles we've all had.

Howie Mandel: I'm from Canada, so Thanksgiving to me is just Thursday with more food. And I'm thankful for that.