Howie Mandel

Birthday: 29 November 1955, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Birth Name: Howie Michael Mandel II

Height: 176 cm

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 (1982) 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 (1990) serving as creator, executive producer and vocal talent. Film stardom has been elusive with silly, bumbling vehicles such as A Fine Mess (1986), Walk Like a Man (1987) and Little Monsters (1989) failing to click with audiences. Kids, however, enjoyed his cuddly voice as Gizmo, in the Gremlins (1984) film series.Following his own failed talk show The Howie Mandel Show (1998) 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. Show less «

I thought that was funny, but nobody else did. I was mostly entertaining myself, though. My parents ...Show more »

I thought that was funny, but nobody else did. I was mostly entertaining myself, though. My parents both had a great sense of humor, and always laughed a lot. One night, when they were watching Candid Camera, I finally understood what comedy was all about. I heard the laughter on television, I turned around and saw my parents laughing, and that's when I thought: 'This is great. This is what I can do. I'm gonna prank somebody.' Show less «

[If he joked a lot when he was attending school]: Yes, but nobody thought I was that funny. I was ki...Show more »

[If he joked a lot when he was attending school]: Yes, but nobody thought I was that funny. I was kind of a misfit, actually. When you're young, you want to be like everybody else, and I was like nobody else. I couldn't sit still. I was impulsive. I still am. What is now called a 'talent' did not serve me well as a child. I didn't have friends. I was really an outcast. Show less «

[Who always gave a damn, about adoring Norman Lloyd, who starred in St. Elsewhere (1982)]: I love No...Show more »

[Who always gave a damn, about adoring Norman Lloyd, who starred in St. Elsewhere (1982)]: I love Norman Lloyd. He is a legend. I have spent hours like a little kid while he regaled us with stories of Hitchcock. He teaches, he entertains. He is a legend! Show less «

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

I don't believe anybody's actually reading this magazine online. If they're online, they're looking ...Show more »

I don't believe anybody's actually reading this magazine online. If they're online, they're looking at porn. [laughter] ABILITY is what they click to when their wife comes into the room: What are you doing? Reading that article from ABILITY, honey. Show less «

[Of Norman Lloyd]: Norman Lloyd is a great actor and is still around and certainly he was like a rea...Show more »

[Of Norman Lloyd]: Norman Lloyd is a great actor and is still around and certainly he was like a really good friend. He could regale us as stores -- He was in 'Spellbound' - Alfred Hitchcock's Spellbound (1945). He had great old Hollywood stories and connections that none of us 'youngins' had the experience. It was just fun to sit around and talk to him and hear the stories, I don't know if he was like a grandfather, he never lend me money or anything like that. He was certainly great to work with him, whenever I bump into him still, it's always a thrill. Show less «

[Who was leery about Deal or No Deal (2005)'s structure, until Rob first explained to him]: I though...Show more »

[Who was leery about Deal or No Deal (2005)'s structure, until Rob first explained to him]: I thought it was a joke. Rob had this project board that looked like it had been made by an eight-year-old doing a school arts and crafts project. It made what I now know to be 'the board.' There were all these numbers and amounts on the board, and he cut out these little cards, which were the cases...I was looking at my buddy who I was sitting with, and I was going, 'This is a joke. I'm waiting for Ashton Kutcher to come around any minute.' Then [Rob] started playing the game with me, and I started getting into the game. Show less «

[on his on- and off-screen chemistry with Norman Lloyd, who played Dr. Daniel Auschlander]: He was v...Show more »

[on his on- and off-screen chemistry with Norman Lloyd, who played Dr. Daniel Auschlander]: He was very inspirational between scenes, always cheering up everybody, and always smiles when Norman Lloyd passed through! Show less «

Howie Mandel

Howie Mandel's FILMOGRAPHY

Howie Mandel'S roles

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