Howie Mandel returns as a judge on "America's Got Talent," NBC's top-rated summer reality competition series, which brings the variety format back to the forefront of American culture. Mandel is also well known as the host of the popular game show "Deal or No Deal," which airs five days a week in national syndication. Mandel received a primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Reality/Competition Host and a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Game Show Host for the syndicated version of the show. Currently, Mandel is the host and executive producer of the upcoming Fox special "Mobbed," scheduled to premiere after "American Idol" in March.
Mandel's versatile career has encompassed virtually all aspects of the entertainment spectrum, including television, film and stage. From his work on the Emmy-award winning "St. Elsewhere," to the international animated children's series "Bobby's World," Mandel has become a mainstay of the American comedy scene. In 2009, Mandel added another title to his resume, author, when he released his frank, funny, no-holds-barred memoir "Here's the Deal: Don't Touch Me." The memoir that revealed his ongoing struggle with OCD and ADHD - and how it has shaped his life and career - made the New York Times Bestseller list on its first week and remained on the list for several consecutive weeks.
Mandel started his career on a dare during a trip to Los Angeles in 1979. He was at the legendary Comedy Store on amateur night and Mandel was coaxed by his friends to get up and try his luck. As fate would have it, there was a producer in the crowd who immediately hired him to appear on the comedy game-show "Make Me Laugh." His appearance on the show led to talk show appearances, a stint as Diana Ross' opening act and eventually to the television series, "St. Elsewhere," where Mandel spent six seasons as Dr. Wayne Fiscus on the award-winning NBC drama.
Howie Mandel's Emmy Award-nominated animated children series, "Bobby's World," ran for eight seasons and now appears in syndication six days a week in 65 countries. As the series' creator and executive producer, Mandel was closely involved in its writing, as well as providing the voice of Bobby, Bobby's dad and other characters. Mandel attributes the show's success to drawing the story lines from real life.
Mandel has done countless comedy specials both on cable and network television. He has also hosted his own syndicated talk show, "The Howie Mandel Show," and continues to be a mainstay on the talk show circuit. He frequently appears on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," performing his signature hidden-camera bits. He also is one of the first people that Regis calls to fill in for him when he takes a vacation from "Live with Regis and Kelly." Mandel also continues to perform as many as 200 concerts a year throughout the U.S. and Canada.
He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Terry, and their three children.
