Howie Mandel’s career is defined by his struggle with OCD and germophobia
In short: From voicing Gizmo in Gremlins to judging America's Got Talent, Howie Mandel has built a massive entertainment career. Yet, his public persona is inseparable from his private battle with mysophobia and OCD. He has turned his intense fear of germs into a subject of comedy, therapy, and public advocacy.
Born in Toronto in 1955, Howie Mandel rose from a carpet salesman to a stand-up comedian known for a wild, borderline psychotic stage presence. His early career included voicing characters in Gremlins and creating the animated series Bobby's World. By 2005, he became the face of the American version of Deal or No Deal, a role that frequently highlighted his struggle with mysophobia, as he famously refused to shake hands with contestants without wearing latex gloves.
Mandel’s germophobia, which he describes as a lifelong condition, may have been triggered by a traumatic childhood incident in Florida where he discovered larvae moving beneath his skin. This fear is so profound that he maintains a separate, smaller house on his property for solitude when family members are ill. He has also shaved his head since 1999, not due to hair loss, but because it makes him feel cleaner. Despite the challenges, he has used his platform to de-stigmatize mental health, openly discussing his OCD and ADHD diagnosis.
His career has been marked by a willingness to confront his condition on screen. He has participated in hypnotism acts on America's Got Talent that targeted his fears and guest-starred on the show Monk, which he credited with helping him feel less alone. Beyond entertainment, Mandel has become a vocal advocate for mental health, partnering with the company NOCD and supporting initiatives like Bell's Let's Talk Day. He has also written an autobiography, Here's the Deal: Don't Touch Me, detailing his life with OCD and comedy.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Howie Mandel
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