Howie Mandel

Canadian actor and comedian Howie Mandel began hosting NBC's game show Deal or No Deal in 2005. In the 1980s, he played the role of the young intern Dr. Wayne Fiscus on long-running medical drama series, St. Elsewhere. Prior to his film and television career, Mandel was discovered in 1979 at The Comedy Store in Los Angeles, California, during amateur night. He started stand up comedy in at Toronto's YukYuks in 1978. http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/734262--howie-mandel-s-good-clean-fun. Mandel is a germophobic with OCD, who is afraid to shake hands with other people. About 10 years ago he had to admit his OCD in the The Howard Stern Show . http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/734262--howie-mandel-s-good-clean-fun

Mandel was briefly hospitalized on January 12, 2009 after an an irregular heartbeat was discovered during a regular check-up but after it was determined he did not have a heart attack, he was released.People: Germaphobe Howie Mandel (January 15, 2009)

• 2005: Deal or No Deal
• 1990: Created, produced, and provided the voice for the animated cartoon Bobby's World
• 1982 - 1988: St. Elsewhere
• 1984: Voice of Gizmo in Gremlins
• 1986: A Fine Mess
• 1987: Walk Like a Man
• 1989: Little Monsters

• During an insurance-mandated medical examination in Toronto in January 2009, it was discovered that Mandel had an irregular heartbeat. Mandel was taken to a hospital and after an EKG test, he an cardioversion was performed to shock his heartbeat back to normal. However, shortly after Mandel was released from the hospital, he passed out in the lobby of his hotel and had to be readmitted to the hospital. Fortunately, his loss of consciousness was a result of dehydration in combination to a reaction to his medication rather than a heart attack. An acknowledged germaphone, Mandel found the entire experience "really hard." He admitted, "I wouldn't put on the gown or the customary clothing. I remained clothed and in my boots on the gurney and in the hospital"People: Germaphobe Howie Mandel (January 15, 2009)

• Note: The majority of the links in this timeline are to IMDb, which has pop-ups.

• November 29, 1955: Born. Toronto, Canada

• 1984: Gremlins

• 1984-1987: Muppet Babies

• 1982-1988: St. Elsewhere

• 1989: Little Monsters

• 1990: Bobby's World

• 1996: Harrison Bergeron

• 2004: Pinocchio 3000

• 2005: Hidden Howie

• 2006-Present: Deal Or No Deal

Howie Mandel's memoir, 'Here's the Deal, don't touch me is out. In this biography, he reveals his on- going mental issues. He sufferes from Obsessive compulsive disorder and Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. He said best way to deal with such issues is a good laugh. http://www.cbc.ca/arts/books/story/2009/12/07/howie-mandel.html