Howard Michael "
Howie"
Mandel (born November 29, 1955) is a Canadian comedian, actor, television host and voice actor. He is well known as host of the
NBC game show
Deal or No Deal, as well as the show's
daytime and
Canadian-English counterparts. Before his career as a game show host, Howie Mandel was best known for his role as rowdy ER intern Dr. Wayne Fiscus on the NBC medical drama
St. Elsewhere. He is also well known for being the creator and star of the children's cartoon
Bobby's World. On June 6, 2009, he hosted the
2009 Game Show Awards on
GSN. Mandel became a judge on
NBC's
America's Got Talent, replacing
David Hasselhoff, in the fifth season of the reality talent contest. Mandel has
mysophobia (an irrational fear of germs) to the point that he does not shake hands with anyone, including contestants on
Deal or No Deal, unless he is wearing latex gloves.