You know him from TV shows, movies and “Deal or No Deal” and “America’s Got Talent,” but did you know that Howie Mandel’s entire career was launched just because he accepted a dare to go on stage during open mic night at a comedy club?
He says before that night, he really had never thought about a show-business career. But he quickly realized that he was born for stand-up.
“Everything I’ve ever been expelled for or gotten in trouble for, I now get paid for,” he tells Growing Bolder.
Howie is almost just as famous for his admission that he suffers from ADHD and obsessive-compulsive disorder. He opens up about these issues in his book, “Here’s the Deal: Don’t Touch Me.”
Howie says he never meant to become the face of OCD. In fact, he accidentally revealed that he had OCD during a radio interview several years ago, and he immediately feared that his family and career would suffer from the repercussions of the disclosure.
He says OCD has taught him that there are things in life that make all of us get stuck. But if you can just learn to move on, career-wise, relationship-wise, etc., and just go for it, your life will be much richer.
Find out how he copes with his conditions and what habits he still struggles to control. Plus, find out why he now keeps his head shaved.