Howie Mandel regularly livens up our television screens, but when he’s at home, he’s focused on his wife, Terry Mandel, who’s stood by her husband Howie’s side for more than 40 years. The adorable couple met in high school, and sparks have been flying ever since.
Known through the years for his crazy hijinks on America’s Got Talent, Howie also brings his frank and funny sense of humor to his relationship with his beloved wife, Terry. Between countless comedy specials, fourteen consecutive seasons of AGT, and time on Canada’s Got Talent, the two make sure to spend plenty of quality time together.
Who is this comedic star’s better half and what is their secret to success? Read on to learn more about Terry Mandel.
Who is Terry Mandel?
Terry Mandel grew up in Toronto, Canada, and is a talent agent and producer. She met husband Howie at a concession stand when she was a preteen.
“We were in line to buy French fries at the snack shop at the Y, and I didn’t have enough money, so I borrowed a quarter from her, and I’ve been paying her back ever since,” Howie joked to the Streets of Toronto in March 2023.
It took a few years for a romance to blossom, but Howie’s persistence paid off, and they started dating in high school.
Always one to make an impression, Howie’s first date with Terry was more thrilling — and dangerous — than most first dates.
“We drove to the movies in my mother’s Cutlass Supreme. The car hit an ice patch and wound up teetering on its side before coming down on four wheels,” he told The Wall Street Journal in 2018. Perhaps at that point, Terry knew there would never be a dull moment with Howie.
They both attended high school at the William Lyon Mackenzie Collegiate Institute in Toronto. However, Howie was expelled before graduating for impersonating a school official and “hiring” a construction company to build an addition to the school.
Terry went on to Harvard University to pursue a degree.
Terry and Howie’s Wedding
Terry shares Howie’s sense of humor and is not one for syrupy displays of affection. When describing how he popped the question back in the day, Howie told Streets of Toronto they were at a deli, and he put a loose diamond on the table. He said, “I got to go to the bathroom, but if you want to make a ring go ahead.”
He added, “I’m not a romantic; neither of us is romantic. One time in 43 years, I brought flowers home, and she said, “Where did you get these?” The truth is, I did take them from the set that I was working on.”
The two married in 1980 in Toronto.
Terry and Howie Mandel’s Children
Terry and Howie have three grown kids together, Jackelyn Shultz, born in 1984, Alex in 1989, and Riley, born in 1992. Two of the couple’s kids follow in their footsteps and work in the entertainment industry.
Jackelyn hosts a podcast with her dad, Howie Mandel Does Stuff, and Alex is an actor and director. The youngest daughter, Riley, is a physical therapist and personal trainer.
The two also provide a home for multiple pets. According to Howie, Terry has a massive soft spot for animals, outshining even his enthusiasm for animal rescue.
“She calls it ‘rescuing’. I call it ‘taking’. She takes any animal in her path,” he joked to Pet Lifestyles Magazine in 2019. “I can’t tell you the number of animals that have been through our household. Name a species, it has been here.”
Terry passed on this admirable trait to her son, Alex, who posts about animals on his YouTube channel.
All jokes aside, when asked his secret to success, Howie told Streets of Toronto, “The secret for me is my wife… If there are any awards to be given out, please give them to my wife. She deserves it. I appreciate her and feel like the luckiest guy in the world.”
