Howie Mandel Opens Up About His State Of Mind After Loss Of His Close Comedy Pals

Howie Mandel is a familiar face to viewers of American Got Talent. The 66-year-old has long served as a judge on the reality program, facilitating the development of fresh talent in the entertainment sector.

Mandel took on additional responsibilities in 2022, including hosting a new Netflix competition series, "Bullsh*t The Game Show," serving as a judge on "Canada's Got Talent" and continuing to work on his podcast, "Howie Mandel Does Stuff."

Unfortunately, Mandel's fresh beginnings coincided with the loss of his close connections with comedians Bob Saget, Louie Anderson, and Gilbert Gottfried. All three died within a year, leaving the veteran with a tremendous toll, which he recently reflected upon in an interview.

Mandel spoke on losing some of his closest friends in the comedy world during an exclusive interview with People. And although he knows that death is unavoidable for everyone, the talent show judge found it impossible to comprehend that Saget, Anderson, and Gottfried, his three closest friends, have all passed away.

"I never dreamed there would be a moment where I could list people who are just gone," says Mandel, 66, in an interview with People. "I remember being in a room with every one of those people and there was such a sense of invincibility."

Having to deal with the deaths of his friends has put a great load on Mandel's mind, as he stated in the interview. Hence why the comedian said there was no way he could articulate the anguish he felt as a result of the losses.

"Now, the silence is deafening," he added, alluding to how they can no longer share the same space. "There aren't words to describe the losses."

Mandel then explained how death transcended all societal and political constructs, individual character, and personal works, and how it applies to people of all ages.

"This just compounds the feeling of fragility," he said, reflecting on his loss. "This can all end tomorrow so it's so important to absorb each moment and each second with the people you love and care about."

Mandel's advice is noteworthy because it fully embraces the concept of living in the now, a mantra he has followed since recovering from a bad case of Covid that left him with bodily and mental health issues.

His recovery was aided by the help of his long-term partner Terry Mandel (née Soil), with whom he shares three children: daughters Jackelyn and Riley, and Alex, their son.

Mandel revealed that he enjoys spending his free time with his grandchildren Abby, 7, and Axel, 6, born to his daughter Jackelyn Shultz and her husband, Alex Shultz. The tv-personality also spends a lot of time with Jackelyn, given that she co-hosts his podcast, "Howie Mandel Does Stuff," which releases new episodes every Tuesday.

Howie and his daughter "review awful movies, share quotations from surprising places, speak with celebrities, debate Florida news, say funny things, interact with listeners [and] go deep," according to the show's description.

Jackelyn, like her father, is pursuing a career in the entertainment industry. She maintains a YouTube channel called "Life With Jackie," where she chronicles her daily activities.

While the Emmy nominee has had to prioritize his spouse, kids, and grandkids over his Hollywood career, Howie knows he still has quite a busy schedule to contend with after his family time with his loved ones. As such, he only chooses professional projects that bring him personal joy and gratification.

For Mandel, "Bullsh-t The Game Show" fulfilled this deep longing he had, and he has no regrets about signing up for the project.

"Ever since Deal or No Deal, there is a nonstop flow of game show offers that come my way," he told the news publication. "At this point in my life, I'm looking to show up for a crazy, fun gratifying experience. And Bullsh*t checked every box."

The show debuted its ten-episode series on April 27, 2022.