Howie Mandel

Mandel in 2009, photo by Prphotos

Birth Name: Howard Michael Mandel

Place of Birth: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Date of Birth: November 29, 1955

Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish

Howie Mandel is a Canadian comedian, television personality, actor, and producer.

He is the son of Evy and Albert “Al” Mandel, who was a lighting manufacturer and real estage agent. He is Jewish, and his ancestors emigrated from Romania and Poland. Howie is said to be a distant cousin of Israeli violinist Itzhak Perlman.

He is married to Terry Soil, with whom he has three children.

Howie’s paternal grandfather was Shmiel “Sam” Meyer Mandel (the son of Avraham Alter Mandel and Ita Tauba Klainmitz). Avraham and Ita were Polish Jews, who were killed during The Holocaust; Ita was killed in Treblinka. Avraham was born in Lagov, Swietokrzyskie, Poland. Ita was the daughter of Asher Zelig Klainmitz, who was born in Opatów, Kielce, and of Chaya Pia Spiegel, who was born in Lagów, Kielce.

Howie’s paternal grandmother was Eva “Chava” Sara Goldhar (the daughter of Tzvi Hersh Goldhar and Fraidel Neiman). Fraidel was killed in the Holocaust.

Howie’s maternal grandfather was surnamed Miller.

Source: Genealogy of Howie Mandel (focusing on his father’s side) – http://www.geni.com