Terry Mandel (born Terry Soil on August 26, 1955) has been Howie Mandel’s wife since March 16, 1980 — a marriage spanning 45 years and counting. She is a Canadian-born talent agent, producer, and the quiet force behind some of Howie’s biggest career moves, including persuading him to host Deal or No Deal after he turned the offer down three times.
The couple made headlines in June 2024 when Howie revealed on Live With Kelly and Mark that he had found his wife in a pool of blood after a frightening fall in their Las Vegas hotel room months earlier. Some outlets ran alarming headlines suggesting Howie Mandel found his wife dead, but Terry was conscious throughout and has since fully recovered.
Beyond the tabloid moments, Terry’s story involves a teenage romance at a Toronto McDonald’s, three children who have carved out their own paths, and a mental health ultimatum that may have saved Howie’s life.
Who Is Terry Mandel? Age, Nationality, and Background
Terry Mandel is a 70-year-old Canadian talent agent and producer born in Toronto, Ontario. Her maiden name is Soil, and she shares Howie’s Jewish faith and Toronto roots. Both attended William Lyon Mackenzie Collegiate Institute, though Terry later earned a business degree from Harvard University.
Before entering the entertainment industry, Terry built experience in retail and real estate. She eventually transitioned into talent management through Abstract Talent, the agency the Mandels operate together in Los Angeles. Her producer credits include Howie Mandel: Live from Carnegie Mall (1985) and the game show Tattletales.
| Detail | Terry Mandel |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Terry Soil |
| Date of birth | August 26, 1955 |
| Age | 70 (as of 2026) |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Hometown | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Religion | Jewish |
| Height | 5 ft 3 in (160 cm) |
| Education | William Lyon Mackenzie Collegiate Institute; Harvard University |
| Occupation | Talent agent, producer |
| Marriage date | March 16, 1980 |
| Children | 3 — Jackelyn, Alex, Riley |
How Terry and Howie Met and Married
Terry Soil and Howie Mandel first crossed paths at a McDonald’s in Toronto when she was about 14 and he was 12. Howie was short a couple of bucks for French fries, and Terry lent him the money. “She lent me money,” Howie told Today with Hoda and Jenna in 2022. “And I’ve been paying her back ever since.”
He started asking her out. She kept saying no. Howie was known as a class clown who pulled outrageous pranks — he was eventually expelled from their shared high school — and Terry wasn’t interested in the chaos. She finally agreed to a date when he was 19.
That first date nearly ended things. Howie drove his mother’s Cutlass Supreme to the movies on an icy Toronto night, and the car spun out of control. Terry thought the whole thing was deliberate. Somehow, it wasn’t a dealbreaker.
The proposal was vintage Howie. Sitting in a Toronto deli, he placed a loose diamond on the table and said, “I got to go to the bathroom, but if you want to make a ring, go ahead.” Terry married him on March 16, 1980. For their honeymoon, they went to Yuk Yuk’s comedy club, where Howie performed with Terry sitting onstage beside him.
Howie Mandel’s Wife and Children: The Mandel Family
Terry and Howie Mandel are parents to three adult children and grandparents to at least three grandchildren. Their kids have taken markedly different paths — entertainment, content creation, and healthcare — but all three remain close with their parents.
- Jackelyn Shultz (born 1984) — The eldest daughter married Alex Shultz and has two children, Abbey and Axel. She has worked alongside Howie on America’s Got Talent production. Both Jackelyn and Howie share OCD diagnoses, which the family has discussed openly.
- Alex Mandel (born 1989) — The only son launched a YouTube vlog in 2013 and has produced content ranging from comedy stunts to family challenges. He returned to posting in 2024 with a $25,000 Easter egg challenge video.
- Riley Ehrlich (born 1992) — The youngest daughter earned a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Chapman University, winning an academic excellence award. She works as a holistic health coach and personal trainer. Riley was expecting the family’s third grandchild as of January 2024.
Howie has credited Terry’s intelligence for their children’s academic success, noting that he “set the example of what not to do” since he never graduated high school. According to a 2008 interview with Parade, Terry was the parent who enforced structure and discipline while Howie handled the humor.
The Pool of Blood: Terry’s Las Vegas Hotel Fall
In February 2024, Terry Mandel suffered a severe fall in a Las Vegas hotel room that left Howie describing one of the most frightening nights of his life. He revealed the incident on Live With Kelly and Mark on June 17, 2024, and the story dominated entertainment headlines for weeks.
The couple had been partying in Las Vegas earlier that evening. In the middle of the night, Terry got up from bed — Howie later clarified she had consumed cannabis gummies, not alcohol — lost her balance, and walked straight into a wall. She hit the wainscoting on the way down, struck her eye, slammed onto the floor, and broke her cheek.
“I heard ‘Bang!’ and then ‘Ah!'” Howie recounted to the studio audience. “I turn on the light, I look around the bed. She’s in the corner, face down, and I didn’t know she’d cut her head. But blood is pooling.”
What Howie found was far worse than a bruise. The gash on Terry’s forehead was deep enough to expose her skull. “You could actually see her skull,” he said. “It opened up.”
He picked her up, laid her on the bed, and grabbed every towel in the room — all of which were immediately soaked with blood. Terry kept repeating “Get me ice, get me ice.” The only cold items Howie could find were soda cans from the mini fridge. She threw them across the room.
When Howie called the front desk begging for 911, hotel security arrived first. The scene — blood everywhere, the TV tuned to Snapped (a true crime show) — looked alarming. Howie told security, “I love my wife,” and pleaded with them to get medical help. He rushed Terry to the hospital, where she told the doctor she couldn’t see on her left side. The doctor’s reply: “Just take the sheet off your face.”
The next day on TMZ Live, Howie corrected the record. “She wasn’t drunk,” he said. “She took gummies.” Terry had been worried viewers would assume she had an alcohol problem, so Howie clarified publicly that cannabis edibles were responsible.
Terry made a full recovery. “She is absolutely perfect,” Howie said. “There is not a scar. She is beautiful.” According to the Daily Mail (April 2025), the couple was photographed together in Malibu looking relaxed and fully recovered — the first public sighting since the accident.
Terry Mandel Today: Health Update and Current Life
Terry Mandel is alive, healthy, and still married to Howie as of 2026. The Las Vegas fall in February 2024 was a medical scare, not a permanent setback, and multiple sources confirm she made a complete recovery without scarring.
Howie, now 70, continues his role as a judge on America’s Got Talent — a position he has held since 2010. His AGT salary is a reported $70,000 per episode (roughly $1.7 million per season) according to Celebrity Net Worth, and his overall net worth sits at an estimated $60 million. He also serves as executive producer on Deal or No Deal Island. Terry remains active through Abstract Talent and continues her involvement in the family’s professional ventures. The latest Howie Mandel wife news confirms the couple is doing well heading into 2026.
The couple lives in the Hidden Hills community in Los Angeles. Howie has joked in multiple interviews that the secret to their long marriage is his travel schedule. “I’m gone a lot,” he told Good Housekeeping. But he has also said, with genuine sincerity, that Terry’s wit and humor are what made him realize she was the person he wanted to spend his life with.
How Terry Convinced Howie to Take Deal or No Deal
Howie Mandel turned down the Deal or No Deal hosting job three separate times before Terry intervened. She saw something in the format that he couldn’t — a show built around energy, human drama, and zero scripted jokes, tailor-made for his personality.
“She said, ‘Just go do it, and it doesn’t matter if it’s embarrassing,'” Howie recalled on The Magnificent Others podcast. “‘Just go do it. Just be busy, be amongst people, try to be creative.'”
The show premiered on NBC in December 2005 and became a massive hit, drawing over 10 million viewers per episode at its peak. For Howie, it meant a mainstream resurgence. The format also happened to align with his OCD — no physical contact with contestants was required — though that was coincidental rather than planned.
Terry’s judgment call on Deal or No Deal wasn’t casual spousal encouragement. As a working talent agent, she made a professional assessment that the show was right for him. Howie has publicly credited her with the single biggest career decision he almost walked away from.
Frequently Asked Questions About Howie Mandel’s Wife
What is Howie Mandel’s wife’s name?
Howie Mandel’s wife is Terry Mandel, born Terry Soil. They married on March 16, 1980, in Toronto, Canada. Terry is Howie’s first and only wife — he has never been divorced or had a previous marriage.
Is Howie Mandel’s wife alive and okay?
Terry Mandel is alive and doing well as of 2026. She fully recovered from a fall in a Las Vegas hotel room in February 2024 that caused a broken cheek and head laceration. Howie confirmed she healed completely with no scarring. The couple was photographed together in Malibu in April 2025 looking healthy.
Is Howie Mandel’s wife Canadian?
Terry Mandel is Canadian, born and raised in Toronto, Ontario — the same city where Howie grew up. Both attended William Lyon Mackenzie Collegiate Institute. The Mandels are of Jewish faith and currently reside in Hidden Hills, Los Angeles.
What does Terry Mandel do for a living?
Terry Mandel works as a talent agent at Abstract Talent and has producer credits on several of Howie’s projects, including Howie Mandel: Live from Carnegie Mall. Before entertainment, she worked in retail and real estate. She holds a business degree from Harvard University.
How much does Howie Mandel make on America’s Got Talent?
Howie Mandel earns a reported $70,000 per episode of America’s Got Talent, which works out to approximately $1.7 million per season based on 24 episodes. His overall net worth is estimated at $60 million as of 2025, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
How old are Howie and Terry Mandel?
Howie Mandel was born on November 29, 1955, making him 70 years old. Terry Mandel was born on August 26, 1955, also making her 70. Both were born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. For those curious about Howie Mandel’s height and weight: he stands 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) and weighs approximately 170 lbs (77 kg).
What happened to Howie Mandel’s wife in the Las Vegas hotel?
In February 2024, Terry Mandel fell in their Las Vegas hotel room after consuming cannabis gummies. She hit her head on the wainscoting, broke her cheek, and sustained a deep forehead laceration that exposed her skull. Howie found her in a pool of blood and rushed her to the hospital. She recovered fully.
How many kids does Howie Mandel have?
Howie and Terry Mandel have three children: Jackelyn Shultz (born 1984), Alex Mandel (born 1989), and Riley Ehrlich (born 1992). They also have at least three grandchildren through Jackelyn and Riley.
What does Howie Mandel’s wife look like?
Terry Mandel is 5 ft 3 in tall with brown hair and brown eyes. She has maintained a relatively low public profile compared to Howie but has appeared alongside him at numerous red carpet events, award shows, and in his social media posts. Howie Mandel wife pictures and photos are available through Getty Images and major entertainment outlets — search any Howie Mandel and wife photo set and Terry appears poised and camera-comfortable beside him.
What is the religion of Howie Mandel’s wife?
Terry Mandel is Jewish, the same faith as Howie. The Mandel family’s Jewish heritage is from Polish and Romanian roots. Their shared faith has been a consistent thread through their family life and the upbringing of their three children.
A Partnership Built to Last
Terry Mandel has spent 45 years as Howie Mandel’s wife, business partner, and — by his own repeated admission — the person most responsible for the biggest turning points in his life. She pushed him into psychiatric treatment when his OCD nearly destroyed their family. She talked him into hosting the show that revived his career. And when she ended up in a hospital after a terrifying fall in Las Vegas, Howie’s public reaction made one thing clear: despite those panicked moments when he feared the loss of his wife, she remains, as he put it, “the love of my life. This is everything I have.”
