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Howie Mandel Is Nearly Unrecognizable In This Epic '70s Throwback Pic
The comedian was donning some rockstar-worthy hair decades prior to his AGT days.
Recently, America's Got Talent Judge Howie Mandel caused quite a stir after throwing it back to the 1970s when he was sporting some seriously luscious locks during his earliest days as an entertainer.
Yes, nowadays, Mandel may be known for his iconic baldness, but for the young star hair was yet another asset. Mandel shared a pic of his 17-year-old self to Instagram, looking like he's gearing up for an exciting wrestling match. But casting Mandel's wrestling fit and youthful face to the side, the young Mandel's long 'do steals the spotlight.
Needless to say, the juxtaposition between young Mandel and the AGT Judge we know and love today is quite spectacular. It's hard to take your eyes away from the throwback pic, which Mandel simply captioned, "This is me 1972."
Mandel was born in Toronto, Ontario and quickly dove into the world of stand-up comedy in his early 20s. After getting booked for a gig in an L.A. comedy club, Mandel took his uproarious act to the U.S. In 1982, Mandel's stand-up routine evolved into a side-splitting acting career, first skyrocketing to fame for his role as Dr. Wayne Fiscus in St. Elsewhere. In the decades since, Mandel has become an all-around entertainment tycoon, appearing in film, television, and more.
Flash forward to 2023, and Mandel is the proud host of the Howie Mandel Does Stuff Podcast and living the life as an AGT Judge alongside executive producer Simon Cowell, Heidi Klum, Sofia Vergara, and Host Terry Crews. The AGT family is gearing up for an exciting Season 18, and fans are pumped to see the new lineup of talent on the horizon.
Mandel has been an AGT Judge since 2010, so he has more than a decade of experience scouting talent. He's seen some larger-than-life Acts throughout his AGT run, so he knows how to keep it grounded. In November 2022, Mandel opened up about his AGT methodology for Auditions.
“My general thought is, ‘I’m always right because it’s instinctual at the moment,'” Mandel explained to KTLA 5. “Talent is subjective. I may love something that you will hate. If it makes me feel good and I respond to it and I’m blown away by it, how could I be wrong? How could anybody be wrong?”
It doesn't hurt that he has some amazing backup with his AGT panel, who all individually represent different realms of entertainment.
“On the panel, there is something for everybody. Simon is the boss and he’s the music mogul, Sofia has been in the business forever, Heidi is this great brilliant, not only a supermodel but a business person and brand ambassador," Mandel concluded. "For me, it’s all about the public."
America's Got Talent Season 18 premieres Tuesday, May 30 at 8/7c on NBC and the next day on Peacock.
