You’ve seen him on your TV screen for decades. Whether he’s laughing at a bizarre act on America’s Got Talent or obsessing over a suitcase on Deal or No Deal, Howie Mandel is a fixture of American entertainment. But lately, the internet has been buzzing with a specific question: what happened to Howie Mandel? Between health scares and a sudden, "somber" absence from the judging table in late 2025, fans are genuinely worried.
The truth isn't just one thing. It's a mix of a terrifying family health battle, a long-standing personal struggle with mental health, and the simple reality of a 70-year-old man who refuses to slow down.
Why Howie Mandel Disappeared from the AGT Judging Table
In September 2025, fans tuned into America's Got Talent Season 20 and saw something they weren't used to: an empty chair. Howie, who has been a judge for 16 consecutive seasons, was just... gone. Host Terry Crews had to address it immediately because the vibe in the room was visibly heavy.
"Howie’s had a loss in the family," Crews told the audience. It was a brief, vague explanation that sent social media into a tailspin. People were speculating about everything from his own health to a permanent exit from the show.
As it turns out, the family was going through a private hell that most of us had no idea about. For years, Howie and his daughter, Jackelyn Shultz, had been keeping a secret. His nine-year-old grandson, Axel, had been diagnosed with leukemia.
The Secret Battle for Axel’s Life
If you’ve watched Howie’s podcast, Howie Mandel Does Stuff, you might have noticed something odd over the last year or two. Howie and Jackelyn would often wear masks, even when guests just had a slight sniffle. People called him "dramatic" or "the world’s biggest germaphobe."
Honestly? He was just being a grandfather.
Because Axel was undergoing treatment for leukemia and had a compromised immune system, the family had to live in a literal bubble. The "loss" Terry Crews referred to was part of a broader, exhausting family crisis. Thankfully, by December 2025, Howie shared some incredible news: Axel is officially in remission. He described the journey as "heartbreaking" and "long," but they finally feel like they're on the other side of it.
The Starbucks Collapse and Physical Health Scares
It’s not just the family stuff that has people searching for what happened to Howie Mandel. He’s had his own brushes with the ER that made headlines. Back in 2021, he famously collapsed at a Starbucks in Woodland Hills.
One minute he was getting coffee with his wife, Terry, and the next he was on a gurney.
He later hopped on Twitter to clear the air: he was dehydrated and had low blood sugar. It sounds simple, but for a guy who is hyper-aware of his health, it was a wake-up call. He also underwent a colonoscopy and endoscopy around that same time, even filming parts of it (classic Howie) to encourage people to get checked.
Living with the "Incurable"
We can't talk about Howie's health without talking about his OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) and ADHD. He’s been the face of these conditions for years, but the pandemic actually pushed him to a breaking point.
During an interview with TMZ Live, he admitted he was "teetering on depression" during the lockdowns. For a germaphobe, a global pandemic is essentially a horror movie that never ends. He revealed that his wife eventually gave him an ultimatum: get more intensive therapy or the marriage was in trouble.
- The Diagnosis: He wasn't actually diagnosed until his 40s.
- The Impact: He once refused to learn to tie his shoes because the laces touched the ground.
- The Routine: He still takes medication and does psychotherapy daily.
Is He Leaving America’s Got Talent in 2026?
Despite the rumors, Howie isn't going anywhere. He is currently confirmed for Season 21 of America's Got Talent in 2026. In fact, he’s doubling down on the show.
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He recently launched a special "AGT Comedy Showcase" at the Laugh Factory in Hollywood. He’s obsessed with the fact that a comedian has never won the main show, and he’s personally scouting for the next big stand-up to break that streak.
Beyond AGT, he's also:
- Hosting the Canadian version of The Price is Right (premiering Spring 2026).
- Executive producing Deal or No Deal Island.
- Continuing his stand-up tour, performing nearly 200 shows a year.
He’s 70. He doesn't have a GED. He was expelled from high school for a prank. Yet, he's one of the busiest men in Hollywood. He often says that "doing" is what keeps the "noise" in his head at bay. If he stops working, the anxiety catches up.
What Most People Get Wrong About Howie
People think his germaphobia is a "bit" for the cameras. It’s not. He has spoken at length about how he feels like he’s "failing" as a husband and father when his OCD flares up. He once admitted he’s not proud of the "health disorders he gave his daughter," referring to the fact that Jackelyn also struggles with similar anxiety issues.
But there’s a silver lining. By being so public about his grandson’s leukemia and his own mental health battles, he’s actually removed a lot of the "scary" mystery from these topics.
Actionable Insights: What We Can Learn from Howie
Howie’s life is basically a masterclass in resilience. If you're following his story, here are a few takeaways that actually matter:
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- The "Fourth Grade Math" Rule: Howie recently told Fox News that he manages his wealth by looking at every dollar and asking, "How can this dollar make me a nickel?" He’s a big advocate for financial literacy, even without formal education.
- Health is a Job: He treats his mental health like a physical injury. He doesn't wait for it to get better; he goes to therapy and takes his meds like a professional athlete would do PT.
- Family Privacy: Even in the age of oversharing, he kept his grandson's cancer private for years to protect the child. It’s a reminder that you don't owe the world every detail of your personal trauma.
Howie Mandel is still here, still funny, and still washing his hands more than you. He’s survived a family cancer scare, a collapse in a coffee shop, and four decades of Hollywood's fickle nature. The next time you see him on AGT, know that the guy in the chair has fought a lot harder to be there than he lets on.
If you’re interested in supporting the causes Howie cares about, you can look into NOCD for mental health resources or the Children’s Hospital organizations he frequently supports following his grandson's treatment. Keeping an eye on the official America's Got Talent casting site is also the best way to see when his next comedy showcase is hitting your city.