While on a trip to Los Angeles in 1979, the then curly-haired Canadian made a splash on amateur night at the Comedy Store. Soon the neophyte funnyman was booking professional gigs both on stage and TV. In 1982 he was cast in a dramatic role on St. Elsewhere, and during the series' six seasons, he made a number of TV comedy specials and branched out onto the big screen in a string of tepid comedies (The Funny Farm, A Fine Mess). In the '90s Mandel signed on to a variety of short-lived TV projects including a sitcom (Good Grief) and an eponymous daytime talk show, but none — save for his Emmy-nominated animated series Bobby's World — were able to successfully harness his affable comic talents. Mandel kept busy with frequent talk-show appearances and live shows but didn't reenter the spotlight until 2005 when he became the host of the wildly popular (if convoluted) game show Deal or No Deal.