Rob Weiss is an American television and film producer, screenwriter, actor, and director. His break came in 1993 when he wrote and directed the 1993 film ''

Amongst Friends ''Amongst Friends'' is a 1993 film written and directed by Rob Weiss and starring Patrick McGaw, JosephLindsey, Steve Parlavecchio, and Mira Sorvino. Plot Andy, Trevor, and Billy are childhood friends. As young adults, Billy sells drugs and A ...

''. The film was well received at film festivals and scored Weiss a nomination for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.

Life and career

Weiss, the eldest son of Lydia and Carl Weiss, was born in

Baldwin, Nassau County, New York Baldwin is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) located in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, on Long Island, in New York, United States. The population was 33,919 at the time of the 2020 census. History Original inhabitants of the ...

. He attended the Parsons School of Design, studying fashion and film, but never graduated. Unemployed, he ended up living with his father in

Lawrence Lawrence may refer to: Education Colleges and universities * Lawrence Technological University, a university in Southfield, Michigan, United States * Lawrence University, a liberal arts university in Appleton, Wisconsin, United States Preparator ...

in the

Five Towns The Five Towns is an informal grouping of villages and hamlets in Nassau County, United States on the South Shore of western Long Island adjoining the border with Queens County in New York City. Although there is no official Five Towns de ...

. He has attended both film and design school and worked as a promoter on Long Island, in New York City. Weiss attended Woodmere Academy with

Doug Ellin Douglas Reed Ellin (born April 6, 1968) is an American podcaster, screenwriter and film and TV director, known best for creating the HBO television series ''Entourage''. Ellin also served as executive producer, director, head writer and supp ...

, creator of the HBO series ''

Entourage An entourage () is an informal group or band of people who are closely associated with a (usually) famous, notorious, or otherwise notable individual. The word can also refer to: Arts and entertainment * L'entourage, French hip hop / rap collecti ...

,'' and wrote for the show. He wrote (or co-wrote) episodes including "Aquamansion", "The Bat Mitzvah" and "The Sundance Kids". In an August 2007 ''New York Observer'' interview with Ellin, he confirms that Weiss was the basis for the character of Billy Walsh, a perfectionist filmmaker who was a recurring character on the series. Ellin even asked Weiss if he'd play Walsh, but Weiss declined. Instead, the role went to

Rhys Coiro John Rhys Coiro (born March 12, 1979) is an American film, television, and stage actor. He began acting on Broadway but is best known for on-screen roles such as Billy Walsh on the television series ''Entourage''. Early life Born in Santo Stefa ...

, who looks similar to Weiss. Weiss was an executive producer on the HBO comedy-drama, ''

How to Make It in America ''How to Make It in America'' is an American comedy-drama television series that ran on HBO from February 14, 2010, to November 20, 2011. The series follows the lives of Ben Epstein ( Bryan Greenberg) and his friend Cam Calderon ( Victor Rasuk) a ...

''. In 2014 Weiss partnered with Davidoff of Geneva to create the signature cigar line BG Meyer Cigar Co.; its launch was lauded by ''

Cigar Aficionado ''Cigar Aficionado'' is an American magazine that is dedicated to enjoying the good life and the world of cigars. Published since September 1992, the magazine is known for its profiles on celebrities including Michael Jordan, Jack Nicholson, Th ...

''. ''

Deadline Deadline(s) or The Deadline(s) may refer to: * Time limit, a narrow field of time by which an objective must be accomplished Arts, entertainment, and media Comics * Deadline (DC Comics), a fictional villain * ''Deadline'' (magazine), a British ...

'' also reported Weiss was tapped by Sonny Barger and Fox 2000 to write and direct the feature film ''Hells Angels''. Weiss wrote the story and produced the film adaptation of ''Entourage'' (2015), and will executive produce the 2015

Dwayne Johnson Dwayne Douglas Johnson (born May 2, 1972), also known by his ring name The Rock, is an American actor and former professional wrestler. Widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, he was integral to the develop ...

show, ''

Ballers ''Ballers'' is an American sports comedy drama television series created by Stephen Levinson and starring Dwayne Johnson as Spencer Strasmore, a retired NFL player who must navigate his new career of choice as the financial manager of other NF ...

''.

Filmography

References

External links

* * http://blogs.trb.com/entertainment/tv/cable/blog/2007/08/qa_with_entourage_writerproduc.html {{DEFAULTSORT:Weiss, Rob Television producers from New York City American television writers American male screenwriters Film producers from New York (state) Parsons School of Design alumni People from Baldwin, Nassau County, New York Year of birth missing (living people) Living people People from Lawrence, Nassau County, New York American male television writers Film directors from New York (state) Screenwriters from New York (state) Lawrence Woodmere Academy alumni