Marc Weiner

Marc Weiner (; born 1955) is an American comedian, puppeteer, and actor. He is best known for performing with his "head puppets", small puppet bodies in which an actor would stick their head through a hole at the top of the puppet's head. He hosted the Nickelodeon show ''Weinerville'' from 1993 to 1997. Weiner is also known for his roles as the Map and Swiper the Fox on the Nick Jr. show ''Dora the Explorer''.

Early and personal life

Weiner was born in Queens, New York City and raised in Mahopac, New York, to a Conservative Jewish family. His father owned a plumbing supplies company in Yorktown Heights, New York. He went to Hebrew school as a child and would often entertain his classmates by doing slapstick which would get him in trouble. Weiner struggled with dyslexia in school, which made him feel isolated. As a child, Weiner was diagnosed with Legg–Calvé–Perthes disease, affecting his bones, requiring him to use crutches. Weiner attended Monmouth College, where he opened a coffee shop, dropping out in 1971. He later became a weekend cook's mate on the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, where he would entertain children, eventually earning his captain's license. Weiner later moved to Maine, where he studied at the Celebration Mime School. He lived in New Jersey at one point.

Weiner became Orthodox Jewish in the 1980s after having an epiphany about his Jewish identity. He studied Judaism and attended Lincoln Square Synagogue. He identifies as Modern Orthodox.

Weiner is married to Sandra (née Rosenblatt). They have 4 children, one of whom is deceased.

Career

Weiner began his career as a street performer, collaborating with Robin Williams, and an improv comic who performed at Comic Strip Live, Catch A Rising Star, and the Comedy Cellar in the late-1970s. In 1981, he was a writer and occasional actor on ''Saturday Night Live''. Around this time, he made an appearance on the ''Bizarre'' show with his puppet show Rockin Rocko and Tony.

Weiner wrote and hosted a children's television show called ''Weinerville'', which ran on Nickelodeon from 1993 to 1997. He also co-hosted the east-coast portion of the 1994 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards.

In 1998, Weiner made a guest appearance as himself in "Terminal", an episode of Cartoon Network/Adult Swim's ''Space Ghost Coast to Coast''.

Since the cancellation of ''Weinerville'', he has provided the voices of several characters on the Nick Jr. shows ''Dora the Explorer'', ''Go, Diego, Go!'', and '' Dora and Friends: Into the City!'', including Map, Fiesta Trio and Swiper the Fox, and starred in the show ''Wordville'', also on Nick Jr. In the UK, he starred in "Trebor Mighty Mints" commercials. Weiner also provided the voice of “The Map” in the 2019 film adaptation ''Dora and the Lost City of Gold''.

On an episode of ''Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide,'' Weiner appeared as Ned's substitute teacher from elementary school. On an episode of '' Brotherly Love,'' he appeared (as himself) as a client needing the Romans to customize his truck while putting on a small show with his puppets.

Weiner is the founder of the Empathy Labyrinth organization, which runs workshops emphasizing empathy. It is based out of Stamford, Connecticut.

After becoming Orthodox, for stand up comedy sets, Weiner performs exclusively for Jewish organizations, synagogues, private parties and fundraisers. He also does not perform on Shabbat.

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

References

Further reading

*

External links

*
*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Weiner, Marc
1952 births
Living people
20th-century American male actors
20th-century American Jews
21st-century American male actors
21st-century American Jews
American male comedians
American male television actors
American male video game actors
American male voice actors
American Orthodox Jews
Baalei teshuva
Comedians from New York (state)
Comedians from Queens, New York
Jewish American comedians
Nickelodeon people
Orthodox and Hasidic Jewish comedians