Rob Weiss

Rob Weiss
Born
Occupations
  • Television and film producer
  • screenwriter
  • director
  • actor
Years active1993–present
Notable workBallers
Entourage
American Psycho
Amongst Friends

Rob Weiss is an American television and film producer, screenwriter, director, and actor. His break came in 1993 when he wrote and directed Amongst Friends. The film was well received, and Weiss was nominated 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, New York. He studied fashion and film at the Parsons School of Design but never graduated. Unemployed, he ended up living with his father in Lawrence in the Five Towns.[1] He worked briefly as a nightclub promoter on Long Island.[2]

Weiss attended Woodmere Academy with Doug Ellin, creator of the HBO series Entourage, and wrote for the show. He wrote or co-wrote episodes, including "Aquamansion", "The Bat Mitzvah", and "The Sundance Kids". He served as an executive producer or co-executive producer on 67 episodes.

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, who looks similar to Weiss.

Weiss was an executive producer on the HBO series How to Make It in America.[3]

In 2014, Weiss partnered with Davidoff to create the signature cigar line BG Meyer Cigar Co.;[4] its launch was lauded by Cigar Aficionado.[5] Deadline also reported Weiss was tapped by Sonny Barger and Fox 2000 to write and direct the feature film Hells Angels.[6]

Weiss wrote the story and produced the 2015 film adaptation of Entourage. He also served as an executive producer on 47 episodes of the HBO series Ballers from 2015-2019.

Filmography

Film
Year Title Credit Role Notes
1993
Amongst Friends Writer, Director, and Executive producer Bobby
1994
Jimmy Hollywood Himself
2000
American Psycho Co-producer
2006
Farce of the Penguins Pissed Penguin Voice role; direct-to-video
2015
Entourage Writer and Producer
Television
Year Title Credit Episodes Notes
2000
Hendrix Writer TV movie
2003
Punk'd Producer 17 episodes Season 1 and 2 only
2004-2011
Entourage Writer: 20 episodes
Executive producer: 44 episodes
Co-executive producer: 20 episodes
Producer: 15 episodes
Co-producer: 7 episodes
96 episodes Role: Audition producer (season 1, episode 8)
2010-2011
How to Make It in America Writer: 4 episodes
Executive producer: 13 episodes
16 episodes
2015-2019
Ballers Executive producer 47 episodes

References

  1. ^ Lyall, Sarah. "FILM; 'Amongst Friends' Tops Off a Journey Of Self-Discovery", The New York Times, July 18, 1993. Accessed September 18, 2008. "Born in Baldwin, near the Five Towns, Mr. Weiss dropped out of the Parsons School of Design, where he studied fashion, then film. He found himself out of work and living goallessly back at his divorced father's house in Lawrence, smack in the Five Towns."
  2. ^ Amongst Friends (1993) – Trivia
  3. ^ New York Times (February 5, 2010). "A Road to Redemption (Hint: Be Polite)". The New York Times. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  4. ^ YouTube (June 3, 2014). "Introducing the BG Meyer Co -- Legends Made". YouTube. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  5. ^ Cigar Aficionado. "New Camacho Partnership Means First Nicaraguan Puro". Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  6. ^ "'Hells Angels' Feature Rides Over To Writer-Producer Rob Weiss". Deadline Hollywood. May 21, 2014. Retrieved June 24, 2014.