Marc Weiner (/ˈwiːnər/; born 1952)[1] 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 on the Nick Jr. show Dora the Explorer.
Marc Weiner | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1952 (age 71–72) New York City, U.S. |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1970s–present |
| Children | 4 |
Early and personal life
editWeiner was born in Queens, New York City and raised in Mahopac, New York, to a Conservative Jewish family.[2][3][4] 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-Calve-Perthes disease, affecting his bones, requiring him to use crutches. He had missed many days of school due to the condition. When he was nine years old, his family took a trip to Disneyland and volunteered to assist a magician performing. Weiner attended Monmouth College, where he opened a coffeeshop, 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.[5][3]
Weiner became Orthodox Jewish in the 1980s after having an epiphany about his Jewish identity. He would study Judaism and attend Lincoln Square Synagogue.[6] He identifies as Modern Orthodox.
Weiner was married to Sandra (née Rosenblatt). They have 4 children, one of whom is deceased.[7] After Marc and Sandra’s divorce, Marc began reading “Non Violent Communications” which later he created “The Empathy Labyrinth” which teaches how to communicate and acknowledge your feelings and emotions. Still to this day he gives counselings.
Career
editWeiner 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.[8] 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.[9]
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.[10]
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
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Nick Jr. Holiday | The Map / Swiper / Fiesta Trio | Direct-to-video; voice |
| 2005 | Dora the Explorer: Dance to the Rescue | Map / Swiper / Fiesta Trio | |
| 2019 | Dora and the Lost City of Gold | Map | Voice |
| 2023 | Dora and the Fantastical Creatures | Swiper | Short film; voice |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Saturday Night Live | Rocko Weineretto / Weindulah | 3 episodes |
| 1989 | The Jim Henson Hour | Rocko / Himself | "First Show/Miss Piggy's Hollywood" |
| 1993 | The Weinerville New Year's Eve Party | Dotty | Television film |
| 1995 | The Weinerville Chanukah Special | Boney / Cocktail Frank / Dotty | |
| 1996 | The Weinerville New Year's Special: Lost in the Big Apple | Boney / Captain Bob / Cocktail Frank | |
| 1996 | The Weinerville Election Special: From Washington B.C. | Dottie / Boney / Socko | |
| 2000–2019 | Dora the Explorer | Swiper / Map / Fiesta Trio | 140 episodes |
| 2006 | Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide | Mr. Weiner | Episode: "Substitute Teachers and the New Kid" |
| 2006–2009 | Go, Diego, Go! | Map / Booby Birds / Animals | 3 episodes |
| 2007–2009 | The Naked Brothers Band | Captain Woodchucksword | 42 episodes |
| 2008 | Dora Saves the Snow Princess | Map / Swiper / Fiesta Trio | Television film |
| 2014 | Dora and Friends: Into the City! | Map App | 9 episodes |
| 2024 | Dora | Swiper[11] |
Video games
edit| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Dora the Explorer: Barnyard Buddies | Swiper the Fox / Map |
| 2005 | Dora the Explorer: Journey to the Purple Planet | Flinky / Map / Swiper |
| 2007 | Dora the Explorer: Dora Saves the Mermaids | Map / Swiper |
| 2008 | Dora the Explorer: Dora Saves the Snow Princess | |
| 2009 | Dora the Explorer: Dora Saves the Crystal Kingdom | Map |
| 2010 | Dora the Explorer: Dora's Big Birthday Adventure | Map / Wizzle 2 |
References
edit- ^ Pall, Ellen (1995-12-10). "Of God and Weinerville". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on May 26, 2015. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
- ^ "35th Annual Dinner - Sunday, April 30th, 2023".
- ^ a b Magazine, Ami (2023-05-17). "Marc Weiner's Cosmic Joke // With a mic in one hand and a prop in the other, he draws laughter and meaning from pain. | Ami Magazine". Retrieved 2023-07-18.
- ^ Chabad Five Towns: "MARC WEINER is back with his all-new one-man show!" retrieved September 5, 2017
- ^ "WHEN PUPPETEER & COMIC MARC WEINER DECIDED TO BECOME AN ORTHODOX JEW HIS DAD SIMPLY SAID ... MARC MY WORDS". New York Daily News. 1996-01-28. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
- ^ "Marc the Explorer - Aish.com".
- ^ "Meet 7 Orthodox Comics Who Are Making Comedy Kosher Again". The Forward. 2016-10-31. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
- ^ Abady, Tova (2017-12-14). "Interview with Comedian Marc Weiner". JEWISH HOME LA. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
- ^ Watch Saturday Night Live Highlight: Guest Performance - Marc Weiner - NBC.com, 2011-08-31, retrieved 2023-05-03
- ^ "The Empathy Labyrinth". Archived from the original on 2018-08-19.
- ^ "Paramount+ | Dora | About". paramountpressexpress.com. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
Further reading
edit- Pall, Ellen (December 10, 1995). "Of God and Weinerville". The New York Times (National ed.). p. 6006058.