Rob Weiss

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

Weiss was born in Baldwin, Nassau County, New York. He attended the Parsons School of Design, studying fashion and film, but never graduated. Unemployed, he ended up living with his father in Lawrence in the Five Towns. 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, creator of the HBO series Entourage, and now writes for the show. He wrote (or co-wrote) episodes including Aquamansion, The Bat Mitzvah and The Sundance Kids.

In an Aug. 2007 New York Observer interview with Ellin, he confirms that Weiss was the basis for the character of Billy Walsh (played by Rhys Coiro), a perfectionist filmmaker who is 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, to whom Weiss bears little outward resemblance.

Weiss is currently an executive producer of the HBO comedy-drama, How to Make It in America.