Jeff Weiss

Jeffrey Weiss (April 30, 1940 – September 18, 2022) was an American playwright, impresario, and actor, both on Broadway and a theater he ran with partner Ricardo Martinez in the East Village, Manhattan. Early life and education Weiss grew up in Allentown, Pennsylvania, with his parents, two brothers, and one sister. His father was a salesman for Pennsylvania cement companies. His brother, Stephen Weiss, currently lives in Florida. His nephew (Stephen's son) is actor Jonathan Taylor Thomas. Career Weiss became involved in theatre, both writing and acting in plays. In New York City, his work was often presented at La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club and Caffe Cino. His first performance at La MaMa was in Robert Sealy's Waiting Boy, followed by Sealy's Prevarications, both in 1964. In 1966, Weiss performed in his own play, A Funny Walk Home, at Caffe Cino, read for the Thunderbird American Indian Dancers in Louis Mofsie's Three Mask Dances at La MaMa, and performed in Jean Reavey's Window, directed by Tom O'Horgan, also at La MaMa. Weiss often collaborated with his partner and producer Ricardo Martinez, an artist from New Mexico. In 1966, Martinez directed Weiss in Weiss's own one-man show at La MaMa, And That's How the Rent Gets Paid.