Marc Weiner (; born 1952) 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 1996. 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.Chabad Five Towns: "MARC WEINER is back with his all-new one-man show!" retrieved September 5, 2017 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 was married to Sandra (née Rosenblatt), however the couple divorced. 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 +YearTitleRoleNotes2002Nick Jr. HolidayMap, Swiper, Fiesta TrioDirect-to-video; voice2005Dora the Explorer: Dance to the Rescue2019Dora and the Lost City of GoldMapVoice A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.2023Dora and the Fantastical CreaturesSwiperShort film; voice

Television YearTitleRoleNotes1981–1982Saturday Night LiveRocko Weineretto, Weindulah3 episodes1989The Jim Henson HourRocko, Himself "First Show/Miss Piggy's Hollywood"1993–1994WeinervilleHost68 episodes1993Nick New Year's EveDottieTelevision film1994Nick New Year's '95Dottie, Boney, Zip 1994The Weinerville New Year's Special: Lost in the Big AppleBoney, Captain Bob, Cocktail Frank1995The Weinerville Chanukah SpecialBoney, Cocktail Frank, Dottie1996The Weinerville Election Special: From Washington B.C. Dottie, Boney, Socko2000–2019Dora the ExplorerSwiper, Map, Fiesta Trio140 episodes2006Ned's Declassified School Survival GuideMr. WeinerEpisode: "Substitute Teachers and the New Kid"2006–2009Go, Diego, Go!Map, additional voices3 episodes2008Dora Saves the Snow PrincessMap, Swiper, Fiesta TrioTelevision film2014Dora and Friends: Into the City!Map, Swiper, additional voices9 episodes2024DoraSwiper

Video games YearTitleRole2002Dora the Explorer: Backpack AdventureMap, SwiperDora the Explorer: Lost City Adventure2003Dora the Explorer: Barnyard BuddiesMap, Swiper2005Dora the Explorer: Dance to the RescueMap, Swiper, King's Mother2005Dora the Explorer: Journey to the Purple PlanetMap, Swiper, Flinky2006Dora the Explorer: Dora's World AdventureMap2007Dora the Explorer: Dora Saves the MermaidsMap, Swiper2008Dora the Explorer: Dora Saves the Snow Princess2009Dora the Explorer: Dora Saves the Crystal KingdomMap2010Dora the Explorer: Dora's Big Birthday AdventureMap

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