Who is Matthew Weiner? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Matthew Hoffman Weiner

Age: 59 Years, 59 Year Old Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Linda Brettler (m. 1991)

father: Leslie P. Weiner

mother: Judith Weiner

children: Arlo Weiner, Charles Weiner, Ellis Weiner, Marten Holden Weiner

Born Country: United States

Directors Screenwriters

Height: 5'7" (170 cm), 5'7" Males

City: Baltimore, Maryland

U.S. State: Maryland

More Facts

education: University Of Southern California, Wesleyan University

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How did Matthew Weiner get his start in the television industry?

Matthew Weiner began his career as a writer on the TV series "Becker" before eventually landing a writing job on "The Sopranos," where he gained recognition for his work.
2

What themes are prevalent in Matthew Weiner's work?

Matthew Weiner's work often explores themes of identity, existentialism, and the complexities of human relationships, as seen in "Mad Men" and "The Romanoffs."
3

How does Matthew Weiner approach character development in his projects?

Matthew Weiner is known for creating multi-dimensional characters with complex motivations and flaws, allowing viewers to empathize with even the most morally ambiguous characters in his stories.

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Wesleyan University

University Of Southern California

Childhood & Early Life

Born on June 29, 1965, in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, Matthew Weiner is the son of Judith and Leslie P. Weiner. He has a sister named Alison Hope.

His father, a medical researcher, served as the chair of the neurology department at the University of Southern California. His mother, despite earning a law degree, never entered the profession.

While he was living in Baltimore, Weiner was a student at The Park School of Baltimore. After his relocation to Los Angeles, he studied at Harvard School for Boys.

At Wesleyan University, he was taught literature, philosophy, and history. Later, he obtained an MFA from the University of Southern California School of Cinema and Television.

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Career

The beginning of Matthew Weiner’s career in the industry has been described by him as “dark times”. The show business felt so impenetrable to him that he stopped writing. During this period, he was financially dependent on his wife, who is an architect.

He received his first screenwriting credit for the 1994 video short ‘Name of the Game, Sports Tales and Tunes’. In the same year, he wrote the script for another video short, ‘Hanukkah Tales and Tunes’.

In 1996, he served as the screenwriter on Fox’s short-lived sitcom ‘Party Girl’. Between 1997 and 1998, he wrote two episodes, ‘He Ain't Famous, He's My Brother’ and ‘Day of the Locos’, of the ABC/NBC sitcom ‘The Naked Truth’.

In 2002, he wrote the episode ‘The Bad Family’ of The WB / Adult Swim adult animated series ‘Baby Blues’. He also wrote the episode ‘Love Is the Key’ (2002) of the short-lived NBC sitcom ‘In-Laws’.

Between 2002 and 2003, he produced the FOX sitcom ‘Andy Richter Controls the Universe’. He also wrote the second-season episode ‘The Maid Man’. Starring Richter, Paget Brewster, and Irene Molloy, the show revolves around an aspiring writer in Chicago.

Between 2000 and 2002, he produced 48 episodes in the third and fourth season of the CBS sitcom ‘Becker’. He also wrote nine episodes of the show between 1999 and 2002 and served as an executive story editor on one episode in 1999.

Weiner was hired by David Chase, ‘The Sopranos’ creator and executive producer, to serve as a writer on the HBO crime-drama series, after he read the script for the pilot of ‘Mad Men’.

His contribution to ‘The Sopranos’ garnered him two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Drama Series (2004 and 2007). He also appeared in two episodes of the show, portraying the mafia expert Manny Safier.

Weiner created the Prime Video anthology series ‘The Romanoffs’, which was broadcast from October 12, to November 23, 2018. In July 2019, Amazon revealed that they had no intention of making a second season.

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The first film Weiner directed and produced was the 1996 drama ‘What Do You Do All Day?’ In 2013, he wrote, directed and produced the comedy ‘Are You Here’. In the fall of 2017, Weiner put out his first novel ‘Heather, the Totality’ through Little, Brown and Company.

Major Works

Matthew Weiner, as the showrunner of ‘Mad Men’, won seven Primetime Emmys, out of which four were for Outstanding Drama Series (2008-11) and three for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series (2008-10). He also received three Golden Globes and two BAFTAs for the show.

A period drama set in the 1960s about a New-York based advertising agency, the series ‘Mad Men’ originally aired on AMC for seven seasons between July 19, 2007, and May 17, 2015.

Family & Personal Life

Matthew Weiner married architect Linda Brettler in January 1991. They have four sons together, Marten Holden, Arlo, Charles, and Ellis. Marten is an actor and has portrayed the recurring character Glen Bishop on ‘Mad Men’.

In July 2019, Weiner approached the court seeking a divorce from Brettler after 28 years of marriage.

Allegation of Sexual Harassment

On November 9, 2017, former ‘Mad Men’ writer Kater Gordon stated in an interview with ‘The Information’ that Weiner commented at the office late one night that she “owed it to him to let him see her naked”.

Gordon did not voice her discomfort or register a complaint, believing that it might have a negative effect on her career. Responding to her accusations, Weiner stated that he did not have a memory of making the alleged comment.

Facts About Matthew Weiner

Matthew Weiner is known for his love of vintage fashion, often sporting 1960s-inspired suits and accessories on the red carpet.

Weiner is a talented musician and plays the guitar in his free time, finding inspiration for his creative projects through music.

He is an avid collector of typewriters and has a vast collection of vintage machines, which he uses for writing and as decorative pieces in his home.

Weiner has a passion for cooking and enjoys experimenting with new recipes in his kitchen, often hosting dinner parties for friends and family.

In his spare time, he volunteers at a local animal shelter, helping to care for and find homes for abandoned pets.

2011	Outstanding Drama Series	Mad Men (2007)
2010	Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series	Mad Men (2007)
2010	Outstanding Drama Series	Mad Men (2007)
2009	Outstanding Drama Series	Mad Men (2007)
2009	Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series	Mad Men (2007)
2008	Outstanding Drama Series	Mad Men (2007)
2008	Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series	Mad Men (2007)
2007	Outstanding Drama Series	The Sopranos (1999)
2004	Outstanding Drama Series	The Sopranos (1999)

2010	Best International	Mad Men (2007)
2009	Best International	Mad Men (2007)

Matthew Weiner Biography

You wanted to know

How did Matthew Weiner get his start in the television industry?

What themes are prevalent in Matthew Weiner's work?

How does Matthew Weiner approach character development in his projects?