Profile Text
Birth Name: Michael Terry Weiss
Place of Birth: Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Date of Birth: February 2, 1962
Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish
Michael T. Weiss, also billed as Michael Weiss, is an American actor. He starred as Jarod on the show The Pretender , also appearing as the character on Profiler , and in the made-for-tv movies The Pretender 2001 and The Pretender: Island of the Haunted . His roles also include the films Howling IV: The Original Nightmare , Jeffrey (1995), Freeway (1996), and its sequel, Freeway II: Confessions of a Trickbaby ; Dinosaur , Net Worth (2000), Bones (2001), Tarzan & Jane , Until the Night , and Confessions of an Action Star ; the shows Days of Our Lives , Dark Shadows , 2000 Malibu Road , The Legend of Tarzan , The Mummy , Crossing Jordan , Higglytown Heroes , Batman: The Brave and the Bold , Blue Bloods , and Young Justice ; the made-for-tv movie The Great Los Angeles Earthquake ; and the video games Planescape: Torment , Freelancer , and Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds .
His father, Myron Weiss, was a steel industry executive. His sister is television and film make-up artist Jamie Sue Weiss. He attended high school in Northbrook, Illinois.
Michael’s paternal grandfather was Chaim/Harold Ruschanick Weiss (the son of David Ruschanik/Rushonok Weiss and Rose/Racha Leja Gould Katz). Harold was a Jewish emigrant from Dvinsk, Daugavpils, Latvia. David was born in Dvinsk, the son of Abraham/Abram Itzhak Ruschanik/Rushonok Weis and Peshe/Bessie Rosen. Rose was born in Kraslava.
Michael’s paternal grandmother was Sarah/Sally Simon (the daughter of Joseph H. Simon and Dora Bernstein). Sally was born in Fort Worth, Tarrant, Texas, to a Russian Jewish father and a Polish Jewish mother.
Michael’s maternal grandfather was named Martin Rosenzweig/Rose (the son of Meyer Rosenzweig and Mary). Martin was born in Bucharest, Romania, to a Jewish family.
Michael’s maternal grandmother was named Minnie Mae Bloom (the daughter of Samuel/Sam Bloom and Gussie). Mae was born in New York, to Russian Jewish parents.
Sources: Michael’s father on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Obituary of Michael’s father – https://www.legacy.com
Michael’s paternal grandmother, Sarah/Sally Simon, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Michael’s mother on the 1950 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Michael’s maternal grandfather, Martin Rosenzweig/Rose, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
Michael’s maternal grandmother, Minnie Mae Bloom, on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org