Joshua Stuart Weinstein began his stand-up comedy career at age 15 in Mpls. Minnesota. At 17, he was one of the founding writer/performers of the cult sci-fi comedy TV series Mystery Science Theater 3000 (MST3K) as the original voice/puppeteer of robots Tom Servo and Gypsy, and the role of Dr. Lawrence Erhardt. He adopted the name "J. Elvis Weinstein" to avoid confusion with another writer named Josh Weinstein (known for his work on The Simpsons).
Since moving to Los Angeles, he has worked as a writer/producer on a wide range of network TV comedy, including Freaks and Geeks, Malcolm and Eddie, Dead Last, and My Guide to Becoming a Rock Star. He was also the Head Writer on America's Funniest Home Videos and Later with Greg Kinnear. In 2008 he reunited with his MST3K co-stars to form Cinematic Titanic, which toured U.S. Theaters as a live show and produced 12 DVDs, now available as a box set.
Weinstein has written and directed three films – two feature documentaries (I Need You to Kill and Michael Des Barres: Who Do You Want Me to Be?) and a comedy short (The Mediocre Samaritan). As a performer, he continues to perform stand-up, co-hosts the podcast Thought Spiral with comedian Andy Kindler, and recently co-starred in the feature film The Fiddling Horse.
Known For

Mystery Science Theater 3000
Dr. Laurence Erheardt/Tom Servo · (0 episode)
2022

The Fiddling Horse
Philip Ainsworth
2019

Mystery Science Theater 3000
Dr. Laurence Erhardt · (2 episodes)
2017

Cinematic Titanic: The Astral Factor
J. Elvis Weinstein
2016

Cinematic Titanic: Rattlers
Self
2012

Cinematic Titanic: War of the Insects
Self
2011

Cinematic Titanic: Danger on Tiki Island
Self
2010

Cinematic Titanic: The Alien Factor
Himself
2010

Cinematic Titanic: East Meets Watts
Self
2009

Cinematic Titanic: Blood of the Vampires
Self
2009

Cinematic Titanic: Frankenstein's Castle of Freaks
Himself
2008

Cinematic Titanic: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
Himself
2008

Cinematic Titanic: Legacy of Blood
Self
2008

Cinematic Titanic: The Wasp Woman
Self
2008

Cinematic Titanic: Doomsday Machine
Self
2008

Cinematic Titanic: The Oozing Skull
Self
2007

Darkstar: Terror at The Edge of Time
Captain Stone

Cinematic Titanic
(13 episodes)
2007

Mystery Science Theater 3000
Tom Servo (voice) / Dr. Laurence Erhardt · (13 episodes)
1989

Mystery Science Theater 3000
Tom Servo (voice) (archive footage) · (1 episode)
1989