Weiner was born in New York City on May 10, 1927. His 23 books include The Skinny About Best Boys, Dollies, Green Rooms, Leads, and other Media Lingo (2006), Webster's New World Dictionary of Media and Communications (1996), Professional's Guide to Public Relations Services (1998), and Professional's Guide to Publicity (1984).

His public relations firm (1968-1986), Richard Weiner, Inc. specialized in marketing communications, including the introduction of the Cabbage Patch Kids. Weiner has conducted over 100 workshops for the Public Relations Society of America and other groups. He taught a three-credit course in public relations at Fordham University Graduate School of Business Administration in New York, which was the nation's first such course for MBAs. Awards include the Gold Anvil in 1990 (highest honor to an individual from the Public Relations Society of America), John Hill Award (NYC chapter of PRSA), and eight PRSA Silver Anvils.

His articles have appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Writer's Digest, Public Relations Tactics, The Editorial Eye, Public Relations Quarterly, Communication World, PRWeek, PR News, and other publications.

Weiner received B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Wisconsin. A science writer and broadcaster, he produced the first radio description of an actual childbirth (distributed by Capitol Records). He was on the board of directors of the Medical Committee for Human Rights, American Academy on Physician and Patient, and Medicare Rights Center, and currently is on the board of directors of Shake-A-Leg Miami. He has been married for more than 50 years and lives in Miami Beach, Florida, with his wife, Florence, who also is a writer of books. They have two daughters, Jessica and Stephanie, and four grandchildren.