By For an actor, there’s nothing like flexing your comedic muscles live and in person. That’s what Jeremy Piven is doing this summer in Miami at the Improv. Piven has become a household name for his two-time Emmy award-winning performance as the fast-talking Hollywood celebrity agent Ari Gold in the HBO series Entourage. He also starred in the British/PBS period drama Mr Selfridge, based on the life of Harry Selfridge, founder of London’s department store Selfridge’s. In addition, Piven has appeared in numerous popular films including Grosse Pointe Blank, Singles, Old School, Rock N Rolla, Serendipity, and the upcoming film Black Hawk Down.
But despite the fame and fortune, Piven has always maintained his sense of humility. He credits his parents, Byrne and Joyce Piven, who were both actors, with teaching him the value of hard work and discipline. “They gave me an education, a foundation, that has served me throughout my career,” he says.
Piven was born in New York City and raised in Evanston, Illinois. He honed his acting skills at Chicago’s famed Piven Theater Workshop, founded by his parents Byrne and Joyce. Piven made his Broadway debut in the 1989 play The Goat. Afterwards, he began to see more roles on the big screen including supporting parts in films such as the romantic comedy Cupid with Robin Williams and the dark thriller Very Bad Things a year later, both of which starred John Cusack.
But Piven’s real breakout role came in 1995 with the hit HBO series Entourage. The show centered around the lives of Hollywood superstars including Ari Gold, played by Piven. The series was a huge success with the actor winning a Golden Globe and three consecutive Emmys for his performance.
In the years since, Piven’s success has continued to grow. He’s starred in such hits as the heist film American Nightopposite Emile Hirsch and Jonathan Rhys Meyers, the political drama The Walkopposite Terrence Howard and Justin Chatwin, the heist film The Fate of the Furious alongside Vin Diesel, and the legal thriller Legit Wiseguy with Palme d’Or winner director Roland Joffe.
Then came the sexual assault allegations that rocked his world in 2017. Eight women accused Piven of sexual misconduct and harassment, some when they were underage. Eventually, the actor took a step back from the spotlight.
But now, Piven is poised to make a return to the spotlight with the release of Sweetwater, a movie about NBA legend Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton. The film co-stars Oscar winner Bruce Dern and Orange is the New Black star Taryn Manning. Sweetwater marks Piven’s first major film release since the accusations surfaced. He’s been making the rounds on talk shows such as Good Morning America and Sherri Shepherd’s daytime show, talking about the movie. But he’s been coy about whether an Entourage reboot is in the works.
