Jeremy Piven grew up in a family immersed in the world of acting and entertainment. His parents owned the Piven Theatre Workshop outside of Chicago, Illinois, where their lessons and advice sparked a dream of an acting career in a young Piven.
After earning his degree, Piven began to find success both on screen and stage, but it was his portrayal of the ruthless Hollywood agent Ari Gold on the hit sitcom “Entourage” that made Piven a household name.
“People would think that I’m Ari, and they would see me, and they would immediately show me their Ari Gold energy,” he said.
In the latest episode of “LA Stories with Giselle Fernandez,” Piven opens up about his rise to fame with “Entourage,” with the role earning him a Golden Globe and three Primetime Emmy Awards. Beyond “Entourage,” he’s appeared in films such as “Old School,” “Serendipity” and “Gross Pointe Blank.”
On stage, Piven earned a Tony nomination for his role in “Speed-the-Plow.” He’s also found success as a standup comedian — something he says makes him a better actor.
In 2017, multiple women made allegations against Piven of sexual misconduct, which he vehemently denies and was never charged with. He says the experience led him to go inward, to be grateful for his life and to live in his truth. He says he learned resilience and to never give up on himself — which he says led him to what he calls the best work of his life in his new film, “The Performance.”
“I don’t wish it upon anyone to be brought to their knees,” Piven said. “But the insight to know that you can do this and ‘The Performance,’ the film, is an extension of that.”
Piven plays Harold May, a Jewish American struggling tap dancer in the 1930s tapped to perform in Germany on the eve of World War II, where his Jewish identity puts him in danger. Based on a play by Arthur Miller, the film — directed by his sister Shira Piven — resonates with many, as it comes at a time when antisemitism is on the rise throughout the country and around the globe.
Piven spent 15 years making the film and even mastered the art of tap dancing in order to play the part. For him, the role is deeply personal and one that is not only about Nazi repression but also about the resilience of the human spirit and self-acceptance.
“It’s a beautiful story that anyone can relate to in terms of how much of yourself you will compromise for success, and my character Harold May is willing to risk it all,” he said. “As a Jew, as an actor, as a person, as a human being, [this film] means everything.”