Mar 18, 2025 By Stephanie Kalina-Metzger 4 min read

Nobody puts Jeremy Piven in a corner.

At least that’s what you learn when speaking to the actor/comedian who played the role of talent agent Ari Gold in the HBO series “Entourage,” which aired for eight seasons from 2004 to 2011.

Piven, who will be 60 in July, has been performing stand-up comedy for about a decade now, will be bringing his unique humor to the Byham Theater on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Piven said he is looking forward to his Pittsburgh visit. “It reminds me of my hometown of Chicago,” he said.

Starting early

Piven’s acting journey started early, having been brought up in a business that his parents operated in Chicago called the Piven Theatre. His first role was at the age of 8 when he played one of the children in Anton Chekhov’s “The Seagull.” After attending Drake University in Iowa and New York University, Piven joined the casts of the series “The Garry Shandling Show” and “Ellen,” and took on supporting roles until 2004, when he started portraying the ruthless and obnoxious Ari Gold in “Entourage.”

“Real-life talent agent Ari Emanuel was the inspiration for that character,” Piven explained. Emanuel is the brother of Rahm Emanuel, the former mayor of Chicago and chief of staff for President Barack Obama.

“I had to make him feel spontaneous, so my transition into comedy wasn’t as big a leap as people might think,” Piven continued. “My parents taught me that there is really no difference between drama and comedy, so I don’t adhere to many rules.”

Piven has been prolific, appearing in 80 movies so far. He can lay claim to the word “grit” as part of his secret to success. “I write and rewrite every role I’ve ever had and am now playing to packed houses across the country,” he said.

Praise from colleagues

Linda Ann Watt, acting coach and author of “The Actor’s Manifesto,” said that Piven wore the role of Ari Gold like a comfortable glove.

“He understood the character and revelled in the ego-driven acerbity,” she said. Watt, who is also familiar with Piven’s stand-up work, said that audiences will appreciate his humor and perspective.

“His sardonic comedy blends unresolved anger with keen observations about human behavior. He is smart and aware, so I think there is no role he couldn’t tackle,” Watt said.

Piven cites George Carlin, Lenny Bruce and Eddie Murphy as his comedic influences.

Handling hecklers

Piven said that while he enjoys stand-up, that doesn’t mean that he isn’t challenged by the occasional heckler who forgets that Ari Gold was just a character.

“I’ve worked with some of the greats and I’ve learned not to take the bait,” he said, recalling a time when Al Pacino was criticized by a director on the set. “I thought Al would walk off, but instead he just calmly stated, ‘I think it’s more complicated than that.’ The director wanted Al to be the alpha male, but he didn’t take the bait; he didn’t get angry. I have been very lucky to learn from the greats,” he said.

The performance

Piven said that his most challenging role to date has been “The Performance,” a film that he made with his sister, Shira Piven, who co-wrote and directed the film, which has been screened at film festivals and is set for a U.S. release this year. It’s based on a short story by Arthur Miller and took 15 years to come together. In the movie, Piven plays a tap dancer who finds success in 1936 Berlin and a fan in Adolf Hitler.

Piven credits his late mother, Joyce Hiller Piven, for introducing him to Miller’s short story.

“It takes place just before the Holocaust and I took 15 years of lessons in tap dance for the role of Harold May, the film’s protagonist,” said Piven.

A review in Variety last year by critic Joe Leydon said “The Performance” was “an enthralling period drama with often disquieting relevance.”

Advice for Aspiring Actors

Piven said that the advice he would give to aspiring actors and comedians is to get as much experience as possible.

“You have to really want it and be willing to get up and perform anywhere you can, while learning to accept criticism and learn from it. It can fuel you. I respect it and love it,” he said.

Piven said he is looking forward to his Pittsburgh performance.

“I’ll make people laugh and forget about everything. It’s a form of escapism, if just for one night,” he said.

Stephanie Kalina-Metzger is a freelance writer.