Actor Jeremy Piven was born July 26, 1965, in Manhattan. He is the son of Byrne and Joyce Piven, both of whom worked as actors and drama teachers. He studied at the Piven Theatre Workshop, where he formed a close friendship with fellow actor John Cusack. The two acted together on the stage and in films like Gross Pointe Blank, before they both found success on screen as regular cast members of Seinfeld.
His acclaimed role as Ari Gold on the HBO series Entourage earned him both critical acclaim and three consecutive Emmy Awards, and he continued to show off his acting range in films such as Smokin’ Aces and Serendipity. Piven also starred in the short-lived ABC dramedy Cupid, and voiced Elongated Man in three episodes of the animated series Justice League Unlimited.
From Ari Gold to Jeremy Piven: A Journey Through Hollywood
Piven’s sexual misconduct allegations began to surface in late 2017 and early 2018, with several women coming forward to say he abused them. In one instance, background actor Susan McCain Olson said that during the filming of Lucas, Piven pushed her into a trailer and exposed himself to her in front of the other actresses. Another woman, Diane Gonzalez, said that Piven pinned her against the wall in his Los Angeles home and groped her breasts.
Although Piven’s alleged behavior has not affected his career, the allegations have forced him to take a step back. He’s now hosting a podcast called How U Livin and has stopped accepting endorsement deals. While many fans are still supportive of him, some believe he should be held accountable for his actions.
