In this unfiltered episode of the Spout Podcast, Emmy-winning actor and stand-up comedian Jeremy Piven joins Erik Zachary for a deep—and often hilarious—conversation about transformation, tenacity, and the art of reinvention.
Known for his iconic role as Ari Gold on Entourage, Jeremy opens up about life on the road as a stand-up comic, the grind of handing out flyers despite a Hollywood résumé, and why he’s finally ready to tape his first comedy special in his hometown of Chicago. He reflects on growing up in a legendary Chicago theater family, his late mother’s profound influence on his craft, and what it’s like to run “Ari Gold lines” with your mom in the room.
There are stories about everything from bombing bits to almost winning an NAACP award (yes, really), and a behind-the-scenes look at his most challenging film role yet.
Funny, raw, and full of gems, this one’s for the dreamers, the grinders.
Jeremy Piven: A household name for his 2x Golden Globe and 3x Emmy Award-winning performance playing the fast-talking, acerbic Hollywood agent ‘Ari Gold’ in the HBO series Entourage, actor, comedian, and podcast host Jeremy Piven also achieved significant success playing the title role in the British/PBS television drama series Mr Selfridge, the semi-fictional story based on the life of Harry Selfridge, who founded the London department store Selfridge’s. Piven has also appeared in numerous successful films, including Grosse Pointe Blank, Singles, Very Bad Things, The Family Man, Black Hawk Down, The Kingdom, Heat, PCU, Old School, Rock N Rolla, Serendipity, Smokin’ Aces, and Runaway Jury.
He was most recently seen in the feature film Last Call opposite Oscar winner Bruce Dern and Orange is the New Black star Taryn Manning. Other upcoming films include American Night opposite Oscar nominee Emile Hirsch, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, which will screen at the Venice Film Festival, Legit Wiseguy with Palme d’Or winner and Oscar nominee director Roland Joffe, period drama film The Walkopposite Justin Chatwin and Oscar nominee Terrence Howard, and The Systemwhich teamed him up again with Terrence Howard and Tyrese Gibson.
Piven is currently working with Kast Media to produce his brand-new podcast “How U Livin’ J Piven,” where he interviews influential guests such as Jamie Foxx, Tiffany Haddish, Common, Mark Cuban and UFC stars Rashad Evans and Jorge Masvidal, in an intimate and in depth format that showcases his dynamic personality in a never-before-seen way. The show is available wherever you get your podcasts.
Piven is also touring the country with his successful stand-up comedy show, flexing a comedic muscle that few actors have been able to transition over to. The tour will see him across the entire continental U.S. and also take him internationally to the U.K. and beyond.
Piven also appears as Joel Lapchick the man responsible for helping Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton break the color barrier in the NBA in 1950 in the movie Sweetwater, which drops on Hulu on September 1st. His next project, ThePerformance, an adaptation of an Arthur Miller work, is in post now.
