Piven, Producers Comment To NY Times On Arbitration Decision

Jeremy Piven is known to tv viewers as Ari Gold, the manic agent on HBO's hit Entourage. He can be seen on the big screen as Don Ready, a high powered car salesman in The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard. Piven was forced to step down from Broadway's 'SPEED-THE-PLOW' in December, citing severe fatigue. He later revealed he had been diagnosed with toxic mercury poisoning due to his love of sushi.

His shocking departure left the production scrambling to find a last-minute replacement in the form of actors Norbert Leo Butz and William H. Macy. The producers took their complaint to the Actors Equity Association, claiming Piven's exit jeopardised show earnings.

Piven spoke to The New York Times about the decision, the actor stated that,  "All we can ask for is our day in court. I was lucky enough to get it, and the truth prevailed. It's a beautiful thing."

The actor continued, remarking that, "I'm just a theater actor who got sick, and was physically incapable of finishing my run. And now I can put this behind me and move on. And I'm stronger than I've ever been. I had a real health scare, and now I can climb back on the stage and know that I'm strong and able to complete the mission. It's a great day."

In a related statement, the producers of 'SPEED-THE-PLOW' commented that, "While we respect the decision, we strongly disagree with it. We remain eternally grateful to everyone who helped make the wonderful production of 'SPEED-THE-PLOW' possible, especially the artists who created it, and the many who had to deal with very difficult and trying circumstances." To read the full article in The New York Times click here.

AEA issued a statement today regarding the matter:

"Actors' Equity Association (AEA) is pleased to announce that the decision in the matter of the Arbitration between Speed the Plow Company, L.P. and Jeremy Piven & Actors' Equity Association is in favor of Mr. Piven and AEA. The decision acknowledges that Mr. Piven did not breach his individual employment contract nor did he breach the Equity-League collective bargaining contract."

The NationAl Fisheries Institute, also had some comments concerning the Piven case:

"Earlier today it was announced that an arbitrator had ruled in favor of Jeremy Piven and the Actor's Equity Association in the dispute over his abrupt departure from the Broadway production of David Mamet's "Speed the Plow."

Despite the fact that the arbitrator ruled in Piven's favor, NFI cautions reporters and editors to continue to treat Piven's statements with skepticism. It is important to note that no peer reviewed medical journal has ever published any evidence of a case of methylmercury poisoning caused by the normal consumption of commercial seafood in the U.S. This ruling does not change that simple scientific fact. It is also important to note that Piven previously claimed to have been diagnosed with the Epstein-Barr virus during the first week of rehearsals, a claim that has curiously be absent from most news coverage."

Piven's critically acclaimed, award winning portrayal of the slick, fast talking super agent, "Ari Gold" in the smash-hit HBO original series Entourage has propelled him to the forefront of the entertainment industry. The role has earned him a Golden Globe and two Emmy Awards. Piven, will next be seen starring in the feature film comedy The Goods for Paramount Vantage. He was seen in the Guy Ritchie directed Rocknrolla. Piven was most recently seen on the big screen in director Peter Berg's political drama The Kingdom opposite Jamie Foxx and in Joe Carnahan's Smokin Aces, in which he starred opposite Andy Garcia and Ray Liotta. Prior to Entourage, Piven had already established his presence in over 40 feature films with a number of impressive credits which include, The Player, Runaway Jury, Old School, Serendipity, Black Hawk Down, Very Bad Things, Singles, Rush Hour 2 and The Family Man. On the small screen Piven was a series regular on Cupid and Ellen and appeared on The Larry Sanders Show and in the telepic Don King: Only in America. In 2005, Piven returned to his theater acting roots when he starred alongside Keri Russell and Andrew McCarthy in the off-Broadway hit, Fat Pig by Neil LaBute. For his role, Piven received a Distinguished Performance Honor from the Drama League. Piven was born and raised in Chicago where his parents founded the Piven Theatre Workshop. His father, Byrne, taught the likes of John and Joan Cusack, Roseanna Arquette and Aidan Quinn. Jeremy is still very active with this Theatre and returns to Chicago frequently to help keep his father's dream alive.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.