Jeremy Piven: ‘Everyone Loves A Good Fish Story’

Actor Jeremy Piven is known for his award-winning role as “Entourage’s” uber-agent, Ari Gold, yet his success has been overshadowed this past year by the infamous sushi saga that forced him out of his Broadway role in David Mamet’s “Speed-the-Plow.”

“I think everyone loves a good fish story, which is why it still hasn’t gone away,” the actor told Parade Magazine. “All I know is that I was incredibly sick and I had three doctors that said, ‘You have to get out of this show because you’re in serious trouble from too high a level of mercury in your blood.’ I was eating fish twice a day and I haven’t touched any since.”

Jeremy insisted, however, that he had no control of the outcome.

“I took the advice of the doctors and what came afterwards – all the repercussions – I couldn’t control,” he said. “You just have to make a decision. You can be really angry at me for having to leave a Broadway show early, or you can go to the movies and laugh at me in ‘Goods.’”

Meanwhile, his reign as Ari Gold continues on “Entourage” and the actor is loving playing this eccentric Hollywood agent.

“I have to kind of whip myself up into a frenzy to get to his level. He’s always in a state of movement and high energy,” he told the mag. “But it’s a gift to be able to play that guy. I just am incredibly blessed that I have this role that allows me to keep exploring the dualities of a tragically flawed, type-A wrecking ball.”

With all the ups and downs, Jeremy is focusing on the positive side of success.

“My father always said being a star means that you have a choice. And I’ve never had artistic choices until now. So, if that’s what being a star is, then I welcome that,” Jeremy said. “People wonder if success has made me complacent. And I can’t imagine that happening. Success only fuels me because I just want to figure out a way to get better. That’s the whole thing. I can’t imagine thinking, ‘OK, I think I got it now, so maybe I should just relax.’”