
There’s something about veteran actor Jeremy Piven that keeps you watching. Maybe it’s his trademark smirk, his razor-sharp timing, or the way he can go from zero to a full-throttle rant in seconds. Whatever it is, Piven’s been captivating audiences for decades, from the big screen to the small, from his Golden Globe and Emmy-winning turn as Hollywood’s ultimate power agent Ari Gold in HBO’s “Entourage” to the title role in the English film “Mr. Selfridge.” But these days, Piven isn’t just playing the fast-talking guy — he’s standing onstage, mic in hand, telling his own story.
For two nights, Feb. 7-8, Piven is bringing his stand-up comedy act to the Arlington Improv, and for anyone wondering if the guy who made Ari Gold a household name can hold his own as a comedian — he’s been answering that question night after night, city after city for a decade.
“This has been an incredible journey,” Piven says over the phone, his voice carrying that same rhythm that made his “Entourage” dialogue feel like an Olympic sport. “You have to face your fears. And one of my greatest fears was stand-up. So, for about a decade now, I’ve been out there touring, just getting up on stage, working through it. And it’s been amazing.”
It makes sense if you trace it back. Piven grew up in Evanston, Illinois, in a household where the theater was more than just a pastime — it was the family business. His parents, Byrne and Joyce Piven were legendary acting teachers, and their Piven Theatre Workshop became a breeding ground for talent, counting John Cusack (Piven’s longtime friend and former roommate) among its alumni.
“We were butchering Chekhov from an early age,” he opines about his and Cusack’s start in entertainment.
Comedy, though, was its own beast. Even for a guy who honed his chops at Second City in the ’90s — alongside legends like Chris Farley — stand-up was different.

Left, the late Joyce Piven (Jeremy's mom) poses next to Piven at the HBO premiere of "Entourage."
“Being funny isn’t enough,” he says. “You can make people laugh, sure, but standing up there alone? That’s a whole different game. You learn real fast — your material has to land, and you have to connect. Once you get that first laugh, though, it’s like, “okay, this is possible.’”
Piven’s act is a mix of storytelling, razor-sharp observations, and, of course, a little self-awareness. He knows people think they’re coming to see Ari Gold, and he leans into it.
“I tell stories about having guys come up to me at a urinal, smacking me on the back like, ‘I’m a douchebag because of you!’” he laughs. “It’s like, dude, I’m just trying to pee here.”
The connection with an audience, the rawness of the format — that’s what keeps him coming back.
“Stand-up is one of the last arenas where we can embrace free speech,” he says. “People need to laugh now more than ever.”
That drive to create and perform has continued for Piven, who, outside of comedy, recently starred in the 2023 movie “Sweetwater,” playing Joel Lapchick, the man who helped break the NBA color barrier. He also just wrapped “The Performance,” a long-gestating project adapted from an Arthur Miller short story, directed by his sister, Shira Piven.
“My mom gave me the story years ago and said, ‘This is a role for you,’” Piven recalls. “And when my mom said something, it meant something.”
It took over a decade to get made, but now, it’s finally coming to theaters.
Fans of Piven can also catch him offstage with his podcast “How U Livin’ J Piven,” where he’s sat down with everyone from Jamie Foxx to Mark Cuban to discuss varying subjects.
“It’s just about talking to interesting people, getting into it,” he says. “Kind of like stand-up — just without the immediate fear of bombing (laughs).”
But right now, it’s all about the stage. And if you catch him at the Arlington Improv, you’ll see a guy doing what he’s always done — stepping up, performing, and keeping you locked in, moment to moment. It might not be scripted, and there are no retakes, but that’s what makes it thrilling.
And if you were wondering — yes, Piven loves a Texas crowd. “They’re smart, they’re not stingy with laughs. They get the joke.”