Jeremy Piven

Classically trained at his parents theatre school in Evanston, IL, he formed a long lasting friendship with John Cusack, who trained with him. Both Piven and Cusack co-founded New Crime Productions (formerly New Criminals Theatre Company), who were responsible for the successes of Grosse Pointe Blank and High Fidelity. When talking about his company, he was quoted as saying "unless an entire row of people got up in the middle of a performance and left the theater in disgust, I felt as though I hadn't done my job".
Piven used to be a member of the Second City National Touring Company. Making his screen debut on the Carol and Company variety show in 1990, he went on to star on The Larry Sanders Show, Seinfeld and then Disney's Pride & Joy. It was then that this talented actor starred as Ellen's cousin, Spence, in Ellen.

Those of us who have been lucky enough to know or work with Piven, speak very highly of him, classing him as a funny, loveable guy. Whilst he has been involved with a variety of movies, it is rare that he is cast as a romantic lead. However, his characters have such diversity from a hilarious gay Versace salesman in Rush Hour 2 (please watch the special features on the DVD for a great laugh) to the courageous Cliff Wolcott in Ridley Scott's Black Hawk Down and not forgetting his brilliant character in Cupid. Every role is perfected with style and enthusiasm.

His parents, Joyce Piven and the late Byrne Piven, founded the Piven Theatre Workshop.

A wonderful article about Byrne Piven's life can be read here - ("Exit the King" by Carrie L. Kaufman) .

Vital Statistics (from www.tvtome.com)

- Height: 5' 9"
- Birthday: July 26, 1965
- Birth Place: New York
- Eyes: Brown
- Hair: Brown

- Appeared in a series of TV ads for the Chicago Blackhawks
- Brother of Shira Piven and brother-in-law of Adam McKay.