Jeremy Piven may be sued for getting ill
By Alexandra Heilbron on January 8, 2009 | 65 Comments
Golden Globe winner Jeremy Piven, who was fired after abruptly leaving the Broadway play Speed the Plow, is slowly recuperating from mercury poisoning — he had six times the normal level of deadly mercury in his system, from eating sushi on a daily basis. The show’s backers are hoping to sue the actor for breach of contract, despite the fact that he came close to death. Piven, who is nominated for another Golden Globe this Sunday for his work on the TV series Entourage, is also the butt of a smear campaign — according to the New York Post, several top Broadway producers say that if Speed the Plow were their show, they’d go after Piven, with one threatening: “I’d kill the jerk.” Another said: “He’s destroyed his career in the theater.” The show’s playwright, David Mamet, also showed little concern for the actor’s health, telling Daily Variety: “I talked to Jeremy on the phone, and he told me that he discovered that he had a very high level of mercury. So my understanding is that he is leaving show business to pursue a career as a thermometer.” Studies conducted by Piven’s physician, Dr. Carlon Colker, showed unprecedented levels of mercury toxicity in his body. Colker said, “Any insensitive comments like that are not only unkind and unfair, they reflect a profound lack of understanding of a problem that can actually kill.” He said he stepped in and made “the decision for him to stop,” adding that Piven had wanted to continue working, even though his health was failing. Backers are demanding that another doctor run tests before they decide whether or not to sue. Piven was replaced onstage by Oscar nominee William H. Macy.
My god broadway people are so insensitive.
“it is my understanding that he is leaving show business to pursue a career as a thermometer” ?!?!?!
What the hell is that? I can’t believe someone could be so cold!
Well, I’m sure that ALL those “top Broadway producers” know something that we don’t. He must have done some other stuff or screwed them somehow. And this Dr. Colker…I wonder how much it cost Piven to persuade him to “make the decision for Piven to stop”??? People will do almost anything to get out of a contract that they may not want to be tied into any longer.
I absolutely love this actor, he is amazing on Entourage, I have re-watched many episodes for his performance. He is totally deserving of every award and nomination.
If what his doctor says is true re his mercury levels, I have complete compassion for him and hope he recovers quickly. I agree with you A. Amin, that remark was in incredibly poor taste, so not funny.
Piven’s replacement, W.H. Macy, is another favourite actor of mine and I am confident he will do the Broadway part justice.
I used to be in show business myself and to be honest, people like that don’t care about a persons health. Once i was in a show and one of the cast got hospitalized with lung issues problems, the Director then treated her with so much disrespect it was really hard to look at my director as being human. Another show i was in a few years latter someone had a heart attack, but didn’t stop the producer from yelling and tearing a strip out of the person for not being able to do the show. They are most concerned about there “art” than anything else. Most times anyway.
PS. Ive been listening to Nancy’s post’s for a couple years now. Does this chick ever have anything positive to say? Seriously i think she is a waste of skin and no better than those who are suing Piven. But that just my opinion. : )
I’m going to reserve judgement on this, I think what was said by Mamet is pretty rude and unnecessary, but we don’t know what all happened. Hopefully more info will come out on this.
If it’s true about William H. Macy, that would be very cool, I love that guy.
I think YOU are the “waste of skin”, Joshua! Obviously, there is a producer out there somewhere who feels the same way since you said you “USED to be in show business”! Seriously! You don’t even know me…have never met me in your life (thank god!), so how the hell would you know who I am/am not better than? Well anyways, before you open your BIG mouth next time (or let your fingers run), maybe you should take a little peek into the archives at my previous comments for the last month (let alone “a couple years” as you said). You might find that I have said “positive” things on these articles:Jan 8/09 Lost star gets custody of illegitimate son; Jan 1/09 Britney Spears comeback marred by fast food; Dec 31/08 Kevin Bacon a Madoff victim; Dec 30/08 Miley Cyrus demands a raise; Dec 26/08 Brit’s dad gets a raise; Dec 25/08 DJ AM sues over plane crash; Dec 25/08 Lindsay Lohan’s “Debby Downer” Christmas blog; Dec 24/08 Zac Efron plays Santa at children’s hospital; Dec 24/08 Filipino version of Twilight in the works; Dec 19/08 Hefner loves Jennifer Aniston nude; Dec 19/08 Johnny Depp shopping for engagement ring; Dec 17/08 Simon Cowell dethrones Queen in Britain; Dec 5/08 Jessica Simpson’s Fancy; Dec 1/08 Hubby admits he got Winehouse hooked. Funny thing is, YOU never commented on these articles and probably never read the comments on them either…so shut it!
People, can’t we all just get along? As for Piven, I hope he gets better and everything gets resolved.
i feel really bad for this guy. if he really is sick, that is no way to treat anyone. EVER. if hes not, well then, they should sue him. we dont really know, and i guess only the doctor and jeremy know for sure.
This is a HEALTH CONCERN. Are people really that insensitive or are they simply being stupid?????
I guess money rules!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I Hope Mr. Piven gets well soon.
I think the comments are off the wall and absolutely uncalled for. If there are other litigating circumstances surrounding this issue, then they should have made it clear. I’m sure that any lawsuit concerning this, would never stand up in court.
I absolutely agree with you, Joshua
Big surprise there.
Instigator
Yeah really! She’s on here enough to know damn well that all my comments are not negative…just the ones directed at her! LMFAO! 😛 She brings out the ‘negativity’ in most people.
Oh, now she even calls herself an “instigator”!! You know damn well why you agreed with Joshua, Jo-Anne! We ALL do! INSTIGATOR!!!!!!
That’s why I said big surprise, because she was instigating again. If this keeps up, Nancy, I think it might be time to go fishing.
yes, Joshua made some very good points, agreed.
wow… total assholes
You know, it is awful the things they said about him. A person’s health is very important, without it. The things they said were very uncalled for.
As for you Nancy, some of us do read here daily including the nasty comments you write. Okay fine, once in a blue moon you have something nice to say, but most of the time you are the nasty person on here.
God forbid anything were to ever happen to you or the ones you love, because I would hate to see how karma would repay you for being such an ass to others when they are down.
Instigator, yeah you are. Your what most forums and other online places call a troll. The only reason for your existance is to stir up crap. Get over yourself.
And no I don’t know you or want to know you because the comments you leave every day say more than enough for your personality and person.
Not all of us have hours a day to spend trolling this place stirring up shit and commenting, and perhaps some of us don’t say anything on most pages because we know you will come along and drag the whole page down again.
Wonder who that was?
I can just imagine! I left my proof up above that not all my comments are negative and you know what? It doesn’t matter anyways…I’m not here for yours or anyone else’s damn approval. I never said that what these producers said WAS CALLED FOR! If you were to actually get the hell over YOURSELF and read my comment fully and properly, you just might get it through your thick skull that I think that (in my opinion) this guy must have done something to piss all these producers off. Threateneing to kill him and calling him a thermometer are not appropriate to say about someone EVER no, but how do you know he never did something? Now, who was I an “@ss” to when they were down? Oh sorry…you must be a John Travolta fan! Well, I’m not…so take a hike. Try reading the Patrick Swayze article…no, I have “no compassion at all”! Spend “hours” on Tribute daily…nah, ever heard of high speed, unlike yourself some of us are not too cheap to pay for it, so it takes me minutes. And I wouldn’t know what “most forums and other online places” call those who voice their own opinion not what they think the majority WANT to hear! Like me/don’t like me…I don’t give a sh!t!! 😛
Oh, and since you call yourself ‘sick of Nancy’, maybe I should fill my name in as ‘LEADER, NOT FOLLOWER’.
wow there’s way to much highschool drama going on here. People should just grow up and act a little more responsibly after all you have no idea who your really ticking off when your online.
oh and Piven was awesome as Ari on Entourage! The show was Fantastic 🙂
I hope everything works out for this actor – seems like an unfair world.
I always enjoy reading the tribute headlines & Articles when I received my newsletter. Unfortuanetly Miss/Mrs/Mister Nancy always puts me in a grumpy mood. I seriously hope you get paid to follow these articles nancy – otherwise a post such as the one listing the times you were positive would be quite the waste of time – no?
Actually, it only took a couple of minutes! How much do you want to bet the IP address of those comments all lead to ONE computer? LMAO! As for me, I’m a VERY strong minded person and it will be a cold day in hell when I will sit back and put my opinion aside and give a comment that I don’t believe to be true just so that someone won’t name themselves ‘I too, am sick of Nancy’…..Bahahahaha…a FREEZING COLD day in hell!!! So stick that in your pipe and smoke it!
how much do you wanna bet they don’t?
count me in.
I don’t care about the Nancy war. I just want to comment on the issue.
It is a serious lack of morals when anyone can sue someone for being ill and missing work and should never be allowed.
Mr. Piven if you read this; I Hope you get Bettrer! Don’t worry, there will be more kind hearted Directors etc. that will give you a job when you are well. The ones who fired you
will Never get MY MONEY If I ever get to NY to see a Play. I heard they may be a bit cold-hearted but Not like firing a man who may be close to death OR threatening someone who can’t help the Natural course of life of getting hospilalized!
I mean to say: someone who can’t help the Natural course of Life of getting hospitalized.
Well Jo-Anne, if anyone knows the OLD saying, it would be you…”a fool and his money are easily parted”.
Jeremy Piven is a fantastic actor (especially as Ari on Entourage). But, even if he was a total nobody, surely he’d be entitled to our compassion — AND respectful, humane treatment from his employers — when he became seriously ill.
I feel like a teacher at recess watching the kids run amok in here.
ok then, dont read our comments 🙂 problem solved
what if he had died? Would they get mad at him then?
He screwed us over! how dare he die and leave us in such a predicament!
Not a good idea eating raw fish every day.
Not unless you WANT to get sick….
Oh oh…better not say THAT Tributegirl! LOL. All this ‘negativity’ is not what the nay sayers WANT to hear…they may start naming themselves ‘Sick of tributegirl’ and ‘I too, am sick of tributegirl’. 😛 😀 😛
ha ha lmao
Oopsie, I retract that last statement!
(hehehe)
Good for you Vicki, a comment worth reading finally in all this dribble….
Then stop dribbling!! 😛
Haha! Did you mean “drivel” JoAnne, you well-educated person you? So much for you being any kind of authority on what mistakes this site or any of the people who comment on it make.
Adriane, you are a breath (or is it “breast”? laugh out loud) of fresh air! I truly enjoyed reading your comment, carry on!
S M A S H !!!!!
There goes the glass house!
LAUGHING MY F*(K1NG @SS OFF!!!!
You did not ‘meal’ drivel…???
S M A S H !!!!!
I’m an English teacher, JoAnne, and I have to tell you how impressed I am with the “dribble” etymology you posted earlier. I’d also like to thank you for supporting my own posting, moving away from all the personal attacks and getting back to the point of this site, which I thought was commenting on Jeremy Piven’s plight. I’m finding the constant bickering quite tiresome (yes it DOES feel like recess in the schoolyard, as someone mentioned earlier) but I have a weak spot for celebrity gossip. So I guess I’ll keep popping in and hoping for the best!
Sorry for the wordiness but I guess — like I said a while back — I AM “another Jo” and proud of it:)
Oops! Forgot my name on that long “English teacher” posting. I’m Vicki.
Oh spare us, Jo-Anne. What a pathetic attempt at covering up your stupidity. No educated person says dribble when they mean drivel. Nice try though. (cough).
Actually, Getalife, it wasn’t even a good try! 🙂
Well, her new ‘BFF’ seems to believe every word!!
it’s not aimed at either of you three, it would only make sense to those who understand it, and clearly none of you three fall into that category…
I’m still with Getalife on this one, it was a pathetic attempt to sound like you know what you’re talking about.
I make 3 for that vote!!
Well, all I can say is Thank God for my new “BFF”!!!!
someone to relate to with the more challenging stuff!!!!
Yahoo, Vicki!!!
Thanks for the compliment, JoAnne:)
Careful of those acronyms you two! Remember, on the Jan. 15/09 Leo DiCaprio article, ke said “acronyms better suited for teenagers” and Robyn said they are “just plain weird for someone over the age of 12 to use” and “creepy”….THEN of course…the innocent Jo-Anne, who never starts…, comes along and says “Ke, Robyn your comments are well taken, agree.”
So, which is it…do you “agree” or do you prefer to use acronyms? Because BOTH of you used them today and I believe the claim is you are over 12, no?
I’m fine with acronyms, Nancy! I like LOL and OMG and am not a fan of the more risque ones, but it’s a free country. I keep up on all of them so I can interpret my eighth graders when they slip these things into their writing:) I don’t think they’re “creepy” at all. Language is supposed to evolve and change — keeps everything interesting!
yeah, so what?? I said “robyn’s comments well taken” and agreed with some of her and ke’s points – again, so what???
you, more than anyone know I am in an over 12 group, as you affectionately refer to me quite often as HAGATHA and use other lame “old” comments…
acronyms, who cares? LMFAO” for an adult, yeah, I find unnecessary.
Hey, you have to admit…the name ‘HAGATHA’ is quite funny!
As for “LMFAO for an adult, yeah, I find unnecessary”…would you prefer children or teenagers use it? It has swears in it…it’s for ADULTS! Awwe, I know, some “adults” don’t swear…and look down their nose on those who do, but I really don’t care. 😛 I just like to point out your contradicting statements!!
I definately am NOT mistaken! And, I read just fine thanks!
Ke had said “I wasn’t implying that LMFAO was a grammatical error. I wasn’t picking on you for that. I was picking on you because I find grown women using acronyms better suited for teenagers rather odd.”…so, if my reading is correct, this means ke thinks LMFAO is an acronym that is better for teenagers to use than adults, right? Hey, I think I said that in my last comment! Then, Robyn said “LMFAO is just plain weird for someone over the age of 12 to use” & “it’s creepy.”….So, doesn’t that mean that Robyn thinks it’s okay for only those 12 and under (being children, like I said in my previous comment) to use “the phrase LMFAO”? THEN……you came on and said “Ke, Robyn your comments are well taken, agree.” So, yes…CONTRADICTORY!! You see, I have no problem with people having different opinions than me actually, it’s a good thing…the world would be way too boring. BUT, as soon as someone says something to me that is negative, you jump right on board with them and agree with what they are saying, EVERY TIME. THEN you turn around and “contradict” yourself later. Now, to me, that sounds like someone trying to stir up…., doesn’t it?
Here we go again…on the carrousel of Nancy and Jo-Anne, round and round…ke and Robyn both said many things, and you’re attaching my agreement to their many comments to this one area. I simply said good comments, again so what?
Robyn making that remark, about over the age of 12 using that phrase is “creepy” nowhere says she AGREES for under 12 years old it’s appropriate to use said phrase. I took it she means it’s COMMON to see that remark being made by a young age, she didn’t comment on whether she thinks it is acceptable, appropiate, etc.
She’s just pointing out it’s ODD and creepy for an adult to enjoy using such a phrase. And, in fact, yes I agree on that point, totally.
Again, learn to read before you jump and stop being so focused on everything I write.
Contrary to your self obsession, I am not referring to you in all my posts.
With regards to me jumping on those who post negatively against you, we both know you and I are guilty of this trait. And I am completely in tune with many of those people as I have made it more than obvious I don’t care for much of what you post. Occasionally you surprise me and I have commented in agreement, it just doesn’t happen very often.
You have never commented in agreement, except for saying that Sawyer from Lost is hot!
Like I said, I can read just fine. The only comments that ke and Robyn said between your comments were ones against adults using acronyms…you know it, I know it! And you agreed with them! But I could really care LESS what you have to say in ANY of your comments, I just feel the need to point out ONCE AGAIN how you like to start sh!t and then play innocent and blame others. I see from your last comment that you are making a little progress though and accepting a small part of the blame! That’s a first! 😉
LMFAO
“stop being so focused on everything I write.” Again, Pot, meet Kettle.
“Contrary to your self obsession” Now I’m confused. Nancy had been accused of being “Jo-Anne obsessed”, now she’s “self obsessed”? Which is it?
I like the way Vicki said it on her 10:33 comment of Jan 27, she said she’s not a fan of the more risque ones, but it’s a free country. Actually, Vicki’s whole post was very well said.
And yes, Jo-Anne DID agree with Robyn and ke, and is now backtracking, and “twisting words”. Again.
Tributegirl, I agree with what you just said about Vicki. At least Vicki understands that it may not be for her but she won’t look down her nose at others if it IS what they choose! I get a kick out of how Jo-Anne is playing the ‘holier than thou’ card on the new Jessica Simpson & Daniel Radcliffe articles…”oh, people putting others down because of their looks and age, it isn’t right”…but yet, on here it’s “learn how to read” and “I totally agree that it’s ODD and creepy for an adult to enjoy using such a phrase as ‘LMFAO'”.
Exactly. I find there are some on here who seem very non-judgemental, which is awesome. Vicki is one of them, Demigod as well, and others. They don’t seem to be two-faced or hypocritical either. So when I see people like that on here, I love to read their posts, I know I’m not going to get bashed for having an opinion!