Entourage star Jeremy Piven: ‘I literally go into one of the most offensive rants and I act out me and my mum and it’s just so fun’

Jeremy Piven, who plays Ari Gold, warns his comedy show features an offensive rant but he says “Aussies pride themselves on their sense of humour”.

Jeremy Piven at the Australian F1 Grand Prix. Picture: Magner Media

Jeremy Piven says his iconic Entourage alter ego Ari Gold will make an appearance during his live stand-up comedy show next week.

Piven, who was in Melbourne for a few days and attended the Australian F1 Grand Prix, says part of him is always playing the notorious agent.

“What’s interesting, when people say to me it must be a lot of pressure doing stand up when they already have a reference for you as this character,’’ Piven said.

“For me, I’ve been on stage since I was eight years-old, I’ve been doing sketch comedy and stand up and theatre and it’s my home.

Piven says part of him is always playing notorious agent Ari Gold. Picture: Getty

“People come up to me after the shows and they say to me we didn’t know you were this funny. Which is crazy because I’ve been in 80 movies, have I been sucking for 30 years?

“I weave in Ari Gold into the show organically because I talk about the fact I ran all of those lines through my mother. Everything I said was to her face and she never flinched. Then I literally go into one of the most offensive rants and I act out me and my mum and it’s just so fun.

“It’s humour and impressions and Aussies pride themselves on their sense of humour.”

Piven is also in Australia to star in a thriller film called Numbered Lives.

He said his latest role in an adaptation by his sister was one of his most important.

“I hate to be so dramatic but the performance and adaptation of an Arthur Miller short story that my sister adapted and directed and I’ve starred in, is finding a home and it’s incredible,’’ he said.

“I play a Jewish tap dancer in 1937 who hides his identity to dance for Hitler and this is not Ari Gold tap dancing.

“We screened it the other night and people were crying and the conversations were fascinating. I think it’ll inspire a lot of conversations that need to happen.”

Jeremy Piven performs at The Palais Theatre in St Kilda on April 2.

Originally published as Entourage star Jeremy Piven: ‘I literally go into one of the most offensive rants and I act out me and my mum and it’s just so fun’