FROM ARI TO MACK
Jeremy Piven’s ‘Last Call’ is to his mom, his acting coach
With three Emmys and a Golden Globe award to his name, Jeremy Piven has proven his versatiltiy in roles ranging from aggressive, foul-mouthed agent Ari on “Entourage” to the kind but businesssavvy department store founder “Mr. Selfridge.”
His latest role is Mick, who returns to his blue-collar Philadelphia neighborhood to bury his mother and finds himself embroiled with old friends, lost loves and a tough Irish father who still runs the family’s bar. The film “Last Call” co-stars Bruce Dern and Taryn Manning and hits theaters Friday.
By your own account you had a modest upbringing and worked hard for your success, like your character in “Last Call.” Have you ever gone back to your old neighborhood?
I have gone home, and, you know, there’s an old saying you can never go home. I did, and one of the guys that bullied me in high school wanted to know what it was like. It was very interesting because no matter how much you evolve, or they evolve, you revert back to the dynamic of the relationship you had with them from your past immediately. So, you know, it was interesting navigating that, and that mirrors our story in this movie. Mick just falls back into those old habits that he used to have. This movie is about coming to terms with who you are in this life and what matters the most to you, which is family and relationships.
When you do stand-up comedy, you can’t hide behind a persona. Although being a good actor, you might be able to pull it off. Is it liberating or terrifying?
Stand-up has been incredible. It was my job to make “Entourage” look like it was improvised with every word that was written by Doug Ellin brilliantly. Now it was my chance to write my own dialogue, and that’s what stand-up is. It’s been incredibly gratifying, challenging, fun, humbling — all those things.
You have spent a lot of time in London. You know the Brits. What is your take on Prince Harry’s predicament?
Well, I was in London for four years shooting “Mr. Selfridge,” and it was an incredible time in my life. I was lucky enough to meet the royals and watch them play polo, too. They’re both incredible polo players. So good that I even asked some of the other players who were professional, “Did you let them score?” And they said, “Absolutely not. They’re that good.”
They also seem to be incredibly humble and present. Prince Harry kept calling me Ari and I didn’t want to correct him because I didn’t want to be beheaded. I’m just kidding. But he did keep calling me Ari — it was very clear that he watched “Entourage.” I was honored, and he was a cool guy.
You know, he served in the military. He is very hard-working. He got a lot of flack for being a young guy who was working hard and playing hard. He seems to be just very happily in love, protecting his family. He’s navigating the best that he can right now.
Has the pandemic changed your outlook or skills in any way, for example, made you a better drummer?
The pandemic is and has been a very challenging and humbling time for all of us. I’ve been lucky enough to be able to see my mother and to work with her. She’s been my acting coach since I was a child. It’s been fun. We’ve been working on some Shakespeare together, “Richard III.”
I’ve been doing things that are incredibly humbling, like tap dancing and jiu-jitsu. I’m trying to make the most of this time, but you know, you’ve got to somehow break out of certain lazy patterns that you have and embrace putting your ego aside and stepping up.
Favorite place to be?
Anywhere I am is the best spot. Start the day with lemon water if I’m lucky, coffee if I’m lazy.
“This movie is about coming to terms with who you are in this life and what matters the most to you, which is family and relationships.”