Jeremy Piven: Actor and Comedian on performing, his career, Auckland stand-up comedy show - The Mike Hosking Breakfast

An instantly recognisable face and name, Jeremy Piven is hitting New Zealand shores for the first time.  

The actor and comedian is best known for the roles of Harry Selfridge and Ari Gold – the latter of which he won a Golden Globe Award and three consecutive Emmys. 

But it’s not film or television that’s brought him here, instead Piven is bringing his stand-up comedy tour to the stage.  

Piven has been performing from a young age, with both his parents being actors in their own right, and practically raising him in a theatre.  

“I've been butchering some of the great writers of all time, I’ve been butchering it since I was eight years old.” 

Piven’s foray into stand-up comedy came from a desire for balance, stretching and developing his performing muscles. 

“I make that transition and get up there and do my thing with that, and then go back to acting, and it makes you a better actor,” he told Hosking. 

“Most actors are sitting idle, they have a lot of rust on them ... with standup, I’m performing all the time.” 

“There’s no rust on me.” 

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