Born in Manhattan and raised in Evanston, Illinois, he is an alumnus of the Piven Theatre Workshop founded by his parents (Byrne Piven and Joyce Hiller Piven) and a one time Chicago stage actor.


Was a graduate of Evanston Township High School. Attended Harand Theater Camp in Elkhart Lake, WI, as a teenager. He played Bernardo in "West Side Story" there. Parents ran a theatre school in Chicago which John Cusack, Joan Cusack and Ann Cusack attended. Brother of Shira Piven He was also supposed to star alongside his best pal John Cusack in High Fidelity (2000), but had to pull out due to other commitments. Shares a birthday with Kevin Spacey, Sandra Bullock and Kate Beckinsale. Was considered for the role of Dolarhyde in Red Dragon (2002). His character Ari in HBO's "Entourage" (2004) is based on real-life Hollywood agent Ari Emanuel. He owns a 2,424-square-foot house in Malibu, California, which he purchased in May 2004 for $3.5 million from hockey star Chris Chelios.